TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Student editors and reporters for The Crimson White, The University of Alabama’s student newspaper, have been named winners of a national Mark of Excellence Award in Breaking News Reporting, Large School Division, from the Society of Professional Journalists.
The group of students won for their reporting on an off-campus shooting at Temerson Square in which three UA students were injured. The online version of the winning article can be found on The Crimson White’s website.
“This award underscores the dedication these students have to college journalism,” said Mark Mayfield, Crimson White associate director and editorial adviser. “It’s the perfect example of combining what they’ve learned in the classroom with the long hours of experience working for The Crimson White. Coverage like the Temerson Square shooting is something they’ve gotten very adept at doing.”
The Crimson White also won first place in the previous year’s breaking news category with coverage of the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado.
“The fact that our students have won this highly competitive national breaking news award two years in a row tells me their experience at the newspaper and in the classroom has prepared them well for their careers ahead,” Mayfield said. “This is a dedicated group of young journalists, and I’m glad to see they’re getting the honor they deserve. It’s fun to work with this group.”
Student members of the winning team included:
Will Tucker (international studies and political science, Brownsboro)
Ashley Chaffin (journalism, Tuscaloosa)
Katherine Owen (journalism, Vestavia Hills)
Mary Kathryn Patterson (public relations, Tuscaloosa)
Contact
Misty Mathews, communication specialist, 205/348-6416, mmathews@ua.edu
Source
Mark Mayfield, associate director and editorial adviser for The Crimson White, 205/348-6453, msmayfield1@sa.ua.edu