The Rocket awarded first place for ‘Newspaper Overall Excellence’ by SCJ

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April 23, 2021

The Rocket, the independent, student-run newspaper at Slippery Rock University, won several awards in the 2020-21 Society for Collegiate Journalists National Contest. For the first time in 10 years, The Rocket placed first for “Newspaper Overall Excellence.” The Rocket also placed second for “Social Media Presence Overall Excellence.” The Rocket staff was recognized for its editorials, including a first for “‘Our View: Data Transparency Critical During COVID-19 Crisis,” a second for “Our View: An Election with Historic Consequences,” and an honorable mention for “Our View: We’re Back and Here’s Why.”

 

Individual awards for page design and quality of content include:

 

First Place

  • News Photography: “March for Equality” by Joe Wells, a senior communication major from Slippery Rock.
  • Continuing Coverage: “COVID-19 Continuing Coverage” by Wells; Nina Cipriani, a sophomore communication major from Altoona; and Hannah Shumsky, a senior secondary education-English major from Conway.
  • Sports Page: “10-30-2020 Edition” by Karl Ludwig, a senior sport management major from Wexford, and Brendan Howe, a senior communication major from East Butler.

 

Second Place

  • Infographic: “PASSHE Tops 2,000 COVID-19 Cases” by Aaron Marrie, a senior communication major from Sharpsville.
  • News Stories: “A Milestone for Many of SRU’s Own,” by Shumsky, Wells, Cipriani, and Hannah Slope, a junior communication major from Somerset.
  • Front Page: “11-20-2020 Edition” by Cipriani, Shumsky and Wells.
  • Editorial Page: “9-4-2020 Edition” by Shumsky.
  • News Page: “9-25-2020 Edition” by Cipriani, Shumsky and Wells.
  • Feature Sports Writing: “Breaking the toxic combination of sports and mental health” by Ludwig.

 

Third Place

  • Infographic: “A Milestone for Many of SRU's Own” by Slope, Shumsky, Wells and Cipriani.
  • Photo Slideshow: “First Sitting President to Visit Butler County” by Keegan Beard, a 2020 SRU graduate with a degree in communication.
  • Front Page: “10-30-2020 Edition” by Cipriani, Wells, Beard and Shumsky.
  • Continuing Coverage: “PASSHE Redesign Coverage” by Slope, Shumsky, Wells and Cipriani.
  • News Page: “9-25-2020 Edition” by Cipriani, Wells and Shumsky.

 

Honorable Mention

  • “SRU COVID-19 Coverage” by Wells, Cipriani, Shumsky and Marrie.
  • “Diversity Dialogue Series” by Hope Hoehler, a 2020 SRU graduate with a degree in communication.
  • “Our View: We’re Back and Here’s Why” by The Rocket staff.

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