Awards & Honors
MSU students win numerous awards in regional journalism conference

MSU students won 13 awards at the 2021 awards presentation for the best in broadcast, print and online journalism. The 13 awards this year matches last year’s 13 awards in the annual “Best of the South” competition.

The awards presentation was held virtually by the Southeast Journalism Conference, Friday March 26, 2021. Due to the pandemic, SEJC’s “on-site” competition did not occur (where MSU won an additional three awards last year). SEJC’s contest features student work from throughout the past year. MSU students earned honors in:

MSU Individual Awards:

  • Bronson Woodruff - Best Radio Feature Reporter or Best TV Hard News Reporter – 1st place
  • Hannah Blankenship - Best News Writer – 3rd place
  • Hannah Vanderberg - Best Radio Journalist – 3rd place
  • Hannah Blankenship - Best Journalism Research Paper – 3rd place
  • Hannah Vanderberg - Best Radio Hard News Reporter – 3rd place
  • Kamien Bell – Best Tv Journalist – 3rd place
  • Sarah Morgan Johnson - Best Multimedia Journalist – 3rd place
  • Hannah Blankenship - College Journalist of the Year – 6th place
  • Dylan Bufkin - Best Special Event Reporter/Editor – 7th place
  • Mary Caitlyn Wright - Best Arts and Entertainment Writer – 7th place

MSU School Awards:

  • Best College Video News Program (Take 30) 2nd place
  • Best College Radio Station (Hannah Vanderberg, John Lee, Bronson Woodruff) 2nd place
  • Best College Audio News Program (Hannah Vanderberg, John Lee, Bronson Woodruff) 4th place

According to Dr. Terry Likes, Head of the Department of Communication, “These phenomenal students have had a stellar year, especially during the pandemic.  It is nice to see their hard work paying off with this kind of recognition. I’d also like to commend the faculty, and those that oversee campus media (Reflector, WMSV, Take 30 News) for their hard work for preparing our students for excellence.” 

The Southeast Journalism Conference is a vibrant learning community of journalists honing their craft through professional development and the Best of the South Collegiate Journalism Competition. An organization comprised of nearly 50 member colleges and universities in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, SEJC was created to encourage greater interest in student journalism and to form closer ties among journalism schools in the Southeast United States.