The University Chronicle earned nine awards at the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association’s College Better Newspaper Contest Jan. 28.
The award ceremony was held virtually via Zoom with winners being celebrated via YouTube. Student journalists submitted 315 submissions from colleges throughout the state. These submissions included articles, stories and photos. The College Better Newspaper Contest is a subset of the association’s overall Better Newspaper Contest for newspapers throughout the state.
University Chronicle Awards included:
First Place
Business Story
Tony Langfellow, former editor-in-chief
For: “SCSU to offer retirement incentives to close budget gap“
Langfellow is working for WSAW Television in Wausau, Wisconsin as a weekday general assignment reporter, multimedia journalist, and the producer/anchor of the Sunday morning news show.
“There’s no way I would have been working here and gotten to know things as fast as I did if I didn’t have those opportunities at school,” said Langfellow. “The combination of writing at the [University Chronicle and the reporting portion [at] UTVS definitely work hand-in-hand. You really have to do both to be successful.”
Local Breaking News Coverage
Tony Langfellow and Tim Speier
For: “UPDATE: Blazing fire takes historic Press Bar down“
Although working in more of a management role at the University Chronicle this year, University Chronicle Assistant Managing Editor Tim Speier is working as a Freelance Reporter in Sauk Center for Star Publications.
Second Place
Government/Public Affairs Reporting
Tony Langfellow
For: “UPDATE: Mayor Kleis declares St. Cloud under local emergency“
Social Issues
Tony Langfellow
For: “Retrenched SCSU librarian featured in documentary; no administration response on retrenchment“
Business Story
Anna Panek and Tim Speier
For: “Sherburne Hall to close in fall 2020”
Anna Panek is managing editor of the University Chronicle.
Third Place
Best Use of Multimedia
Tony Langfellow
For: “Future of St. Cloud’s Gateway Motel in jeopardy“
Sports Feature
Tim Speier
For: “Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza turns 30“
Investigative Reporting
Mark Wasson
For: “University continues fight against Title IX lawsuit“
Mark Wasson is the former lead reporter at the University Chronicle. During the pandemic, while still taking classes at St. Cloud State, Wasson took a full-time job as the public safety reporter for West Central Tribune in Willmar.
“[College media] is a kind of learning environment [where you’re] able to go out and create journalism that matters, that is truthful, and that holds people in positions of power accountable,” Wasson said. “Without a robust college news media, you lose a ton of accountability for colleges.”
General Excellence
Caitlyn Jordan, Bethanie Barrios, Tony Longfellow and Tim Speier
For: The University Chronicle’s April 2020 Print Edition
Caitlyn Jordan is the former layout designer and Bethanie Barrios is the former managing editor of the University Chronicle.
