UM Journalism School Retains National Top 10 Ranking

For the sixth consecutive year, The University of Montana School of Journalism has placed in the top 10 of the Hearst Journalism Awards Program, a yearlong competition made up of 12 separate contests.

Contact: UM School of Journalism, (406) 243-4001

http://www.umt.edu/urelations/releases/2004/051404jour.htm

The journalism school placed 10th overall among journalism schools nationwide and eighth in broadcast news. Last year, the school placed seventh overall, with a fifth place showing in broadcast news.

Nine students won individual awards during the competition, accruing points toward the final tally. One of the nine, senior Chelsi Moy, won two awards.

“To be ranked amongst the top ten journalism schools in the overall national Hearst competition is a major honor,” said journalism Dean Jerry Brown. “Cheers to the students. By winning in all categories, they demonstrated both a depth and breadth of talent and professional growth.”

The Hearst program, which gives more than $400,000 in awards, matching grants and stipends yearly, was founded in the late 1940s by publisher William Randolph Hearst. The competition consists of three photo, six writing and four broadcast news contests annually. Of approximately 400 journalism programs in the country, 105 are accredited by the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication and are eligible to participate in the awards program.

The student Hearst winners during the year were Jessie Childress, fourth, opinion writing; Danielle Cross, sixth, broadcast feature; Matt Hayes, ninth, picture story; Beth Saboe, ninth, broadcast news-radio; Angela Marshall, 11th broadcast news-radio; Chelsi Moy, 13th, feature writing; Lisa Hornstein, 15th, photo/sports and news; Steve Dent, 16th, broadcast news-TV; Chelsi Moy, 20th, spot news; and Martin Ross, 20th, broadcast news-TV.