BY HAWLEY MARTIN
hrmartin@go.olemiss.edu
Two broadcast journalism majors won a first-place national award in the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence contest, which honors the best of collegiate journalism.
Margaret Ann Morgan and Stephen Quinn, who graduated in May from the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, were honored for “Live from Biloxi-Tracking Isaac,” their television breaking news coverage of Hurricane Isaac. It aired in late August on the student-produced NewsWatch. Morgan and Quinn provided multimedia content from the Coast for NewsWatch, The Daily Mississippian and theDMonline.com. They have been actively involved at the Student Media Center for several years.
In addition, Ole Miss students also earned honors as finalists in two other categories. The Flood of the Century magazine is a finalist in the best student magazine category. Journalism major Jared Burleson is a finalist for his feature photography in the publication.
Students produced the magazine in an in-depth reporting class led by instructor Bill Rose.
SPJ received more than 4,600 entries this year. Mark of Excellence judges choose only one national winner and two national finalists in each category. Winners were announced in early May and the awards will be presented at the SPJ national conference Aug. 25 in Anaheim, Calif.
