COLLEGE PARK — The University of Maryland and the Philip Merrill College of Journalism were well-represented as the Society of Professional Journalists recently honored the best collegiate journalism in Region 2 with its 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards.
UMD students won eight awards and added six finalists across 11 categories, spanning print/online, art/graphics/multimedia, broadcast and all platform categories. The recognized projects were published or broadcast by Merrill College's Capital News Service and CNS TV, and The Diamondback.
Capital News Service, Merrill College’s student-powered news outlet, was named the Best Independent Online Student Publication in the print/online competition.
Tolulope Ajayi ’24 won one award and was a finalist for another for her work for the CNS broadcast bureau. She won in the Television In-Depth Reporting category for “D.C. crime solutions” and was a finalist in Television General News Reporting for “March for Israel protest.”
Victoria Ifatusin ’23, Cameron Jones ’23, Barbara Ron ’23 and Hannah Ziegler ’24 won for work published by CNS. Nene Narh-Mensah ’23, Rohan Pandit (CMNS) ’24, Katharine Wilson ’25 and Jessica Ye (BSOS) ’24 were honored for work published by The Diamondback.
SPJ’s Region 2 comprises Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.
Here is the complete list of winners and finalists from UMD:
Print/Online
Breaking News Reporting (Large)
Winner: College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn resigns as he faces child pornography charges — by Katharine Wilson, Nene Narh-Mensah, The Diamondback, University of Maryland
Finalist: In Washington, Zelenskyy makes pleas to Congress and the White House for more aid — by Josie Jack, Monica Godnick, Capital News Service, University of Maryland
Feature Writing (Large)
Finalist: Farewell to panda-monium: National Zoo’s iconic bears going to China with no replacements — by Abby Wallace, Ryan Mercado, Capital News Service, University of Maryland
Finalist: ‘School shootings have followed us’: Life as a college student amid unending gun violence — by Staff, The Diamondback, University of Maryland
Sports Writing (Large)
Finalist: Self-evaluate, adjust and refuel: Inside Maryland women’s basketball’s whirlwind halftime — by Sam Jane, The Diamondback, University of Maryland
General Column Writing
Winner: Columns — by Jessica Ye, The Diamondback, University of Maryland
Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: Capital News Service — by Staff, Capital News Service, University of Maryland
Art/Graphics/Multimedia
Sports Photography
Winner: Maryland men’s basketball blows out Rider, 103-76, for third consecutive win — by Rohan Pandit, The Diamondback, University of Maryland
Data Visualization
Winner: Maryland Women’s Basketball regular season attendance skyrockets but inequality still prevalent — by Victoria A. Ifatusin, Cameron Jones, Capital News Service, University of Maryland
Broadcast
Television General News Reporting
Finalist: March for Israel protest — by Tolulope Ajayi, CNS-TV News, University of Maryland
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: Rescued horses — by Barbara Ron, CNS-TV News, University of Maryland
Finalist: Uber Eats biker — by Keara Bruno, CNS-TV News, University of Maryland
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: D.C. crime solutions — by Tolulope Ajayi, CNS-TV News, University of Maryland
All Platforms
Science/Environment/Climate Reporting
Winner: Unpredictable cherry blossom blooms underscores climate change concerns — by Hannah Ziegler, Capital News Service, University of Maryland
For more information, contact:
Josh Land
joshland@umd.edu
301-405-1321