Russellville, AR – Contributed – Arkansas State University students earned 55 awards at the Arkansas College Media Association’s (ACMA) annual spring convention, including Website of the Year in the general excellence category for The Herald.

The Herald also received an honorable mention in the Newspaper of the Year general excellence competition. Individuals winning multiple honors include:

  • Herald editor-in-chief Jerry Don Burton of Vanndale won nine awards including five first-place certificates, three thirds, and an honorable mention;
  • Herald news editor Allie Carson of Jonesboro (12 awards including one first, four seconds, three thirds and four honorable mentions);
  • Herald photographer Ibuki Hinohara of Nagano, Japan (10 awards including four firsts, two seconds, three thirds and an honorable mention);
  • former Herald sports editor William Livingston of Hot Springs (eight awards including two firsts, three seconds, two thirds and an honorable mention);
  • former Herald arts and entertainment editor Elijah Templeton of Jonesboro (five awards including two firsts, one third and two honorable mentions);
  • Herald arts and entertainment editor Amelia Young of Glenwood (four awards including one first and three thirds);
  • ASU-TV’s Christian Wilcox of Jackson, Tenn. (three awards including a first, second and third);
  • Former Herald life editor Laila Casiano of Paragould (three awards including two seconds and an honorable mention);
  • Former Herald news editor Shailey Wooldridge of Caraway and ASU-TV producers Carson Campbell of Bay and Emily Pilkington of Clinton (one second and an honorable mention, respectively).

Other winners included Tristan Bates of Cabot; David Carey of Bartlett, Tenn.; Makenzie Cutler of Harrison; Liliana Dawson of Olive Branch, Miss.; Eric Fluke of Warsaw, Ind.; TeeJay Jones of Marianna; Julie McKee of Cabot; Laura Moore of Corning; Thanh Nguyen of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; Ty Phillips of Harrison; and Shayaan Sayeed of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

“While I am immensely proud of the editors and staff at The Herald, I can’t say I’m surprised we won as much as we did,” Burton said. “The work we produced last year, despite all the challenges facing us, was award worthy and it felt great to finally receive that validation at ACMA. Still, I want to note that we don’t write to win awards. Our first and most integral duty is to inform the campus and community. As long as we’re upholding that standard, we’re doing well.”

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ASU-TV earned six awards in the competition including a sweep of the Television Feature category. ASU-TV faculty adviser Dustin Sullivan noted the impact of ACMA awards.

“I’m grateful that I get to see all the hard work of the students in our School of Media and Journalism being recognized by this amazing organization,” Sullivan said. “Having nationwide media professionals see that our students can produce professional content is a testament that our program provides students with the opportunities, from day one, to produce content that is award worthy.”

Dr. Lillie Fears, A-State’s School of Media & Journalism interim director, noted the success reflects on the quality of work produced by students engaging in the new mass communication major.

“I am incredibly proud of our students and the way they represented the School of Media and Journalism,” Fears said. “Their success at the Arkansas College Media Association is a direct result of their hard work, creativity and dedication to excellence in storytelling, as well as the instruction and mentoring our faculty have been investing in their education and training.”

Arkansas Tech University hosted the event also attended by Central Baptist College, Harding University, John Brown University, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Ouachita Baptist University, University of the Ozarks, and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, all of which competed in the annual media contest.

National members of the College Media Association judged the event. The Arkansas College Media Association has been serving Arkansas’ collegiate student journalists since 1929.

LIST OF AWARDS

General Excellence

  • Winner – Website of the Year – The Herald
  • Honorable Mention – Newspaper of the Year – The Herald

First Place

  • Newspaper Editorial Page Layout – Jerry Don Burton & Elijah Templeton
  • Newspaper Front Page Layout – Jerry Don Burton
  • Newspaper General Column – Elijah Templeton
  • Newspaper Meeting/Speech Coverage – Jerry Don Burton
  • Newspaper News Photo – Ibuki Hinohara
  • Newspaper Spot News Photo – Ibuki Hinohara
  • Newspaper Review Writing – Jerry Don Burton
  • Newspaper Sports Column Writing – William Livingston
  • Television Feature – Christian Wilcox, Tristan Bates, Liliana Dawson & Thanh Nguyen
  • Online A&E Articles – Amelia Young
  • Online Election/Political – Allie Carson
  • Online Feature Photo – Ibuki Hinohara
  • Online Meeting/Speech Coverage – Jerry Don Burton
  • Online Sports Writing – William Livingston
  • Online Spot News Photo – Ibuki Hinohara

Second Place

  • Newspaper Editorial Page Layout – Allie Carson, Ella Dobson, Shayaan Sayeed & Ibuki Hinohara
  • Newspaper Election/Political – Laila Casiano & Shailey Wooldridge
  • Newspaper Spot News Photo – Ibuki Hinohara
  • Newspaper Sports Page Layout – William Livingston
  • Television Feature – Makenzi Cutler
  • Online Arts & Entertainment Articles – Allie Carson
  • Online Headlines – William Livingston
  • Social Media Promotion – Christian Wilcox, Carson Campbell, Emily Pilkington & Julia McKee
  • Online Sports Writing – William Livingston
  • Online Topical Reporting/Blogs – Laila Casiano
  • Online Spot News Photo – Allie Carson

Third Place

  • Newspaper Election/Political – Jerry Don Burton & Allie Carson
  • Newspaper Feature Page Layout – Elijah Templeton
  • Newspaper Front Page Layout – Jerry Don Burton
  • Newspaper General Column – William Livingston
  • Newspaper Headlines – Jerry Don Burton
  • Newspaper News Photo – Ibuki Hinohara
  • Newspaper Spot News Photo – Ibuki Hinohara
  • Newspaper Review Writing – Amelia Young
  • Newspaper Sports Photo – Ibuki Hinohara
  • Television Feature – Ty Phillips, David Carey, Laura Moore & TeeJay Jones
  • Online Breaking News (within 24 hours) – Allie Carson & William Livingston
  • Online Election/Political – Allie Carson
  • Online Feature Writing – Amelia Young
  • Online Topical Reporting/Blogs – Amelia Young
  • Video Podcasts – Christian Wilcox (ASU-TV)

Honorable Mention

  • Newspaper Feature Page Layout – Elijah Templeton
  • Newspaper Feature Writing – Laila Casiano & Shailey Wooldridge
  • Newspaper Sports Photo – Ibuki Hinohara
  • Newspaper Sports Story – Allie Carson
  • Newspaper Sports Column – Eric Fluke
  • Newspaper Sports Feature – Allie Carson
  • Television Sports Reporting – Carson Campbell & Emily Pilkington
  • Editorials/Commentary/Blogs – Elijah Templeton
  • Online Headlines – William Livingston
  • Online Multimedia Package – Jerry Don Burton
  • Online Topical Reporting/Blogs – Allie Carson
  • Online Personality Profile – Herald Staff

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