Eight Lipscomb students place at this year's Southeast Journalism Conference
Lacey Klotz |
Lipscomb’s Department of Communication and Journalism exists to provide students with outstanding education, experience in interpersonal, group, public and mass communication so that they may be excellent communicators, listeners and critical thinkers.
One way it does this is by providing students with opportunities to surround themselves with some of the top student journalists in the country.
For its seventh year, the department has sent gifted students who have published or broadcast standout work on the university’s Lumination Network to the Southeast Journalism Conference to compete against some of the top journalism schools in the region.
This year, Lipscomb University placed in 12 categories overall at the conference.
SEJC is an annual competition for 53 universities in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The three-day conference took place this year on Feb. 18-20 in Clarksville, Tennessee, on the campus of Austin Peay State University.
SEJC was created as a means to encourage greater interest in student journalism and to form closer ties among journalism schools in the Southeast United States. It comprises two competitions: the Best of the South and the on-site contest.
For the Best of South Competition, 53 schools submitted student work published between November 2014 and November 2015. Of the 441 entries in the Best of South Competition, seven Lipscomb students walked away with awards in nine categories.
- Erin Turner -- First place, Best Multimedia Journalist; fifth place, Best Press Photographer; fifth place, College Journalist of the Year
- Leslie Newman -- Third place, Best Television Hard News Reporter
- Becca Risley -- Fifth place, Best News Writer
- Stephanie Schiraldi -- Sixth place, Best Arts and Entertainment Writer
- Brianna Langley -- Seventh place, Best Feature Writer
- Lumination News -- Fifth place, Best College Video News Program
- Lumination Network -- Seventh place, Best College Website
Erin Turner, a junior journalism and new media major and editor-in-chief for Lumination, placed in four awards at the conference, including first place as Best Multimedia Journalist. She was one of the most decorated students at the conference.
Although this conference helps her to grow and is a rewarding experience, Turner said she strives to produce quality work on a daily basis.
“The Southeast Journalism Conference is not the only thing that helps me grow as a photographer and journalist, but it is a fun reward after a year of hard work,” Turner explained. “The conference also allows me to meet other student journalists and photographers and learn new things from what they're doing with their publications.”
Jimmy McCollum, professor of communication and journalism, said that the department is very proud of Turner and her commitment to excellence.
“It was wonderful to see these awards attest that Lipscomb has one of the best college journalists in the South,” McCollum said. “We advisers are fortunate to experience her excellence as well as how she consistently guides Lumination with professionalism and kindness.”
McCollum added that of the Lipscomb awards, one of the most impressive was receiving seventh place in the Best College Website category.
“This was a huge honor because it was one of the most competitive categories among the 53 schools,” McCollum said. “Lumination strives to be excellent, and this was a very encouraging honor.”
In addition to the Best of South Competition, the on-site contest provides students the opportunity to compete during the conference itself. The contest features 12 categories including news writing, features, sports writing, public relations, TV news reporting and more.
Of the eight students at the awards, four Lipscomb students placed in the on-site contest.
- Erin Turner -- Second place, News Photography
- Anna McClure -- Second place, Radio News Reporting
- Nicole Anderson and Veronica Williams -- Third place, Public Relations
For the first time, Lipscomb sent two public relations students, Nicole Anderson and Veronica Williams, to compete in the PR category of the on-site contest.
“They did exceptionally well, placing third in the category,” McCollum said. “The students were prepped a few days before the contest by Aerial Ellis, our instructor in public relations, on how to best approach potential cases, and that was extremely beneficial for our students.”
McCollum explained that the Southeast Journalism Conference is one of three contests that the department enters each year. The other two contests include the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence awards and the Tennessee Associated Press.
“I have heard from the Society of Professional Journalists headquarters, and am happy to announce that several Lipscomb students including Erin Turner, Janice Ng, Anna McClure, Aaron Schmelzer and Patrick Carpenter are finalists for SPJ’s Mark of Excellence Awards for Region 12 including Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas,” he said. "It is also my pleasure to announce that Lumination staffers Erin Turner, Anna McClure and Colleen Casner and Lumination itself have been named as finalists for eight Tennessee Associated Press awards."
Lumination Network is Lipscomb University’s official student news service with a staff made up of six students. Lumination Network publishes in several formats including articles, photo galleries, TV and radio.
Lumination is advised by McCollum and Tim Ghianni, journalist in residence, who oversee the website content; Alan Griggs, chair and associate professor of communication and journalism, who oversees the TV newscast; and Wayne Campbell, adjunct instructor, who oversees Lumination Radio.
For more information about Lumination Network visit: http://luminationnetwork.com/.