The Shield brings home 35 awards at ICPA competition
April 22, 2015
The University of Southern Indiana's student newspaper, The Shield, garnered 35 staff and individual awards at the annual Indiana Collegiate Press Association (ICPA) convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Shield placed in three Publication of the Year contests, including second place, Division II Newspaper of the Year; second place, Online Publication of the Year; and third place, Advertising Publication of the Year. They were one point shy of first place for overall Division II Newspaper of the Year.
James Vaughn, editor-in-chief of The Shield, said he is proud of the team's accomplishments. "Journalism is an ever-changing field, and The Shield does a good job of keeping up with those changes. One of the things I'm most proud of this year is the open dialogue we've created on campus. We're listening to our readers now more than ever, and having civil conversations about things that matter, as well as fun things our readers are interested in."
Vaughn also served as the ICPA president this year with Armon Siadat, The Shield opinion editor, serving as vice president of online. This is Vaughn's final semester at USI. Bobby Shipman, news editor, will step into the editor-in-chief role for 2015-2016.
The following is a list of all recognitions:
First place
- Best Facebook Page
- Best Pull-Out/Wrap Section: "Springfest"
- Best Rate Card (tied with Indiana Daily Student at Indiana University) (Amanda Brinkman)
- Best News or Feature Series: "Craft beer": (Roberto Campos)
- Best Entertainment Column: "Thunder/Dreamer spreads its sound" (Bobby Shipman)
- Best Animation/Interactive graphic: "USI Dance Marathon by the minute" (Armon Siadat)
- Best Feature Photo: "Meal Madness" (Alyssa Smith)
- Best Sports Page: "Think Pink" (Jessica Stallings)
Second place
- Division II Newspaper of the Year
- Online Publication of the Year
- Best Single Issue: "November 6, 2014"
- Best Themed Issue: "February 13 2014: Sex issue"
- Best Breaking News Reporting: "Campus closes abruptly" (James Vaughn, Bobby Shipman)
- Best Continuous Coverage of a Single Story: "Cats" (Jessie Hellmann, James Vaughn)
- Place Best Ad Layout: "Closing time" (Amanda Brinkman)
- Best Photo Essay/Picture Story: "Your time here starts now" (Amanda Brinkman)
- Best Informational Graphic: "Renters Save Big Bucks" (Amanda Brinkman)
- Best Feature Story: "'Uplifting' student charity aids youth" (Taylor Fox)
- Best Sports Column: "Give athletes study time" (Bradie Gray)
- Best Feature Reporting Online: "Too Much for Too Little" (Paola Marizan)
- Best Editorial Cartoon: "Registrar Problems" (Jennifer Niswonger)
- Best News or Feature Series: "Are we prepared for a crisis?" (James Vaughn)
Third place
- Advertising Publication of the Year
- Best Overall Website
- Best Overall Website Design
- Best Continuous Coverage of a Single Story: "Teaching theatre construction"
- Best Special Issue: "2014-15 Basketball Preview"
- Best electronic ad - house: "Show your colors"
- Best Front Page: "Nov. 13, 2014: Art Comes to Life"
- Best Entertainment Story: "Monologues help bigger cause"
- Best Sports Feature Story: "Injured runner steps into new role"
- Best In-Depth Story: "Students struggle financially after studying abroad"
- Best Editorial Cartoon: "Printing at USI"
- Best Review: "Shoot sperm, not bullets"
- Best Video: "SpringFest 2014"
- Best Opinion Column: "Don't Give Up On Underperforming Students"