Works of 20 Students and 3 Alumni Honored as 'Best in Indiana Journalism'

April 25, 2009

April 25, 2009, Greencastle, Ind. — The works of 20 DePauw University student journalists at WGRE are being honored with four awards in the Society of Professional Journalists' annual Best in Indiana Journalism contest. In addition, three DePauw alumni received SPJ awards in six categories.

The awards were presented last night at a ceremony at the Indianapolis Marriott North. The competition was open to all journalists working in Indiana as well as students of Indiana colleges and universities. All entries were published or broadcast during calendar year 2007.

In the student division, winners included:

• BEST RADIO NEWSCAST - First place: John Herrick, WGRE
• BEST RADIO DOCUMENTARY OR SERIES - First place: John Herrick, Kate Carrico, Anna Whitelaw, Kelly Knox, WGRE; Second place: Ellen Aleksa, Brian Fisher, Elizabeth Ratchford, Flora Gitsis, WGRE
• BEST RADIO FEATURE - Second place: Tiffany Camhi, Stephen Kendrick, Alyssa Jewell, Laura Wiscomb, Samantha Cappadona, WGRE
• BEST RADIO ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE - First place: Samantha Crispin, Kevin Hoesley, Gail Garrison, Scott White, Tyler Archer, Kyle Shockey, Alfredo Naval, WGRE

The following DePauw alumni were honored in the professional division of the SPJ awards:

• BEST RADIO USE OF SOUND - First place: Stan Jastrzebski '03, WFIU radio, Bloomington
• BEST COVERAGE OF CHILDRENS ISSUES (any radio station) - First place: Stan Jastrzebski '03, WFIU radio, Bloomington
• BEST TELEVISION ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE (outside Indianapolis market) - Second place: Susan Dinkel '95, WTHI-TV, Terre Haute
• BEST MEDICAL/SCIENCE REPORTING (any radio station) - First place (shared with two colleagues): Sandy Roob '83, WFYI radio, Indianapolis
• BEST COVERAGE OF GOVERNMENT (any radio station) - Second place: Stan Jastrzebski '03, WFIU radio, Bloomington
• BEST TELEVISION NEWSCAST (outside Indianapolis market) - Second place: Susan Dinkel '95, WTHI-TV, Terre Haute

A complete list of winners is posted at IndyStar.com.

The Society of Professional Journalists, which was founded at DePauw University in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, is today the nation's most broad-based journalism organization. SPJ is dedicated to improving and protecting journalism. It is the nation's most broad-based journalism organization, encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. 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.

On April 17, SPJ's national leadership held a day-long celebration at DePauw to mark the organization's 100th anniversary, which included a keynote Ubben Lecture by award-winning journalist Jane Pauley.

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