Student staff at the University of Tennessee at Martin campus newspaper The Pacer received two first-place awards and five top-five awards at the annual Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC), held Feb. 5-7 at Georgia Highlands College in Cartersville, Georgia.
“I am beyond proud of this achievement,” said Pacer faculty adviser Dr. Kayli Plotner, assistant professor of mass media and strategic communication (MMSC). “We have had a significant transition this year, focusing on digital-first news content, publishing online daily and printing about once a month as well as stepping up our social media presence.
“These students amaze me every day with their dedication to this craft and desire to continually improve themselves and our news product.”
Richard Robinson, professor of MMSC and WUTM faculty adviser, received the Byron St. Dizier/David Sloan Award for the SEJC Outstanding Educator. Robinson has been a faculty member at UT Martin since 2001.
“I was truly honored to receive the award,” Robinson said. “It was humbling to be recognized by the conference. I’ve always said that great students make professors look good. I have been fortunate over the years to work with great students.”
Chyler Lee, a senior MMSC major with an emphasis in journalism from Jackson, received first place in the Sports Writer category, while Aubrey Abbott, a junior MMSC major with an emphasis in media design from Huntingdon, received first place in the Best Artist or Illustrator category.
Other awards received by UTM students for The Pacer included:
• Chloe Kent, a senior mass media and strategic communication major with an emphasis in media design and digital content production from Cornersville, received second place in the Best Graphic Designer/Data Journalist category.
• Bryant Steele, a sophomore MMSC major with an emphasis in broadcast media from Bartlett, received fourth place in the Best Arts and Entertainment Writer category.
• The WUTM radio station (90.3 FM The Hawk) received fourth place in the Best Audio Program category.
• Bethany Collins, a senior MMSC major with an emphasis in broadcast journalism and multimedia production from Dresden, received fifth place in the Best Opinion/Editorial Writer category.
In the onsite competition, Steele received honorable mention in the Current Events category, while Darby Self, a sophomore MMSC major from Somerville, received honorable mention in the Infographic Design category.
Others attending the SEJC from UT Martin were Kaniya Anthony, a first-year MMSC major with an emphasis in media design from Memphis; Adrianna Carter, a junior health and human performance major with an emphasis in public health and athletic coaching from Jackson; Marques Rice, a junior MMSC major with an emphasis in journalism from Memphis; Will Stevens, a sophomore MMSC major with an emphasis in broadcast from Atoka; Nate Szarzynski, a senior MMSC major with an emphasis in journalism from New Lenox, Illinois; Ethan Tanner, a sophomore MMSC major with an emphasis in journalism and digital communication from Dover; and Ryleigh Ulen, a junior MMSC major with an emphasis in strategic communication and public relations from Union City.
Several UT Martin students have been nominated for awards at the annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conference, to be held Feb. 20-21 at the Sheraton Times Square in New York.
PHOTO: Representing UT Martin at the Southeastern Journalism Conference Feb. 5-7 in Cartersville, Georgia, were (l-r) The Pacer faculty adviser Dr. Kayli Plotner, Ryleigh Ulen, Chyler Lee, Nate Szarzynski, Chloe Kent, Bryant Steele, Kaniya Anthony, Will Stevens, Adrianna Carter, Darby Self, Ethan Tanner and Bethany Collins.
