MSTA Media Award

Cheryl Ellis, an advertising representative at the Southeast Missourian newspaper and editor/coordinator of the Southeast Missourian Jr., a monthly publication geared toward local elementary students, has won a major award in the 2000 Missouri State Teachers Association Education Media Awards Competition.

The Southeast Missourian Jr. was selected as Top Literacy Program among daily newspapers.

The publication, which launched in August 2000, has grown from eight to 24 pages, and contains student-written stories, drawings, poems, book and movie reviews, fun facts, puzzles, contests and more.

The Jr. is inserted into the Southeast Missourian and is also distributed to local schools, daycare centers and advertisers. It has a circulation of 24,775.

Ellis said the Jr. is a tool teachers can use in their classroom to encourage writing and reading.

"I wanted to find a way to encourage kids to express themselves," said Ellis. "It gives kids a real sense of accomplishment to see their work published."

Ellis will receive her award this fall in St. Louis.