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The Ryan White Excellence in Journalism awards are co-sponsored by JEA, the National Education Association Health Information Network and the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation.
THE JUDGE
Dennis Kelly, senior assignment editor in the Life section at USA Today, judged this year’s print entries. Kelly oversees the paper’s coverage of health, science, education, religion and behavior. He has also been education writer and editor and health editor at the paper. He has had 35 years in journalism, working briefly at a weekly paper in southern California and then for 16 years at the San Bernardino County Sun before coming to USA Today in 1989.
FEATURE
“The first place winner had all the elements of a good feature story: The writing was engaging and there were compelling interviews with real students whose families had been touched by breast cancer. Just as important, the writer grounded the story in strong news pegs — a school assembly on the importance of early detection for breast cancer, and the announcement by Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Sen. John Edwards, of her cancer recurrence in the middle of a presidential campaign. The one reporting hole was neglecting to discuss breast cancer among men, a question immediately raised when the story mentions that a student’s grandfather had died of breast cancer too. Still ‘Linked by a Pink Ribbon’ written by Audrey Kubetin of Montgomery Blair High School was a very good job.”
$300 first place
Audrey A. Kubetin
“Linked by a Pink Ribbon”
Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, Md.)
Adviser: Maureen Freeman
$150 second place
Laura G. Mirviss
“Under the Weather, on Top of Their Work”
Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, Md.)
Adviser: Maureen Freeman
$50 honorable mention (JEA Bookstore gift certificate)
Lindsey M. Pittman
“Race for the Cure”
Greenwood Community High School (Greenwood, Ind.)
Adviser: Mrs. Denise Roberts
$50 honorable mention (JEA Bookstore gift certificate)
Amanda Kay Canupp
“Numb3ring the Positive”
Citrus High School (Inverness, Fla.)
Adviser: Kelly Lapp
DOUBLE TRUCK
“This was a tough category and none of the entries rose to the level of a first place winner. Some entries suffered from a problem seen throughout the contest. Writers would cite various people they used as sources, but few of those sources were named or quoted in the story. When that happens, it takes away the credibility a writer gains when he or she taps local experts in their community or school to help inform readers. And it turns the article into more of a brochure than a reported story. Web sites are great for background material, but the interviews with real people are what make a story great.
The second place winner had good layout and clear writing with suitable graphics to complement the story. The topic is a tough one and the paper should be applauded for sticking to its guns on printing this package in the face of reluctance by the school administration. The information was valuable for a young audience.”
$150 second place
Maggie Sutton, Ansley Williamson, Holly Bauer, Levi McKinney, Ray Barret, and Bobby King
“Your Sexual Health May Be at Risk”
Lowndes High School (Valdosta, Ga.)
Adviser: Kristy Cates
$50 honorable mention (JEA Bookstore gift certificate)
Chris Hunt
“Juiced Up Nation”
Westlake High School (Austin, Texas)
Adviser: Deanne Brown
$50 honorable mention (JEA Bookstore gift certificate)
Megan Harris and Tessa C. Woods
“Watching Health, Fresher Tastes”
Auburn Mountainview High School (Auburn, Wash.)
Adviser: Stephanie Keagle
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY
Our judge, USA Today Life Editor Dennis Kelly, says about the first place commentary recipient: “This was the clear winner. It’s well written, grounded in facts with straightforward explanations and it was gutsy. The writer not only took readers through the shortfalls of some national approaches, but also took aim at the district’s own freshman AIDS convocation for fear-mongering tactics. You can agree or disagree with the opinion, but the writer has made his arguments clear and voiced them strongly. That’s what an opinion piece is supposed to do.”
$300 first place
John L. Shi
“Sex Education Policies Slow to Adapt to Reality”
Carmel High School (Carmel, Ind.)
Adviser: Jim Streisel
$150 second place
Rebecca C. Sausville
“A Plan for the Future”
Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, Md.)
Adviser: Maureen Freeman
$50 honorable mention (JEA Bookstore gift certificate)
Danielle Jo Hankes
“Student Supports Amendment”
Oak Park High School (Kansas City, Mo.)
Adviser: Christina Geabhart
BROADCAST JOURNALISM
Feature
Radio and Television News Directors Foundation judges write, “This isn’t the first time we have heard from Gahanna Lincoln High School. In 2003, Tom Gregory’s student’s film, “Gahanna Bill,” was first place in the Ryan White Broadcast Feature category and was chosen for RTNDF’s Broadcast in a Box teachers’ toolkit. Bryan Levin’s “Field of Dreams” and “Gahanna Bill” may be viewed at www.hsbj.org.
$300 first place
Bryan Levin
“Field of Dreams Program for At-Risk Students”
Gahanna Lincoln High School (Gahanna, Ohio)
Adviser: Tom Gregory
About the Award Ryan White, born with hemophilia, was diagnosed with AIDS at age 13. White became a pioneer in AIDS education, spending the remaining years of his young life trying to help slow the spread of AIDS and reduce prejudice against people living with AIDS. He was persistent in his efforts to educate his community, teachers and the American public until his death in 1990.
Because a responsible student press informs its community and student journalists should tell the truth about health issues in an interesting and relevant manner, the Ryan White Excellence in Journalism Award was established in 1999. In 2005, the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation joined the National Education Association Health Information Network and JEA in sponsoring this recognition.
The Ryan White award was established so:
- High school newspapers, newsmagazines, literary-art magazines, yearbooks, online and broadcast media will cover health issues.
- Students will learn that their First Amendment press and speech rights include publishing and discussing health issues.
- Coverage will be well researched, will inform students and will promote dialogue in school communities.
- Student editors and writers will learn the best resources available to write on health issues.
Clearly indicate category of entry. Print categories are 1) Editorial/commentary; 2) Feature; and 3) Double truck/feature package, which will be judged on content, including graphics and layout. Broadcast categories are 1) Feature, television; 2) Commentary, television or radio; and 3) Feature, Web or podcast; 4) Public Service Announcement, radio. No more than four entries per category per school publication or broadcast program.
The entry must be original student work and must have been published or broadcast within one year of the contest deadline. Date of publication/broadcast must be indicated. The individual (or team of students who worked on the same entry) must be a member of his or her high school’s newspaper, newsmagazine, yearbook or literary-art magazine staff or a member of his or her high school’s radio, television or Web production class or staff.
Received by July 1.
- Submit three copies of the published feature, editorial or commentary, and double truck.
- Submit a taped copy with a typed transcript of radio or television entries.
- Complete the entry form. CLICK HERE
- Provide a statement indicating the sources used for background information, a list of individuals interviewed (include job title and why selected) and whether there was community response to this work. For purposes of this contest, “community” is defined as the high school, the city or county or a targeted segment of the population.
All entries in this competition become the property of JEA, RTNDF and HIN. They will not be returned. By entering this competition, entrants give JEA, RTNDF and NEA HIN permission to reproduce their work with appropriate attribution to the author(s).
- The Ryan White Excellence in Journalism Award is a juried award. It is administered and grant-funded as a collaborative endeavor of the National Education Association’s Health Information Network, the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation, and the Journalism Education Association.
- Professionals who cover health issues and have experience in the category evaluate entries.
- The award program will include a cash prize of $300 for the first-place winning entry in print and in broadcast categories.
- The second-place winning entry in each category will receive $150.
- The three honorable mention entries in each print category and the two honorable mention entries in each broadcast category will receive $50 gift certificates to the JEA Bookstore.
- All prizes will not be given if judges find the entries do not meet contest requirements.
- The winners will be announced at the fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention. The parent(s)/guardian(s), teacher and principal of the recipients will be notified. JEA, NEA and local media contacts will be made.
Ryan White Excellence in Journalism Award
Journalism Education Association
Kansas State University
103 Kedzie Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
For more information contact Carol Lange at langejour@aol.com. |
