2018 Collegiate Better Contest The 2018 WNA Foundation Collegiate Better Newspaper ly or bi-monthly OR at campuses with undergraduate enrollment Contest was judged by members of the Washington Newspaper of 7,499 or less. Categories with three or fewer entries were Publishers Association. The contest received 283 submissions in merged into the next highest circulation group. 20 categories from 11 student publications in . Eligible All active student publications in Wisconsin were eligible to entries were published between Sept. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2018. participate. Students received their awards March 8, 2019, at the Group A is comprised of that publish either weekly WNA Convention & Trade Show Student Honors Luncheon at or daily. Group B is comprised of newspapers that publish month- The Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wis.

General Excellence Second Place: The Daily Cardinal, Jennifer Rick Judge’s Comments: A “Chemistry TA relieved from teaching duties generally thorough account of lingering Group A/B amid allegations of white supremacy” - and ongoing investigations related to First Place: The Clarion - Judge’s Noah Habenstreit. Judge’s Comments: the university’s administering of and comments: Brilliantly developed, writing Well-reported piece. Clarified all aspects of responding to sexual harassment and is integrated and enhanced in layout, very the story to the reader. assault complaints involving faculty, staff attractive features. Third Place:College Days, “Controversial and students. The focus of these stories Second Place: Marquette Tribune - meeting of YAF and administrators” - further emphasizes the importance Judge’s Comments: Very clean design and Connor Renshaw. Judge’s Comments: of reliable information imbedded in top quality writing. Well-reported piece, provides clear public records and their availability. An Third Place: Advance-Titan - Judge’s timeline of events and details the entire Comments: First-rate coverage, story. ace writers in a well-balanced traditional Honorable Mention: The Clarion, newspaper format. “Immigration policy changes add to worries” - Adrienne Oliva. Judge’s Comments: Very well-written piece. Captures the Collegiate Journalist plight of DACA students. of the Year Group A/B Public Affairs Reporting First Place: Marquette Tribune - Group A Morgan Hughes. First Place: MediaMilwaukee, Second Place: MediaMilwaukee - “Generation Lockdown” - Staff. Judge’s Talis Shelbourne. Comments: Taking an issue of national Third Place: - significance, examining its history, its Matt O’Connor. effect on lives, using a current event with Honorable Mention: The Clarion - which to wrap it, brings it home to this Jessica Deegan. entry’s community through well-crafted Morgan Hughes, Marquette Tribune, on-scene reporting and visual support. Collegiate Journalist of the Year Breaking News Reporting Readers/viewers get a fully focused account via contemporary events and admirable effort sourcing/resourcing, Group A/B on-scene well-balanced reportage. This is reporting and writing/recording about the First Place: Marquette Tribune, not a gun-control story, but an evaluation issues disclosed here. “Wisconsin Supreme Court rules in of America’s Second Amendment effect Third Place: The Badger Herald, McAdams’ favor” - Morgan Hughes. on society — the positives, as advocates “Executive order to end DACA leaves UW Judge’s Comments: Followed the story maintain, and negatives as opponents dreamers living in limbo” - Alice Vagun. from the beginning to its conclusion. perceive. A national issue localized. Judge’s Comments: Very good narrative Reporting was concise and covered all Second Place: MediaMilwaukee, exploring the effects of DACA’s demise, bases, while coming out ahead of national “Exposing Sexual Harassment” - Talis though sourcing shows lawmakers aren’t news agencies. Shelbourne, Nyesha Stone, Miela Fetaw, willing to abandon efforts to restore (as of In-Depth Story influencer Amelia Skye tells her story” - Brooke Shepherd. Judge’s Comments: The Group A story has an engaging lede, an interesting First Place: Royal Purple, “The Heart of person to profile, and is backed up with American DREAMers” - Brad Allen. good sources to tie in with the story. Second Place: MediaMilwaukee, “Village Second Place: Arches, “Trigger That Flipped Back” - Royce Podeszwa, Warnings” - Quinn Clark. Judge’s Derek Grant. Comments: Interesting topic to explore Third Place: MediaMilwaukee, “Crossing backed by some facts on professors in the the Gun Divide” - Madison Sepanik, Henry classroom and an expert to add context to Morgan, Elizabeth Sloan. the topic. Honorable Mention: MediaMilwaukee, Third Place: Arches, “Too Black. Not “Un/Natural Disaster?” - Talis Shelbourne. Black Enough.” - Termeria Taper. Judge’s Comments: Good canvas of voices, Group B including those who came from white- centric areas and found challenges for not First Place: Arches, “StopSuicideMKE. fitting into stereotypes created by other com” - Staff. Judge’s Comments: The sheer people. depth of this project is incredible. Such a Honorable Mention: Stoutonia, “A variety of perspectives on an important Walking, Talking, Photo Shooting Blue Devil topic. Very well done. History Book” - Logan Myhre. Judge’s Second Place: The Clarion, “Active Comments: Great profile subject find, Shooter Situations” - Adrienne Oliva. but the first two paragraphs seemed to Judge’s Comments: Good work on an The Clarion, First Place, repeat themselves. The rest flowed well. I important, timely topic. Love the graphic encourage Logan to tighten up the writing Group A/B, General Excellence element that draws your attention to the and follow AP Style closer. You’re on the story and gives readers the most useful the article’s publications date). Excellent right path, and these steps will serve well. information up front. work personifying an issue that is filled Third Place: Stoutonia, “Behind with personal experiences and challenges. the Scenes of Campus Parking” - Katie Arts and Schulzetenberg. Judge’s Comments: Honorable Mention: The Badger Herald, Entertainment Story Interesting look at a topic that is surely “UW students set their sights on local Group A important to many students and relatable elections to bolster campus representation across many campuses. First Place: The Daily Cardinal, in city government” - Matt O’Connor. “Janesville’s story told to Madison book Judge’s Comments: Nicely crafted essay festival attendees” - Lucas Sczygelski. on student candidates for civic positions Second Place: Marquette Tribune, beyond campus. The dialogue is excellent Feature Story between the candidates. Even more Group A striking is the historical perspective woven into this column. Excellent writing, with First Place: MediaMilwaukee, “Barron, context, makes this an appealing story for Wisconsin: An Immigration Story” - readers. Madison Sepanik, Elizabeth Sloan. Judge’s Comments: Fascinating. What a great look into this world. I felt like I had visited after Group B reading the story. Second Place: The Badger Herald, First Place: Student Voice, “UWRF faces “Body hate and eating disorders, paired challenges of compression, inversion in with pressures of campus, plague the minds professors’ salaries” - Zach Dwyer. Judge’s of UW students” - Yusra Murad. Judge’s Comments: When you think of stagnant Comments: Beautiful and brave story. wages, professors don’t immediately come Good for you to tackle such difficult topics. to mind. But it affects them too. Good look Third Place: The Daily Cardinal, “How at the topic, and solid graphics to go along a 13-year-old Badgers superfan used with it. Instagram to become ‘part of the family’” - Second Place: The Clarion, “Wolves Thomas Valtin-Erwin. Judge’s Comments: Share: Team working on food insecurity What fun! Really enjoyed this story. issues brings resource fair to campus” - Heartwarming and so sweet. Andrew Kicmol. Judge’s Comments: Honorable Mention: Advance-Titan, Great story on an awesome project. “We can do it” - Kierra Carr. Judge’s Third Place: Stoutonia, “Voter Comments: I thought this was a great Suppression Silences Students on Campus” feature, good look into a community often - Elizabeth Vierkant. Judge’s Comments: overlooked. You buried the lede a bit in the second half of the second graph. Move that up and this Marquette Tribune, First Place, is really solid work. Group B Group A, Feature Photography First Place: Student Voice, “Fitness “Sophomore vlogger helps viewers adjust to college lifestyle” - Olivia Homel. Third Place: The Daily Cardinal, “The Blood is at the Doorstep is a testament to the power of documentary films” - Alex M. Jankovich. Honorable Mention: The Badger Herald, “This should be a Mac Miller interview” - Tolu Igun, Ben Sefarbi. Group B First Place: Arches, “Speaking Through Song” - Ashley Altan. Judge’s Comments: Nicely put together profile story on what makes musician Willy Porter tick, including vignettes from an example show. Second Place: Stoutonia, “The Menomonie Music Scene Finds a Home in The Abbey” - Bryce Parr. Judge’s Comments: Decently solid story that speaks to the local bar scene. The Badger Herald, First Place, Group A/B, News Photography Sports Story Group A “Proposed ‘Free Speech’ Act would stifle Binkley. Judge’s Comments: Personal and campus discourse” - Editorial Board. well-written, this piece carries a sense of First Place: The Badger Herald, “Fullback Judge’s Comments: There’s nothing more urgency. Nicely done. U: Why football’s forgotten position still important than free speech in this country. Third Place: Student Voice, “Gun reigns supreme in Madison” - Will Stern. This editorial captures that by reporting violence is horrible, but will only change if Judge’s Comments: Great story that uses how phony the legislature’s attempt was to we demand it” - Student Voice. detail on a little-known football position. say it would help free speech. Judge’s Comments: A well-written Second Place: The Badger Herald, Second Place: The Badger Herald, “Alec editorial that takes a strong position and “Wisconsin rugby caps offseason with Big Cooks sentencing shows judges must be held backs it up with facts. Good job. Ten Championship” - Adam Blackwell. accountable, like any other public official” Judge’s Comments: Straightforward sports - Editorial Board. Judge’s Comments: Column Writing story that is an easy, compelling read. A major problem in this country, and Third Place: Marquette Tribune, “Car obviously in this area, is how protected Group A accident forces women’s basketball to make judges are. They do not walk on water, and First Place: Royal Purple, “Fears of quick adjustment at Fiserv Forum” - John they need to be held accountable. Sexual Assault Persist” - Shannan Lojeski. Steppe. Judge’s Comments: Everyone on Third Place: Marquette Tribune, Judge’s Comments: By far the best writing campus would want to read this story. It’s “University investments demand in this category. The column is personal not every day that someone drives onto the transparency” - Maya Korenich, Editorial and emotional, but offers support and arena floor. Board. Judge’s Comments: This type of information for others. Nice job. Honorable Mention: Advance-Titan, information often seems to be hidden Second Place: The Badger Herald, “History stopped short” - Neal Hogden. from the public. Great idea bringing it to “Student city council candidates provide Judge’s Comments: Lots of information, the forefront to let them know you are valuable insight, representative leadership” - which the graphics help get across. watching. Ethan Carpenter. Judge’s Comments: Nice Honorable Mention: Advance-Titan, to see a column focused on a local issue. Group B “Recent cases prompt action” - Lauren Good research and solid arguments make Freund. Judge’s Comments: Great job of this a winner. First Place: Student Voice, “Rick Bowen reporting on the issue. But as an editorial Third Place: Marquette Tribune, court dedication reflects how far UWRF it needed less reporting and more opinion. “Student-faculty relationship ban needed basketball has come” - Zach Dwyer. Reporting should support the opinion, not at Marquette” - Matthew Harte. Judge’s Second Place: Student Voice, “National the other way around. Comments: Hard to imagine why this rule anthem protests raise questions nationally, hasn’t been adopted. Good information on within UWRF football team” - Zach Dwyer. Group B what has happened elsewhere. A quality Third Place: The Clarion, “Dealing with job. concussions” - Andrew Kicmol. First Place: Arches, “This is No Longer Honorable Mention: Arches, “Gotta Be a Political Issue” - Quinn Clark, Bryanna Group B a Champion” - Payton Hintz. Sanders. Judge’s Comments: Effective graphic presentation and strong writing First Place: Arches, “Beyond Bipolar” Editorial Writing make this a first place winner. Loved the - Julia Wachuta. Judge’s Comments: Group A dual perspective. Fantastic. Almost poetic. Love the short Second Place: The Clarion, “Speaker sentences, rhyme and reasoning. I feel I First Place: The Daily Cardinal, Ryan, we want real action” - Megan know more about being bipolar than if I would have read a long research paper. And the “team” approach makes this a Comments: You can feel the joy leaping Second Place: Arches, “Head Over critical example of that tactic’s success. Just off the page. Heart: Dating a Transracial Adoptee” - excellent! Third Place: MediaMilwaukee, Jamie Hollins. Judge’s Comments: Great Second Place: The Badger Herald, “War “Welcome to Barron” - Aubryana Bowen. job mixing your opinion and personal of words: Proposed legislation reignites Judge’s Comments: Very powerful. Great circumstances and getting experts to tensions on campus over free speech” capture of emotions and really shows us a explain it even more. Deeply personal. - Emily Hamer. Judge’s Comments: look into what this cultural group is going Third Place: The Clarion, “A survivor’s A terrific reporting and writing effort, through. perspective” - Hannah Switzer. Judge’s tackling a “sensitive” First Amendment Honorable Mention: The Badger Herald, Comments: Thank you for sharing your issue with a comprehensive analysis from “With Paul Ryan announcing retirement, personal story. Only great competition campus to the halls of the state legislature. Democrats and Republicans gauge potential kept you from placing higher. The story has exceptional balance; it does of blue wave” - Emily Hamer. Judge’s Honorable Mention: Student Voice, not focus on just the First Amendment Comments: Very powerful. Very creative. challenge, but reflects on how free speech issues affect the campus environment, Group B positives and negatives. Exceptional sourcing, too! First Place: Arches, “Wicked Bat Wings” Third Place: Marquette Tribune, - Ashley Altan. Judge’s Comments: Pro “MUPD uses undercover cops, K-9 units to magazine-quality photo. The circle pattern investigate drug cases” - Sydney Czyzon. of food plates plus the action of the hands, Judge’s Comments: A very good story, with the piece of napkin at the bottom using records and accountable live sources of the centered teal plate and the vertical to examine what appears to be challenging wood lines from the table, really does it to drug-related issues on this campus, and make this a great magazine-style feature how the campus police respond and photo! investigate reported abuses. Well reported, Second Place: The Clarion, “A holiday well written. to remember” - Emily Dimond. Judge’s Honorable Mention: The Badger Comments: Good composition and filling Herald, “Instead of facing removal hearings the frame helped this news photo hit all for homophobic, anti-Semitic comments, the right points. Student Judiciary member quietly resigned” Third Place: The Clarion, “Get ready to - Matt O’Connor. Judge’s Comments: wake up early on Record Store Day” - Max A good account, using records and Goldberg. Judge’s Comments: Cool idea direct human sourcing, to report on a and approach to what could have become a challenging issue before the university’s bland pic of people perusing records. The Badger Herald, First Place, student Judiciary Committee. Records Group A/B, Newspaper Promotion disclosed the issue, good reporting put it Sports Photography into “context” with those involved. Good Group A/B reporting; good writing. “Danger and harassment can be around First Place: College Days, “Ripon any corner for women” - Lauren Simenson. College volleyball” - Becky Bajt. Judge’s Judge’s Comments: Excellent job of News Photography Comments: Great quality image caught putting the reader in your shoes. I felt like Group A/B the volleyball right as it left player’s I was there and felt your fear. Again, only fingertips. great competition kept you from placing First Place: The Badger Herald, “I can’t Second Place: The Badger Herald, higher. eat: Students gather in Gordon to protest “Ethan Happ” - Daniel Yun. Judge’s mandatory dining plan” - Emily Hamer. Comments: Flying high here to get a great Freedom of Second Place: MediaMilwaukee, moment in a basketball game. Information Award “Generation Lockdown” - Henry Morgan. Third Place: The Clarion, “Starting Group A/B Third Place: Marquette Tribune, “Look strong” - Tessa Morhardt. Judge’s inside: Wild Commons welcomes first Comments: Collision in soccer catches a First Place: MediaMilwaukee, “Sexual students” - Sydney Czyzon. great moment. harassment on campus” - Talis Shelbourne, Honorable Mention: MediaMilwaukee, Jennifer Rick, Nyesha Stone, Miela Fetaw, “Hurricane Harvey” - Talis Shelbourne. Elizabeth Sloan. Judge’s Comments: An Infographic exceptional entry, but most important, Feature Photography Group A an exceptional team effort to report with Group A First Place: Marquette Tribune, detail and attribution the human effect “Students learn to register to vote with of harassment issues on this campus. The First Place: Marquette Tribune, “Men Milwaukee organizations” - Clara Janzen. stories here are not composed with just assaulted too” - Photo Staff. Judge’s Judge’s Comments: Nice attention the accounts delivered in public records, Comments: There is so much power in grabbing graphic presents lot of useful but the human impact of harassment on these photographs. I want to read this information well. One thing to watch campus. It’s reflective, the stories relate, story, because I feel like these portraits would be “widows” – essentially leaving on alleged administrative indifference connect with you immediately. one single word on a line all by itself (the to complaints with absence of resolution Second Place: Advance-Titan, “Fans word “day” on the very last section). Bump . . . both for victims and those accused. cheer” - Alicia Kahl, Krystal Knuth. Judge’s it up to the previous line with the other Third Place: Arches, “Let’s Take a Walk” text – that will save space and look clean. - Teresa Wooster. Judge’s Comments: This I realize that’s super picky, but sometimes is great stuff. Visually appealing but also attention to the smallest detail can make a very informative. difference. Honorable Mention: Arches, “The Second Place: Marquette Tribune, Persistence of Racial/Ethnic Stereotypes” - “MUPD uses undercover cops, K-9 units to Payton Hintz. Judge’s Comments: Good investigate drug cases” - Sydney Czyzon. work. Love the different colored hands Judge’s Comments: I like the variety of at the bottom. The word “lazy” definitely items shown in the graphic and colors jumps out at you, which is an important used. The breakdown by residence hall part of the information being presented. is quite interesting. Overall, nice and informative. As an outsider looking in, Page Design it took me a second to figure out what MUPD was – I think putting a title or Group A heading over the entire graphic would First Place: Advance-Titan - Morgan have been helpful – something starting Van Lanen, Alex Nemec, Laura Dickinson. with “Marquette University’s Police Judge’s Comments: LOVE the design on Department’s investigation...” That would the main story. The masthead over the have spelled it out quickly for someone not top of the photo. The headline using the acquainted with the area. number on the jersey. Great creativity that Third Place: Advance-Titan, really works. The Daily Cardinal, First Place, “Department of Timeline” - Second Place: The Badger Herald, “After Group B, Editorial Writing Ana Maria Anstett. Judge’s Comments: investigating racist past, UW grapples Nice, clean, simple timeline. I like the with creating an inclusive future” - Lily combination of photos and text. Oberstein. Judge’s Comments: Excellent Honorable Mention: Marquette design work. Very creative drawings with issue” - Staff. Tribune, “Students launch blockchain the KKK hood coming out of the backpack Second Place: The Badger Herald, “‘I and near the trash. Well done. Can’t Draw’ - Lynda Barry” - Violet Wang. Third Place: The Badger Herald, Third Place: The Clarion, “Dealing with “Money Talks” - Sam Christensen. Judge’s concussions” - Andrew Kicmol, Sean Bull. Comments: Love the design. Simple, yet Honorable Mention: The Clarion, delivers an effective message. “Grant sparks innovation” - Jessica Deegan, Jessica Pokrandt, Max Goldberg. Group B Website First Place: The Clarion - Alexandra Christensen. Judge’s Comments: I like Group A/B the various photos and text at the top to First Place: Marquette Tribune - Staff. direct the reader inside. I like the use of Second Place: MediaMilwaukee - Staff. the interesting survey graphic. It looks like Third Place: Arches - Staff. you have a nice package of stories relating Honorable Mention: The Clarion - The Clarion, First Place, to the hunger topic – Nice to address a Dylan Martin. Group A/B, Advertisement common topic from several angles. Second Place: Arches, “Cover Fall 2017” Advertisement - Denisse Hernandez. Judge’s Comments: consulting firm” - Josh Anderson. Judge’s Love the graphic with the name in the Group A/B Comments: A graphic is definitely useful coffee. You should continue that fun look First Place: The Clarion, “Changing the in explaining blockchain. I had no idea with the other copy on the page – the story narrative” - Bernadette Witzack. what it was and coupled with the story, names and page numbers are relatively Second Place: College Days, “Mugs it makes more sense. Maybe adding one boring in comparison. Use a more fun, Coffeehouse crossword” - John Myers. more section at the top just to give the edgy font to continue the look throughout. Third Place: The Clarion, “Winterfest” - definition of blockchain could have been Third Place: Arches, “Cover Fall 2018” - Bernadette Witzack. useful. But very informative in a nice Denisse Hernandez. Judge’s Comments: simple step-by-step design. Interesting, edgy graphic draws the eye in. Could have played with the font more Newspaper Promotion Group B using various sizes like enlarging the 66% Group A/B and “Go unreported” to grab attention. First Place: The Badger Herald, “New First Place: The Clarion, “Hunger survey The font just seems a bit boring for the Member Promotional” - Lily Oberstein. results” - Alexandra Christensen. Judge’s edgy graphic. Second Place: Advance-Titan, Comments: Love the blender and serving “MailChimp newsletter” - Elizabeth Pletzer. tray pie charts. Very creative. Third Place: Marquette Tribune, “Classes Second Place: College Days, “March Use of Multimedia end, but our basketball coverage doesn’t” - on!” - Cordell Walker, Mackenzie Dibelius. Group A/B John Steppe. Judge’s Comments: Good use of a timeline First Place: Arches, “March 2018 online approach and lots of good information.