VCU’s Commonwealth Times Wins National Journalism Award

By Tom Gresham

The Commonwealth Times, the student newspaper of Virginia Commonwealth University, has received a 2007 Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for its coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings in April of last year.

The independent student-run newspaper was the sole winner in the "Breaking News Reporting" category of the annual awards for college journalists. More than 3,400 entries were submitted for the awards in 39 categories. The Commonwealth Times was honored for its issue following the Virginia Tech tragedy.

Pat Kane, now a graduate of the VCU School of Mass Communications, served as executive editor of the Commonwealth Times at the time of the Virginia Tech coverage.

"This award is a testament to the quality work the Commonwealth Times produces on a regular basis," said Greg Weatherford, director of student media, a division of VCU Student Affairs and Enrollment Services. "The staff deserves this recognition for its hard work and outstanding coverage of a difficult story."

VCU student media includes the Commonwealth Times, the Vine magazine, WVCW radio and Poictesme and Amendment literary magazines.

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation's most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. For a complete listing of the 2007 Mark of Excellence Award winners, visit http://www.spj.org.