The Rider News Dominates N.J. Press Association Contest
The Rider News took home 11 awards, including four first-place titles in the 2008 New Jersey Collegiate Press Association (NJCPA) Better College Newspaper contest. Because the student newspaper won 10 prizes, it also received the Sweepstakes Award, in recognition of earning the most titles for a four-year college. It’s also the most awards The Rider News has received in a single contest.
“After a really long year of difficult stories and issues, we’re just honored to be recognized for our hard work and effort,” said Executive Editor Olivia Tattory, a senior Journalism major. “It’s just a really good way for the seniors to leave their mark. It couldn’t have panned out any better.”
Features and Entertainment Editor Jess Decina, a senior Journalism major, said she was checking the NJCPA’s Web site and was floored when she discovered the initial results of the contest the night before spring break began. To her delight, Decina found that she had received first-place honors in Feature Writing, and checking back days later, she was shocked by the final results. Not only had Decina captured another first-place title in the Arts and Entertainment/Critical Writing category, but The Rider News had placed in six of the 10 categories for the four-year college division.
“I called everyone,” said Decina who then e-mailed everyone about the recognitions. “I remember hitting the caps button and writing ‘You won’t believe this!’”
Decina said it was a great feeling for the news staff to be recognized for all its hard work and late nights throughout the academic year. The winning staffers and their distinctions were:
- News Writing: 2007 graduate Mike Caputo received first place for “Freshman in critical condition” and “Mourning Gary”; Tattory received second place for “Rider Resonates and Charring Flames”; and Jeff Frankel, a senior Journalism major, received an honorable mention for “Blue Light Special” and “50 Years Gone.”
- Feature Writing: Decina received first place for “Class back in session for former sergeant” and “Theater talk”; Laura Mortkowitz, a senior English and Journalism major, received an honorable mention for “Bad news reigns” and “Rider drummer marches to the Rutgers band tune.”
- Opinion Writing: 2007 graduate Leo Rommel received third place for “Tough Guys” and “Head Up High.”
- Sports Writing: Paul Mullin, a junior Journalism major, received first place for “Rider ends up-and-down season on positive note” and “Go Fisch”; and Rommel received third place for “Champions at Last” and “New Boss in Town.”
- Arts and Entertainment/Critical Writing: Decina received first place for “Wilde’s ‘Three Trials’ leave one verdict” and “Heidi celebrates more than feminism.”
- Layout and Design: The Rider News received second place.
Editors chose articles from the previous year to enter in the contest, Tattory said. For each category, a staff writer could submit up to two articles, she added.
“We didn’t expect to win 10 awards,” she said. “Everyone was excited.”
Sixteen college newspapers submitted 261 entries for four-year college and two-year college divisions in January. The contest was judged by active or former editors, writers and photographers of newspapers that are New Jersey Press Association members. The honored staff attended an awards luncheon at the NJCPA's Spring Conference on April 10 at the Trenton Marriott Lafayette Yard.
“We are really proud of the entire staff. They work so hard and they really understand the sort of effort it takes to do a good job,” said co-adviser Dr. Graham McKinley, professor of Journalism. Dr. Thomas Simonet, professor of Journalism, is also a co-adviser for The Rider News.
