Members of the ODYSSEY Media Group pose on Feb. 21 with a commendation from Georgia’s Gov. Brian Kemp recognizing Scholastic Journalism Week and a formal proclamation recognizing Scholastic Journalism Week in Athens-Clarke County and congratulating the accomplishments of the ODYSSEY Media Group and its adviser issued by Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz. The OMG garnered multiple awards based on its work published from May through Dec. 2023. “These results came out at a great time – the dead of winter when motivation and aspirations start to lag,” OMG Adviser David Ragsdale said. “I’m hopeful the recognition will encourage our seniors to finish the year with quality storytelling and our younger folks will be inspired during the next several months to package fair, accurate and compelling stories.” Photo by Aza Khan
The ODYSSEY Media Group achieved 7th place in the National Scholastic Press Association’s annual Clicks and Clips contest for student journalism.
The National Scholastic Press Association released its winners for the Clips & Clicks contest for the fall 2023 semester on Feb. 2. Additionally, student media outlets were recognized for their placement in the Clips & Clicks Sweepstakes.
The competition, which is open to all NSPA members, praises work produced by scholastic journalists during the school year. The fall-semester winners spotlighted content produced from May 4 – Dec. 13, 2023.
According to NSPA, this year’s competition had 239 more submissions than just a year ago for a grand total of 889. The judges included professional journalists, student media advisers and collegiate professors.
“The judges consistently said they were very impressed with the quality of the entries submitted,” NSPA Associate Director Gary Lundgren said.
“The judges consistently said they were very impressed with the quality of the entries submitted.”
— Gary Lundgren,
NSPA Associate Director
Nearly 14 percent of those entered (127) were commended. The judges determined the number of winners in each category based on the quality and quantity of the entries.
When calculating Sweepstakes, the following points are assigned:
First Place: 10
Second Place: 9
Third Place: 8
Fourth Place: 7
Fifth Place: 6
Honorable Mention: 5
Clarke Central High School, which had six submissions awarded, is now in seventh place in the Sweepstakes, 22 points from the top spot held by Shawnee Mission East High School’s The Harbinger.
ODYSSEY Media Group Digital Editor-in-Chief Anna Shaikun realizes that with more entries in this year’s sweepstakes, the competition is stronger than ever.
“With several of our pieces being part of that 14 percent recognized, I think it’s really a tribute to the ODYSSEY’s teamwork,” Shaikun said. “All of our stories go through so many hands, from the writer to the editors to the people who design layouts and packages. Even with tougher competition this year, we’ve pushed through to one of the top spots in the nation. I attribute this to each and every one of our staffers and editors, because it takes a village to raise a story.”
“All of our stories go through so many hands, from the writer to the editors to the people who design layouts and packages. Even with tougher competition this year, we’ve pushed through to one of the top spots in the nation. I attribute this to each and every one of our staffers and editors, because it takes a village to raise a story.”
— Anna Shaikun,
Digital Editor-in-Chief
For OMG adviser David Ragsdale, the arrival of the commendations was perfect.
“These results came out at a great time – the dead of winter when motivation and aspirations start to lag,” Ragsdale said. “I’m hopeful the recognition will encourage our seniors to finish the year with quality storytelling and our younger folks will be inspired during the next several months to package fair, accurate and compelling stories.”
The 2024 spring-semester competition is open to content published from Dec. 14, 2023-May 8, 2023. The BetterBNC submission site opened in February with a contest deadline of May 8.
Fall 2023 Clips & Clicks Awards
Design, Magazine Page/Spread, First Place, National Scholastic Press Association: Janie Ripps, “Making the Melody”
Photojournalism, News Photo, Third Place, National Scholastic Press Association: Aza Khan, “Graduation Joy”
Photojournalism, News Photo, Honorable Mention, National Scholastic Press Association: Aza Khan, “Passionate Speaker”
Writing, Feature Story, First Place, National Scholastic Press Association: Jesse Dantzler and Maya Shrivastav, “Henson’s Helping Hand”
Writing, Sports Story, Second Place, National Scholastic Press Association: Adah Hamman, Wyatt Meyer and Nico Willman, “Leaving a Legacy”
Writing, Opinion, Honorable Mention, National Scholastic Press Association: Janie Ripps, “Judge Janie”
