The Pacer, UTM’s student newspaper, and WUTM-FM 90.3 “The Hawk”, UTM’s student radio station, along with student staff members, won numerous awards at the Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC) convention Feb. 13-15 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
In SEJC’s Best of the South competition, which featured entries from about 30 schools in various categories, WUTM ranked first in Best College Audio Newscast and third in Best College Radio Station. The Pacer ranked fourth in Best College Newspaper and 10th in Best College Website.
Individually, recent UTM Communications graduate and former Pacer Executive Editor Sarah Knapp of Moscow, Tennessee, ranked seventh in College Journalist of the Year. Current Pacer Executive Editor Emily Wilson, a senior Communications major from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, ranked fourth in Best Arts & Entertainment Writer, while Pacer Arts & Entertainment Co-Editor Hannah Hughes, a sophomore Social Work major from Paris, Tennessee, ranked ninth in the same category.
Continuing the Arts & Entertainment streak, The Pacer’s other A&E co-editor, Antonia Steele, ranked third in the on-site competition for Arts & Entertainment Writing. Steele is a junior Communications major from Ashland City, Tennessee.
Jason Repath, The Pacer’s managing and sports editor, ranked first in the on-site Media Law and History category. Repath, who plans to attend law school, is a junior Political Science major from White House, Tennessee.
On the broadcast side, another recent UTM Communications graduate, Kevin Bartholomew of South Fulton, Tennessee, ranked first in Best Radio News Reporter. Jillianne Moncrief, a senior Communications major from McLemoresville, Tennessee, ranked fourth in Best Radio News Feature Reporter, while Jessica Davis, a senior Communications major from Bells, Tennessee, ranked second in Best Advertising Staff Member.
“Our students continue to do well at the conference. They did a great job again this year,” Dr. Richard Robinson, professor of Communications and WUTM faculty adviser said.
“I’m so proud of our award-winning students from The Pacer and WUTM, as well as those who excelled in on-site individual competition in other media areas. They and their faculty mentors represent our department and UT Martin with distinction,” Dr. Robert Nanney, chair of the Department of Communications said.
Tomi McCutchen, UTM coordinator of Student Publications and instructor of Communications, is the university’s SEJC faculty delegate. She was reelected secretary during the convention’s business meeting.
SEJC member schools represent seven Southeastern states and meet annually to help facilitate journalism education and experience for students. The convention in Hattiesburg was the 34th meeting of the group, which will meet in February 2021 in Thibodaux, Louisiana. UTM was the convention host in 2012.
For more information, contact McCutchen at tomimc@utm.edu, or visit sejc.org.
