WKU News

The College Heights Herald, WKU’s student-run news organization, was named the top university news operation in the state at the 2018 Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers awards ceremony Friday (Jan. 26) in Lexington.

The Herald won first place from the Kentucky Press Association for general excellence among university newspapers. In a separate ceremony Thursday (Jan. 25), the Herald won first place among all collegiate publications for general excellence in advertising.

In the news contest, staff members for the Herald won 16 first-place honors, 11 second-place, 15 third-place and one honorable mention. In the advertising contest, the Herald won nine first-place awards, five second-place and four third-place. In each contest, the Herald won more individual awards than any other university newspaper in the Commonwealth.

“Our students did some powerful work during the past year, and it’s gratifying to see that important reporting, along with the exceptional storytelling and visual journalism, recognized for excellence,” said Chuck Clark, director of WKU Student Publications. “I’m particularly pleased that some of the most challenging stories these students tackled were singled out by the judges and recognized for excellence.”

This is the Herald’s fourth general excellence win in five years in the news contest, and the third win in four years in the advertising contest.

The contest period ran from Oct. 1, 2016-Sept. 30, 2017. Brandon Carter, a December 2016 graduate now living in Washington, D.C., was editor in the Fall 2016 semester. Lashana Harney, a December 2017 graduate from Paris, Kentucky, was editor in the Spring 2017 semester. Andrew Henderson, a senior from Olive Hill, Kentucky, was editor in the Fall 2017 semester.

Carrie Pratt is the adviser to the College Heights Herald newsroom and Will Hoagland is the adviser to the advertising staff.

NEWS CONTEST

Here is how the Herald did in the news contest, competing among large university newspapers:

• GENERAL EXCELLENCE: First place.
• EDITORIAL: Second place, Andrew Henderson.
• GENERAL NEWS STORY: Third place, Jacob Dick.
• COLUMN: Second place, Andrew Henderson; third place, Kelly Burgess.
• SPORTS COLUMN: First place, John Reecer; third place, Evan Heichelbech.
• SPORTS STORY: First place, Evan Heichelbech.
• SPORTS FEATURE STORY: First place, Jeremy Chisenhall.
• ENTERPRISE/ANALYTICAL STORY: First place, Jacob Dick; second place, Nicole Ares.
• INVESTIGATIVE STORY: First place, Nicole Ares; third place, Andrew Henderson.
• EXTENDED COVERAGE: Second place, Herald staff.
• BUSINESS STORY: First place, Olivia Mohr; third place, Spencer Harsh.
• USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA: Third place, Herald staff.
• USE OF MULTIMEDIA: Second place, Herald staff; third place, Herald staff; honorable mention, Herald staff.
• BREAKING NEWS PICTURE: First place, Brook Joyner; second place, Tyger Williams; third place, Evan Boggs.
• GENERAL NEWS PICTURE: First place, Abby Potter; second place, Kathryn Zeisig.
• FEATURE PICTURE: First place, Brook Joyner; third place, Brendan O’Hern.
• PICTURE ESSAY: First place, Morgan Hornsby; second place, Kathryn Zeisig, Brook Joyner and Lydia Schweickart; third place, Alyse Young.
• SPORTS PICTURE ESSAY: Second place, Herald staff; third place, Kendall Warner.
• SPECIAL SECTION: First place, Herald staff; third place, Herald staff.
• GRAPHIC: First place, Craig Ostertag; third place, Craig Ostertag.
• SPORTS SECTION: First place, Herald staff.
• SPORTS SPECIAL SECTION: First place, Herald staff; second place, Herald staff; third place, Herald staff.
• LIFESTYLE SECTION: Third place, Herald staff.
• EDITORIAL PAGE: Second place, Herald staff.
• HEADLINE: First place, Herald staff.

ADVERTISING CONTEST

Here is how the Herald did in the advertising contest, competing among all collegiate newspapers:

• GENERAL EXCELLENCE: First place.
• FOOD AND ALCOHOL: First and second place, Micayla Kelly.
• REAL ESTATE: First, second and third place, Micayla Kelly.
• CLOTHING: Third place, Micayla Kelly.
• ENTERTAINMENT/DINING: First and second place, Micayla Kelly.
• SPECIAL SECTION: First and third place, Herald staff.
• SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS: First and second place, Herald staff.
• USE OF COLOR: First, second and third place, Micayla Kelly.
• AD SERIES: First place, Micayla Kelly.
• SPECIAL EVENTS: First place, Micayla Kelly.

About Student Publications: WKU Student Publications is home to some of the nation’s most honored student journalism at the collegiate level. The College Heights Herald newspaper, founded in January 1925, and its website WKUHerald.com have won the national Pacemaker Award, the top honor for a student-run publication, 16 times. Talisman, WKU’s student-run life and culture magazine, and its companion website WKUTalisman.com have won 20 Pacemakers. The College Heights Herald and the Talisman are both members of the Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame for their consistent records of excellence.

Contact: Chuck Clark, (270) 745-2653 or chuck.clark@wku.edu