Arizona State University students took home five national awards at the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2022 Mark of Excellence Awards, more than any other university in the country.
The Brand of Excellence Awards recognizes the best student journalism from across the country across multiple platforms, including print/online, broadcast, audio, and art/graphics/multimedia.
Winners included four students from Cronkite News, a faculty-supervised multi-platform news organization produced by ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and another student from The State Press, ASU’s independent student-run news organization.
The students previously won first place in the 2022 Society of Professional Journalists Region 11 Mark of Excellence Awards announced in the spring before advancing to the national competition. The Region 11 competition was one of 12 SPJ regional competitions.
Neetish Basnet won the breaking news award for his Cronkite News story “Arizona officials report, revel in Supreme Court’s end to abortion rights,” which highlighted the U.S. Supreme Court’s abortion ruling last year. Cami Parrish won the in-depth reporting award for her Cronkite News story “‘I’m tired’: Teachers face mental health crisis due to low pay, pandemic stress and little support.”
Taylor Bayly took the Photo Essay / Slideshow category for her photos of migrants in Tapachula, Mexico for the Cronkite Borderlands Project, which focuses on coverage of border issues around the world. Autriya Maneshni won in the radio feature category for “Electoral translation,” a story that focused on efforts to translate election materials into the Hopi language.
Jason White of The State Press won the sports photography award for “ASU gymnastics home win.”
“Our Cronkite students consistently produce high-quality journalism, and these prestigious awards serve as validation of their hard work. Congratulations to our students for once again shining among their peers,” said Cronkite School Dean Battinto L. Batts Jr.
Cronkite students dominated the regional competition earlier this spring, winning 39 awards, including 17 first places. They swept the breaking news print/online reporting and in-depth print/online reporting categories for major universities, along with the general radio and television news categories for all universities.
SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards National Winners
Breaking News Reports (Big): “Arizona officials report, revel in Supreme Court’s end to abortion rights”, by Neetish Basnet, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Detailed reports (large): “‘I’m tired’: Teachers face mental health crisis due to low pay, pandemic stress and little support”, by Cami Parrish, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Photo Essay/Slideshow: “Migrants languish in Mexico’s chaotic immigration system”, by Taylor Bayly, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
Radio function: “Electoral translation”, by Autriya Maneshni, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Sports photography: “ASU gymnastics home win” by Jason White, The State Press, Arizona State University
Region 11 Brand of Excellence Awards winners
Breaking News Reports (Big): “Arizona officials report, revel in Supreme Court’s end to abortion rights”, by Neetish Basnet, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Detailed reports (large): “‘I’m tired’: Teachers face mental health crisis due to low pay, pandemic stress and little support”, by Cami Parrish, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Sports writing (large): “‘It’s got to be the shoes: Why are Scottsdale nightclubs banning retro sneakers??” by Kevin Redfern, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
General News Photo: “The Renaissance festival is back”, by Troy Hill, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Photo Essay/Slideshow: “Migrants languish in Mexico’s chaotic immigration system”, by Taylor Bayly, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
Sports photography: “ASU gymnastics home win” by Jason White, The State Press, Arizona State University
Video News: “The Police Association of St. Louis expands, gets the collective bargaining union on the job”, by Tirzah Christopher, Gabriela Tumani, News21, Arizona State University
Featured Videography: “Live in limbo: How the Mexican government has failed to solve the migrant crisis in Tapachula”, by Drake Presto, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
Sports Videos: “Music Master of the Diamondbacks”, by Michael Donohue, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Data visualization: “Gaslit,” by the staff of the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Arizona State University
Radio News: “black farmers”, by Athena Ankrah, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Radio function: “Electoral translation”, by Autriya Maneshni, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Podcast (narrative): “All I can do is wait”, by Athena Ankrah, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
General TV News: “Indigenous rodeo”, by Mikenzie Hammel, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
TV sports reports: “A Second Chance at Life,” by Zachary Larsen, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Best Global TV News Magazine: “Cronkite Sports Report,” by Bally’s Sports Arizona Staff, Arizona State University
Art/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism: “The artists hope the Black History Month mural project will “educate, inspire, uplift.”,’” by Hope O’Brien, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
finalists
Breaking News Reports (Big): “Judge rejects GOP request to extend voting hours after Maricopa County tabulation issues,” by Cronkite News Staff, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Breaking News Reports (Big): “Check out Arizona voter updates and polling locations on Election Day,” by Cronkite News Staff, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
General News (Large): “Purchase of Herm Edwards”, by Piper Hansen, The State Press, Arizona State University
Detailed reports (large): “‘Wounded healers: Advocates highlight the hidden struggles of young caregivers”, by Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Detailed reports (large): “Gentrification of Crow-Downtown”, by Alexis Moulton, Jamie Montoya, The State Press, Arizona State University
Writing functions (large): “The masks of life were created to keep the stories of the Holocaust alive”, by Samantha Chow, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Editorial writing/opinion: Columns by Aaron StigileThe State Press, Arizona State University
Best Online Freelance Student Publication: The State Press by The State Press staff, The State Press, Arizona State University
Breaking news photo: “Arizona Officials Slam, Revel in Supreme Court Ending Abortion Rights,” by Neetish BasnetCronkite News, Arizona State University
Photo Essay/Slideshow: “‘Would he forget? How a niece’s crusade and military scientists led to the identification of the Korean War vet”, by Samantha Chow, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Photo illustration: “Housing with gender inclusion”, by Alex Gould, The State Press, Arizona State University
Better use of media: “Gaslit,” by the staff of the Howard Center for Investigative Reporting Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Arizona State University
Video News: “Healing through culture: Increasing access to Native American practices for treating mental health”, by Laura Bargfeld, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Sports Videos: “King of the ring,” by Jacob Flores, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Data visualization: “A city of migrants under siege”, by Alyssa Marksz, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
Radio function: “Healing through culture”, by Natalie Skowlund, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Podcast (narrative): “State press Play”, by Kirsten Dorman, The State Press, Arizona State University
General TV News: “Eating disorders are on the rise”, by Faith Abercrombie, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
General TV News: “Help the firemen”, by Sydney Witte, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
TV reports: “Go to the polls”, by Caroleina Hassett, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
TV sports reports: “Persevering Through Pain,” by Marlee Zanna Thompson, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Best comprehensive TV news: Cronkite News by Cronkite News staff, AZPBS, Arizona State University
