J-School scores Hearst hat trick

For the sixth consecutive year, the UM School of Journalism has placed in the Top 10 of the Hearst Journalism Awards program, a year-long competition made up of 12 separate contests.

Cross	Hayes	Marshall	Dent	Moy	Saboe	Ross	Hornstein	Childress

The J-School placed 10th overall among journalism schools nationwide, and eighth in broadcast news. Last year, the J-School placed seventh overall, with a fifth place showing in broadcast news.

Nine students won individual awards during the competition, accruing points toward the final tally. One of the nine, senior Chelsi Moy, won two awards.

“To be ranked amongst the top ten journalism schools in the overall national Hearst competition is a major  honor," said Journalism Dean Jerry Brown. "Cheers to the students. By winning in all categories, they demonstrated both a depth and breadth of talent and professional growth.”

The Hearst program, which gives more than $400,000 in awards, matching grants and stipends yearly, was founded in the late 1940s by publisher William Randolph Hearst. The competition consists of three photo, six writing and four broadcast news contests annually. Of approximately 400 journalism programs in the country, 105 are accredited by the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication and are eligible to participate in the awards program.

The UM J-School has placed in the top ten every year since 1999, when it came in fifth, its highest ranking. In the two previous years, the school just missed the top ten with 11th place overall rankings. In 1996, it placed eighth.

Hearst Award Winners, UM J-School, 2003-2004