Herd Media staff recognized for excellence, top website at SEJC Best of South Awards
Kim Chaudoin |
Micah Barkley, Anna Grace Hudson, Alaina Morris and Trey Weston all placed in the Southeastern Journalism Conference’s (SEJC) Best of South Awards on-site competition.
Journalists from Lipscomb’s School of Communication representing Herd Media, the university’s official student news service, once again left their mark in this year’s Southeastern Journalism Conference’s (SEJC) Best of South Awards with 12 awards earned.
This year, 287 submissions by students from 25 colleges were ranked in 29 categories as being among the Best of the South in the SEJC’s annual journalism awards competition that took place during the organization’s annual conference, held this year in Thibodaux, Louisiana, Feb. 10-11. The SEJC competition is open to the organization’s member schools from eight states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Individual and category winners include:
- Best Sports Writer, First place: Danny Kotula
- Best Television News Feature Reporter, Fourth place: Shawna Mann
- Best Radio News Feature Reporter, First place: Shawna Mann
- Best College Website, First place: Herd Media
- Best College Audio News Program, Fourth place: The Bison
- Best College Radio Station, Second place: The Bison
- College Journalist of the Year, Third place: Danny Kotula
In addition, four student journalists participated in SEJC's on-site competition. For the first time in Lipscomb's history, all students competing placed in these events. These winners are:
- Feature Writing, Third place: Micah Barkley
- Media History, First place: Anna Grace Hudson
- Radio Reporting, Third place: Alaina Morris
- Current Events, Second place: Trey Weston
- Sports Writing, Third place: Trey Weston
These awards follow a rebranding of Lipscomb’s student news service that launched in November. Sarah Gibson, professor and chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Communication and Journalism, said the rebrand of the school’s previous student news service, Lumination, came as the result of a need to reposition student media as an answer to the changing media landscape.
“To prepare our students for the future of the industry, we needed to embrace a digital native approach to storytelling. It was important to take storytelling basics and adapt them to new and innovative forms of media,” explained Gibson. “If our students can tell compelling stories across multiple platforms, they will be well positioned for whatever the future of journalism holds.”
Gibson said to do this, the department underwent a complete rebrand and looked for ways to bring in new ideas while building on the foundation of traditional journalism.
“When you push into innovative ideas, there can be some fear and apprehension about how those ideas might be received,” she continued. “These awards are confirmation that we are on the right track. They signal what we all suspected, the way users consume and engage with news is changing and the industry must continue to adapt to these changes.”
“Student media is the heartbeat of our department. Its success and ability to thrive has invigorated our classrooms,” said Gibson. “Our website and social media posts give us real time data that we can use to analyze, understand, and build compelling content for our audience. We are creating the next generation of storytellers, journalists and PR professionals.”
Adjunct communication faculty Demetria Kalodimos, award-winning journalist and longtime WSMV anchor, said she thinks this year’s competition success reflects Gibson’s leadership and vision for the student media program.
“I think our showing speaks to the energy of the department and the leadership of Professor Gibson,” she said. “She is always a few steps ahead in terms of trends and technology. I’ve noticed the esprit de corps among our Herd Media crew and when they see the rewards and recognition it’s contagious.”
Many of the Lipscomb students who were recognized are new to the university.
"The four students who attended the conference -- two freshmen and two transfer students -- all were new to Lipscomb this past August," said Jimmy McCollum, professor of communication and journalism. "That reflects the Herd Media staff. Almost the entire staff began this past fall. They have bought into our new platform and this is very exciting as we think about the future growth of this program. And to see Micah, Anna Grace, Alaina and Trey embrace the challenge of the on-site competitions — not to mention excel in them — was very exciting."
Lipscomb’s student news service is approaching its 100th anniversary. It began as the literary publication, Havalind Acts, which then evolved into the newspaper format of The Babbler and then to the online news organization Lumination Network. Herd Media is the latest student media innovation.
“When we rebranded, it was very important to me that we know who we are as Lipscomb media. I spent the summer in the archives learning about the history of student media,” said Gibson. “We are grounded in our uniquely Lipscomb past. We are stewards of the student media legacy. We couldn’t have a quality program without the acknowledgment of all who came before us. As we are coming up on the 100th anniversary of student media at Lipscomb, I truly believe that the student staff from the past 100 years would be proud to see how we’ve built upon their foundation. I hope that in another 100 years student media continues to grow, adapt, and build the next generation of digital storytellers and journalists.”
The School of Communication, which includes the Department of Communication and Journalism, is housed in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. It offers undergraduate degrees in advertising, journalism and new media, public relations and sports media.
— Photos submitted by Herd Media