VCU Student Journalists, Media Outlets Recognized for Excellence

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University student journalists and media outlets were recognized with 11 “Mark of Excellence” awards last weekend by the Society of Professional Journalists, including a best all-around television newscast award for the VCU InSight student news program. VCU competed against other four-year colleges and universities in Region 2, which includes Virginia, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and North Carolina. 

In addition to the award for best newscast, VCU students and outlets were awarded first place in the categories of feature photography, general news photography and breaking news reporting.

VCU Insight includes student contributions from newscasting and studio production classes in the School of Mass Communications.

‘I'm thrilled that our students have been recognized for their hard work and solid journalism,” said Tim Bajkiewicz, Ph.D., associate professor of broadcast journalism and faculty advisor/news director of VCU InSight. “InSight is the kind of class where it all comes together. To see that we've received a regional first place is really something special.”

The honorees were awarded certificates during the Region 2 Society of Professional Journalists Spring Conference in Norfolk. First-place winners at the regional level automatically advance to the national round of judging, with winners announced in May.

Here is the complete list of VCU winners:

Breaking News Photography
• Third Place: “Hundreds Mourn” by Zack Gibson.

Feature Photography
• First Place: “Best Friends Day” by Kyle Laferriere.

General News Photography
• First Place: “Violinist Eric Stanley” by Kyle Laferriere.

Photo Illustration
• Second Place: “Dorm Smoking Ban” by Mel Kobran.

Sports Photography
• Second Place: “Sanders Dunk Poster” by Kyle Laferriere.

Best Student Magazine
• Third Place: “Ink.”

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
• Third Place: “The Commonwealth Times.”

Breaking News Reporting
• First Place: “Marshall: Disabled kids are God’s punishment” by Kelsey Radcliffe.
• Second Place: “Protest of more than 1,000” by Erica Terrini.

Best Independent Online Student Publication
• Third Place: “Rams Review.”

Best All-Around Television Newscast
• First Place: “VCU InSight.”

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, the Society of Professional Journalists 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.