Southeast Arrow garners top award in statewide contest

For the first time since 1989, Southeast Missouri State University's student newspaper, The Southeast Arrow, was awarded the Missouri College Media Assocation's top honor.

At a conference Saturday hosted by Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, the Arrow received the Best in the State award for 2014.

The Arrow, a partnership between the university and Rust Communications, the parent company of the Southeast Missourian, placed first in the state in Best Overall Newspaper for Division I and also received several individual awards.

"It was incredible," Logan Young, the newspaper's editor, said of the Arrow's awards. "It was just kind of a nice affirmation of all the hard work we've been doing all year."

Division I also includes student newspapers at the University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri State University, Saint Louis University, Lindenwood University, Washington University and University of Central Missouri.

Southeast will host next year's conference, and the Arrow's managing editor, Jay Forness, was elected the 2015-2016 MCMA president.

"This award is really the culmination of years of hard work and a lot of hours spent in the office for the Arrow staffers," said Rachel Crader, Southeast Missourian sports editor and Arrow content adviser. "Seeing how far the publication has come -- both in print and online -- in the four years the Missourian has partnered with the university to provide mentoring and management has been one of the greatest experiences of my professional career. I couldn't be more proud that the staff can now say they produce the best publication in the state."

Tamara Zellars Buck, assistant professor of mass media and faculty adviser to the Arrow, said two factors helped the newspaper's work stand out from the rest: the department's curriculum that is based on the future of journalism, and its partnerships with Rust Communications, as well as KFVS12 and KRCU.

"The Arrow, especially under our new partnerships, has really grown," Zellars Buck said. "This team in particular really showed some aggressiveness in terms of expanding beyond what people thought they could do. They tried a lot of new things, and they were rewarded for them."

Other awards announced Saturday were:

• First place, Information Graphic; Caitlin Jasper, "Parking by the numbers"
• Second place, Information Graphic; Caitlin Jasper "What's Up SEMO"
• Second place, Sports Page; Jen Gradl, Alyssa Brewer, Nick McNeal: "Gymnastics wins championship"
• Third Place, Advertising; Arrow Creative Services: "Pumpkin Chunkin'"
• Third place, Story Illustration; Sean Burke, Caitlin Jasper, Marissa Fawcett: "My Roommate is a Ghost"
• Honorable Mention, News Photography; Doc Fiandaca: "Motorcycle Madness"
• Honorable Mention, In-Depth News Reporting; Andrea Gils: "Are teacher evaluations worth your time?"
• Honorable Mention, Feature Writing; Logan Young: "Benefactor has donated to Southeast since 1970s"
• Honorable Mention, Feature Page; Logan Young and Caitlin Jasper: "Sadie Kent: The Woman Behind the Books and Buildings"

klamb@semissourian.com

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