COLLEGE PARK — Student journalists from the University of Maryland and the Philip Merrill College of Journalism performed well as the Society of Professional Journalists recently honored the best collegiate journalism in Region 2 with its 2024 Mark of Excellence Awards.
UMD students won six awards and added 10 finalists across 12 categories, spanning print/online, art/graphics/multimedia, audio, 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.
SPJ’s Region 2 comprises Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. First-place winners competed at the national level among other MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions.
Seventeen individual students were honored, in addition to the staffs of CNS and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism.
The Howard Center, CNS and Boston University students teamed up to win the Collaborative Journalism award for their investigation, “Planes, trains and luxury stays: Despite reforms, lobbyists still involved in House travel.” The project was one of two finalists for the national MOE award.
CNS’ staff won in the Podcast (Narrative) category for “Vinyl Revival.” The podcast was one of two national finalists.
Jenna Bloom ’25 won the Sports Videography award for “Why Lexington, Mississippi, embraces youth tackle football,” published by CNS and aired by PBS NewsHour. The video segment was part of the investigation, “Youth Tackle Football: Balancing risks and rewards depends on race and place,” from The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and Howard Center for Investigative Journalism.
Andrea Durán ’24, Daranee Balachandar ’25 and Alisha Camacho ’24 won in the In-Depth Reporting (Large) category for their CNS story, “‘No grass, no crabs’: Maryland community grapples with Gunpowder River mud pollution.”
Sydney Nauman ’24 won in the Television Feature Reporting category for her CNS TV segment, “Maryland gardeners help rebuild oyster population ahead of 2025 shellfish recovery deadline.”
Alexa Wootten ’25 won the Television Sports Reporting award for her CNS TV story, “Teenager in wheelchair defies odds and plays lacrosse.”
Ricky Podgorski ’25 was the lone student with multiple honors, as a finalist in Television Feature Reporting and Television Sports Reporting for work broadcast by CNS TV.
Here is the complete list of winners and finalists from UMD:
Print/Online
In-Depth Reporting (Large)
Winner: “‘No grass, no crabs’: Maryland community grapples with Gunpowder River mud pollution” — Andrea Durán, Daranee Balachandar, Alisha Camacho, Capital News Service
Breaking News Reporting (Large)
Finalist: “UMD fraternities reportedly engaged in hazing and physical abuse, court filings show” — Akshaj Gaur, Hannah Ziegler, The Diamondback
General News Reporting (Large)
Finalist: “Maryland grants help businesses avoid debt after Key Bridge collapse” — Emily Condon, Sasha Allen, Capital News Service
Sports Writing (Large)
Finalist: “Matt Swope could coach anywhere. But he’s never wanted to leave Maryland baseball.” — Taylor Lyons, The Diamondback
Finalist: “With few other options, football is hope for families in rural Mississippi” — Sapna Bansil, Jack Rothenberg, Capital News Service
General Column Writing
Finalist: Columns — Rohin Mishra, The Diamondback
Arts/Graphics/Multimedia
Sports Videography
Winner: “Why Lexington, Mississippi, embraces youth tackle football” — Jenna Bloom, Capital News Service
Sports Photography
Finalist: “Kenny Lippman pitches during Maryland baseball’s 15-4 loss to Indiana” — Akash Raghu, The Diamondback
Audio
Podcast (Narrative)
Winner: “Vinyl Revival” — Staff, Capital News Service
Broadcast
Television Feature Reporting
Winner: “Maryland gardeners help rebuild oyster population ahead of 2025 shellfish recovery deadline” — Sydney Nauman, CNS TV News
Finalist: “Iconic cherry blossom tree inspires visitors but will be removed in the summer” — Ricky Podgorski, CNS TV News
Television General News Reporting
Finalist: “Maryland emergency bill would provide financial support for port workers after Key Bridge collapse” — Elana Mutnick, CNS TV News
Finalist: “Power lines cut through farms” — by Staff, CNS TV News
Television Sports Reporting
Winner: “Teenager in wheelchair defies odds and plays lacrosse” — Alexa Wootten, CNS TV News
Finalist: “Beau Brade stays home after going undrafted in NFL draft” — Ricky Podgorski, CNS TV News
All Platforms
Collaborative Journalism
Winner: “Planes, trains and luxury stays: Despite reforms, lobbyists still involved in House travel” — Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Capital News Service, Boston University reporting students
For more information, contact:
Josh Land, Communications Manager
joshland@umd.edu