Students from Focal Point, The State News and Impact 89-FM represented the J-School in distinguished fashion in the Society for Professional Journalists Region 4 contest. They earned 18 awards in Broadcast and Print, more than any university in Region 4, which includes Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The Focal Point News staff won the Best All-Around Television News Magazine and Best All-Around Television Newscast.
The State News staff was a finalist for the Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large).
Impact 89FM made a splash at the competition as Luke Sloan was the winner in the Radio Sports Reporting category for Impact Sports Update.
Ian Gilmour was the winner of the Broadcast/Online News Videography category for “The next generation of innovation.” Sam Britten was a finalist for “This is it for us, please let us play.”
Gilmour also won the Broadcast/Online Sports Videography category for “One kick at a time.”
Britten won the Television Feature Reporting category for “You guys are the stars. You just make me shine, that's all.” Regan Holgate and Gilmour were finalists in the category for “More green in the southeast.”
The State News’ Jayna Bardahl was the winner of the Sports Writing (Large) category for “Beauty vs. body: MSU's female student-athletes share body image struggles.”
In Broadcast/Online Feature Videography, Holgate was a finalist for “A new twist in Dewitt.” Britten was also a finalist for “You guys are the stars. You just make me shine, that's all.”
In the Breaking News Photography category, The State News’ Lauren DeMay and Chloe Trofatter were finalists. DeMay’s entry was titled “M.A.C. Avenue after Michigan State's 37-33 victory over Michigan.” Trofatter’s entry was titled “ ‘Stop the spending’ protest fills Howell streets as Biden comes to town.”
DeMay was the winner of the Sports Photography category for “Junior running back Kenneth Walker III celebrates after scoring a touchdown.” Devin Anderson-Torrez was a finalist for “Michigan State football takes down Pitt 31-21 in the Peach Bowl.”
Joe Dandron was a finalist in the In-Depth Reporting category for “The story of MSU's last competing diver: Amanda Ling.” Gilmour was a finalist in the Television Sports Reporting category for “One kick at a time.”
Those who place first will now be sent to the national competition against the other regions.