From the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication:
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas—For the 11th year in a row, the Iowa State Daily was named Best All-Around Newspaper in the large student newspaper division in Region 7 of the Society of Professional Journalists, which includes some of the best college news media in the nation from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.
The editor in chief of the Iowa State Daily for the winning year was Katherine Klingseis, who now works for the Des Moines Register and will graduate next month.
Individual first place awards include Katelynn McCollough for breaking news; Alex Halsted, sports writing; Danielle Ferguson, in-depth reporting; Suhaib Tawil, general news photography; and Kelby Wingert, breaking news photography.
In addition, Bailey McGrath was a finalist for feature reporting; Wingert, for general news photography; and Tawil, for breaking news photography.
All winners now move on to the national competition, which include all 12 regions of the Society of Professional Journalists.
In 2008, the Iowa State Daily was named the Best All-Around Newspaper in the nation, and several individual students have won national awards during the last 11 years.
These were the only categories the Daily entered. Everyone who entered either won or was a finalist for an award.
Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper Winner: Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University Finalist: The University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
Breaking News Reporting (Large) Winner: “Explosions shake students” by Katelynn McCollough, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University Finalist: “Police arrest suspect in U.S. Bank robbery” by Emily Donovan, University Daily Kansan, The Daily Collegian, University of Kansas Finalist: “University distances itself from journalism professor’s controversial tweet” by Emily Donovan, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
In-Depth Reporting (Large) Winner: “Human trafficking series” by Danielle Ferguson, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University Finalist: “$1,163,237: Bookstore director admits to stealing for 10 years” by Megan Gates, The Standard, Missouri State University Finalist: “Where Does the Student Activity Fee Go” by Kristin Gallagher, Muleskinner, University of Central Missouri
Sports Writing (Large) Winner: “Welcome to Woody’s World” by Alex Halsted, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University Finalist: “Jeff Withey finds new friend in @FakeJeffWithey” by Blake Schuster, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas Finalist: “Ukulele-strumming Faifili plays different tune as KU LB” by Mike Vernon, Topeka Capital-Journal, University of Kansas
Feature Writing (Large) Winner: “Kirkwood Father Tries To Find Meaning in Daughter’s Death” by Allison Pohle, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, University of Missouri-Columbia Finalist: “Can my boyfriend rape me?” by Bailey McGrath, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State Daily Finalist: “We’re the Working Poor” by Jourdyn Kaarre, Lincoln Journal Star, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
ART/GRAPHICS Breaking News Photography (Large) Winner: “Coach Rhoads’ reaction to referee’s call” by Kelby Wingert, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University Finalist: “President Obama” by George Mullinix, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas Finalist: “Take back the night” by Suhaib Tawil, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University
General News Photography (Large) Winner: “ROTC training during spring 2013” by Suhaib Tawil, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University Finalist: “Bacon Fest” by Kelby Wingert, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org .