Viewpoints Editor Molly Harwell and Variety staffer Emily Couch hold computers that display their respective National Scholastic Press Association award-winning stories. The OMG recently participated in the Fall Journalism Education Association/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention, in which they both received awards and participated in journalism workshop video sessions. “I really loved seeing some of the younger staffers get (awards), like Molly got recognized for her podcast, and Emily, not younger but new to the staff, also (got recognized) for her podcast, which is really cool because they’re new to the staff but they’ve both been putting in a lot of work,” Print Editor-in-Chief Audrey Enghauser, a senior, said. “I’ve really seen (that work) and it’s awesome that they got recognized in that way.” Photo by Luna Reichert
The ODYSSEY Media Group virtually attended the Fall Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association National High School Journalism Convention, in which they received recognition for their work and participated in journalism workshop video sessions.
The ODYSSEY Media Group and iliad literary-art magazine received recognition for their work and participated in in-depth lessons on different aspects of journalism at the Fall Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association National High School Journalism Convention.
The NHSJC featured a Best of Show competition and the NSPA individual awards program, as well as 96 on-demand journalism workshop video sessions and two live sessions, all led by professional journalists and advisers from across the country. The OMG placed in several categories for the Best of Show competition, which included podcasts and blogs.
“I really loved seeing some of the younger staffers get recognized. Seeing younger staffers get recognized means a lot to me because that was one of my motivators as a younger staffer,” Print Editor-in-Chief Audrey Enghauser, a senior, said. “Seeing that your work has national value is really important. Like yeah, maybe some students don’t read your work all the time, (and) we’d like to have a bigger Athens audience, but people who are important are seeing our work and they’re recognizing it.”
The website that Digital Editor-in-Chief Ireland McCage, a senior, curated with her staff placed ninth for Best of Show: Website. McCage believes that the recognition the awards bring inspires staff members.
“I do think (awards are) definitely a morale booster,” McCage said. “It motivates the staff. That could be your name on the screen next year, so you just have to keep working at it. Your peers did it, and you’re getting the same training as them, so hopefully you can do it too.”
“It motivates the staff. That could be your name on the screen next year, so you just have to keep working at it.”
— Ireland McCage,
Digital Editor-in-Chief and senior
The 2021 volume of the iliad, which was created by 2021 graduates and Co-Editor-in-Chiefs Natalie Ripps and Lucy Hines, placed 2nd in the category Literary Art Magazine: Best Overall, as well as garnering awards for individual layouts.
“Natalie and Lucy had put so much time and work into creating such a beautiful magazine, and so it meant a lot to be recognized for that,” iliad literary-art magazine Co-Editor-In-Chief Kaija Gilbertson Hall, a junior, said. “Natalie and Lucy are just really talented designers and so I was happy to see them recognized and I think they were happy about it too.”
In addition to the competition, staffers participated in instructional video sessions as part of the fall convention. For Journalism I student Maya Shrivastav, a freshman, the workshops provided an opportunity to explore new aspects of journalism and possibilities moving forward.
“I probably will go on to the (ODYSSEY) production class, but I honestly had no idea what I actually wanted to do (when I signed up for courses.) Watching the videos helped me think about, ‘What is it that I’d be interested in doing,’’ Shrivastav said. “Photography (was) actually not something I was thinking about at first, but then (through the sessions) I realized it seems really interesting and I’d like to go more in-depth on that.”
News staffer Sofia Balsamo, a sophomore, attended the Sponsored Education session presented by Medill Associate Professor Christopher Benson, who discussed the media’s responsibility in racial justice and focused on the coverage of the murders of Emmet Till and George Floyd.
“I was able to get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at what it’s like covering a story, especially one as impactful as Floyd’s. I think that oftentimes journalists are overlooked. We, (the audience,) read and watch the news to keep ourselves informed, but we don’t really stop to consider and acknowledge what it takes to actually get that story to us so we can stay up to date on events in our community and around the world,” Balsamo said.
The page for the Nation High School Journalism Conference session “From Emmet Till to George Floyd: Racial Reckoning, Media Responsibility” is displayed. The session was presented by Medill Associate Professor Christopher Benson, and discussed the media’s responsibility when covering race-related issues. “If we in the media have certain biases that are created because of the way we’ve learned about ourselves and other people, then that’s going to affect how we present people in stories,” Benson said in the session. “Recognize the biases that come into play and try to expose yourself to competing messages.” Photo courtesy of NHSJC
McCage believes that the opportunity the workshop provides for staffers to learn from journalists outside of the program is important and can bring in new ideas to the staff.
“It’s really important to be learning from other people,” McCage said. “You’re getting professional advice from real journalists who are news anchors, or have worked for all these big publications, and that’s not something you can do every day. I think it’s important that we’re soaking in their advice and their information because they know what they’re talking about.”
Enghauser believes the convention gave staff an opportunity to connect, both within and outside of the program, and refocus on why they do the work they do.
“I love that we as a team can celebrate each other’s accomplishments and be inspired (by each other),” Enghauser said. “(Awards are really) an opportunity to be inspired by your teammates, be motivated to try to get recognized (and) see how your work is seen on a national scale.”
The 2020-2021 Iliad Literary-Art Magazine received an All-American evaluation by the National Scholastic Press Association. The publication received Marks of Distinction for Content; Photography, Art, Graphics; Design; and Concept. All-American publications must achieve 400-500 points with four-five Marks of Distinction. The Iliad rated 474 points as a total score.
Winners of NSPA Individual Awards, plus NSPA Pacemaker Awards in Broadcast, Newspaper/Newsmagazine and Specialty Magazine, were announced during the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention on Nov. 11, 2021, in a virtual awards ceremony.
2021 NSPA Design of the Year: Literary/Specialty Magazine Page/Spread: Fourth Place: “I Know Too Much of Naps”, Lucy Hines, Natalie Ripps of the Iliad Literary-Art Magazine
2021 NSPA Best Use of Social Media: Kaija Gilbertson-Hall was named a finalist for Best Use of Social Media: Social Media Promotion, Second Place
2021 NSPA Digital Story of the Year: Blog: Tomás Dougan was named a finalist for Digital Story of the Year: Blog, Third Place
Audrey Enghauser was named a finalist for Editorial Leadership; First Place for Best of Show.
Iliad Literary-Art Magazine Staff was named a finalist for Best of Show: Literary Arts Magazine; Second Place
Odyssey Media Group Staff was named a finalist for Best of Show: Website; Ninth Place
Molly Harwell was named a finalist for Best of Show: Podcast; Second Place
Emily Couch was named a finalist for Best of Show: Podcast, Eighth Place
Lucy Hines, Natalie Ripps, Grace Lang and Laniya Jones were named finalists for Best of Show: Magazine Design, First Place
Natalie Ripps, Lucy Hines, Penelope Anderson and Kira Thomas were named finalists for Best of Show: Magazine Design, Second Place
Natalie Ripps, Lucy Hines, Ethan Caspary-Poucher and Amanda Ochieng were named finalists for Best of Show: Magazine Design, Fourth Place
