Student Journalism Awards Announced at UMaine Conference

May 24, 2004 Archives

Contact: George Manlove at (207) 581-3571

ORONO — Student newspapers from Biddeford, Cape Elizabeth, Hiram, Orono, Portland, Waterville and Wells high schools earned first place awards at the University of Maine’s 11_th Annual Maine Student Journalism Conference and newspaper competition this year.

More than 150 student journalists and their advisors from 26 schools around the state met May 12 on the Orono campus with reporters and editors from Maine’s leading daily and weekly newspapers to learn from working professionals ways to improve their journalism skills.

The competition’s top prize, the James Russell Wiggins award for general excellence went to The Wells Street Journal, a monthly, 16-page tabloid-sized newspaper produced by students in the Wells High School’s journalism classes.

“We had a very strong turnout and, from the feedback I received, students really appreciate the opportunity to have their school papers critiqued by seasoned editors and reporters in the field,” says Shannon Martin, assistant professor of communication and journalism at the University of Maine and director of the Maine Center for Student Journalism. “These students are our news reporters and editors of the future, and we hope to see many of them get their training in our program here at the University of Maine.”

The theme for the conference was “Covering Civil Rights for High School Students,” with keynote speaker Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe.

Contest categories are news writing, editorial and opinion, feature writing, layout and design, photography, sports writing, writing for the arts, editorial cartoon, general excellence and a new entrant category for newspapers entering for the first time.

Award winners are listed as follows.

General Excellence, judged by Andrew Russell of the Portland Press Herald, Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander, and Matt Shaer, Maine Campus:

First, The Wells Street Journal;
Second, The Roar from Biddeford High School;
Third, The Cape Insight from Cape Elizabeth;
And honorable mention, Inside from Orono High School.

News Writing, judged by Jeff Ham, Portland Press Herald:

First, Sacopee Valley Echo from Sacopee Valley High School;
Second, Ramblings from Deering High School in Portland;
Third, The Wells Street Journal;
And honorable mention, On The Median from John Bapst High School in Bangor.

Photography, judged by EJ Hersom of the Sanford News:

First, Ramblings (Deering);
Second, Eagle Times from Bonny Eagle High School in Standish;
Third, The Roar (Biddeford);
And honorable mention, Cape Insight.

Editorial and Opinion Writing, judged by Rex Rhoades, Lewiston Sun-Journal:

First, Inside;
Second, WoRD, a student-written section of the Bath-Brunswick Times Record;
Third, Sacopee Valley Echo;
And honorable mention, The Cape Insight.

Writing for the Arts, judged by Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News:

First, Inside;
Second place tie, The Cape Insight and The Eagle’s Eye from Ellsworth High School;
And Third, The Wells Street Journal;

Sports Writing, judged by Kevin Sjoberg, Star Herald:

First, The Roar;
Second (three-way tie), The Wells Street Journal, Panther Press from Waterville High School and Cape Insight;
Third, On the Median (John Bapst);
Honorable mention, Ramblings;

Editorial Cartoon:

First, Inside;
Second, Ramblings;
Third, The Roar;
And honorable mention, Eagle Times.

Feature Writing, judged by Robert Wallack, Farmington Chronicle:

First, Ramblings;
Second, WoRD;
Third, The Wells Street Journal;
And honorable mention, The Roar.

Layout and Design, judged by Brian Hewitt, York County Coast Star:

First, The Wells Street Journal;
Second, The Cape Insight;
Third, The Roar;
And honorable mention, Inside.

The Maine Center for Student Journalism is funded by the Maine Daily Newspaper Publishers Association with support from the University of Maine Department of Communication and Journalism.