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 nation.
The Mark of Excellence Awards recognizes the best student journalism from around the country across multiple platforms including Print/Online, Broadcast, Audio and Art/Graphics/Multimedia.
The winners included four students from Cronkite News, a multiplatform news organization supervised by faculty and produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU, and another student from The State Press, ASU’s independent, student-operated 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 contest. The Region 11 contest was one of 12 SPJ regional competitions.
Neetish Basnet won the breaking news prize for his Cronkite News story “Arizona officials decry, delight in Supreme Court ending abortion rights,” which highlighted the U.S. Supreme Court’s abortion ruling last year. Cami Parrish landed the in-depth reporting award for her Cronkite News story “‘I’m tired’: Teachers face mental health crisis due to low pay, pandemic stress, scant 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 “Election 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 prize 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 contest earlier this spring, winning 39 awards, with 17 first-place finishes. They swept the Breaking News Print/Online Reporting and In-Depth Print/Online Reporting categories for large universities, along with Radio Feature and Television General News Reporting categories for all universities.
SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards National Winners
Breaking News Reporting (Large): “Arizona officials decry, delight in Supreme Court ending abortion rights,” by Neetish Basnet, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
In-Depth Reporting (Large): “‘I’m tired’: Teachers face mental health crisis due to low pay, pandemic stress, scant 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 Feature: “Election 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 Mark of Excellence Awards Winners
Breaking News Reporting (Large): “Arizona officials decry, delight in Supreme Court ending abortion rights,” by Neetish Basnet, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
In-Depth Reporting (Large): “‘I’m tired’: Teachers face mental health crisis due to low pay, pandemic stress, scant support,” by Cami Parrish, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Sports Writing (Large): “‘It’s gotta be the shoes’: Why are Scottsdale nightclubs prohibiting retro sneakers?” by Kevin Redfern, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
General News Photography: “Renaissance festival returns,” 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
News Videography: “St. Louis police association expands, holds collective bargaining union to task,” by Tirzah Christopher, Gabriela Tumani, News21, Arizona State University
Feature Videography: “Lives 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 Videography: “Diamondbacks musical maestro,” by Michael Donohue, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Data Visualization: “Gaslit,” by Howard Center for Investigative Journalism staff, Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Arizona State University
Radio News Reporting: “Black farmers,” by Athena Ankrah, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Radio Feature: “Election 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
Television General News Reporting: “Indigenous rodeo,” by Mikenzie Hammel, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Television Sports Reporting: “A second chance at life,” by Zachary Larsen, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Best All-Around Television News Magazine: “Cronkite Sports Report,” by Staff, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Arts/Entertainment/Fashion Journalism: “Artists hope Black History Month mural project ‘educates, inspires, uplifts,’” by Hope O’Brien, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Finalists
Breaking News Reporting (Large): “Judge rejects GOP request to extend voting hours after tabulation issues in Maricopa County,” by Cronkite News staff, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Breaking News Reporting (Large): “See updates from Arizona voters and polling locations on Election Day,” by Cronkite News staff, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
General News Reporting (Large): “Herm Edwards buyout,” by Piper Hansen, The State Press, Arizona State University
In-Depth Reporting (Large): “‘Wounded healers’: Advocates spotlight hidden struggles of young caregivers,” by Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
In-Depth Reporting (Large): “Crow-Downtown gentrification,” by Alexis Moulton, Jamie Montoya, The State Press, Arizona State University
Feature Writing (Large): “Life masks’ created to keep stories of the Holocaust alive,” by Samantha Chow, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Editorial/Opinion Writing: Columns by Aaron Stigile, The State Press, Arizona State University
Best Independent Online Student Publication: The State Press by The State Press staff, The State Press, Arizona State University
Breaking News Photography: “Arizona officials decry, delight in Supreme Court ending abortion rights,” by Neetish Basnet, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Photo Essay/Slideshow: “‘Would he be forgotten?’ How a niece’s crusade and military scientists led to ID of Korean War vet,” by Samantha Chow, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Photo Illustration: “Gender-inclusive housing,” by Alex Gould, The State Press, Arizona State University
Best Use of Multimedia: “Gaslit,” by Staff of the Howard Center for Investigative Reporting Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Arizona State University
News Videography: “Healing through culture: Increasing access to Native American practices to treat mental health,” by Laura Bargfeld, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Sports Videography: “King of the ring,” by Jacob Flores, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Data Visualization: “A city of migrants under a state of siege,” by Alyssa Marksz, Cronkite Borderlands Project, Arizona State University
Radio Feature: “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
Television General News Reporting: “Eating disorders increase,” by Faith Abercrombie, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Television General News Reporting: “Help for firefighters,” by Sydney Witte, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Television Feature Reporting: “Ride to the polls,” by Caroleina Hassett, Cronkite News, Arizona State University
Television Sports Reporting: “Persevering through pain,” by Marlee Zanna Thompson, Bally’s Sports Arizona, Arizona State University
Best All-Around Television Newscast: Cronkite News by Cronkite News staff, AZPBS, Arizona State University