Communication Students and Grad Honored by Âé¶¹Ö±²¥eastern Journalism Conference
Posted on April 26, 2022 by Marcomm

The Vanguard and Due Âé¶¹Ö±²¥, the Âé¶¹Ö±²¥â€™s student-run publications, won multiple journalism awards in this spring’s “Best of the Âé¶¹Ö±²¥â€ competition hosted by the Âé¶¹Ö±²¥eastern Journalism Conference. The 34th annual contest recognized student media among 30 colleges and universities in the region, with 348 entries.
Gracie King, a rising senior in the Department of Communication and features editor for the Vanguard, won third place in the Best Feature Writer category for both the newspaper and Due Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ magazine, with a long-form story on Africatown, a profile of artist Monica Beasley, and an installment in her series, “People of Âé¶¹Ö±²¥.â€
Vanguard Editor-in-Chief Amelia Rose Zimlich won double honors for her media organization, including fourth place for both Best Special Event Reporter/Editor (for stories on Âé¶¹Ö±²¥â€™s presidential selection process) and Best News Writer (for stories featuring the volleyball lawsuit, bookstore back-orders and the campus mask requirement.)
Breahnna Crosslin, a 2021 communication graduate, won fifth place in the Best Photographer category. This is the second year in a row Crosslin’s work for Due Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ was honored by the conference.
The Vanguard, the University’s student newspaper, placed eighth in the Best Website category, a first for the weekly publication. Zimlich, a graduating senior who is interning with Mobile Bay magazine and WKRG News 5, said the awards live-streamed on March 25 from Lipscomb University in Memphis were an honor.
“Leading the student newspaper and telling the stories of Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ has been one of the most special experiences during my time in college,†Zimlich said.
JagMedia, which oversees the Vanguard, Due Âé¶¹Ö±²¥, JagTV and The Prowl radio station, is open to all majors and provides students with hands-on media experience and work samples to build professional portfolios. For information on paid positions as well as freelance opportunities for the 2022-23 school year, visit