WKU News

Three WKU students have been honored in the first photojournalism and writing competitions of the 2017-2018 Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

Shaban R. Athuman, a senior from Roanoke, Virginia, finished second in the Photojournalism Features and News Competition. Athuman received a $2,000 award and qualified for the semifinal round of judging in April. Nick Wagner, a May graduate from Ada, Minnesota, finished third and received a $1,500 award. WKU’s School of Journalism & Broadcasting receives matching grants.

In the Feature Writing Competition, Jacob Dick, a May graduate from Russell Springs, placed ninth for Unbridled: A story of Kentucky’s forgotten recreational horses.

After the first of two photo competitions, WKU is second behind Ohio University. After the first of five writing competitions, WKU and University of Texas-Austin are tied for fifth behind Indiana University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Pennsylvania State University and Syracuse University.

In 2016-17, WKU won the Hearst Intercollegiate Photojournalism Competition for the 23^rd time in the past 28 years, won the Hearst Intercollegiate Multimedia Competition for the sixth consecutive years and finished third overall – its eighth consecutive top five national ranking. WKU has finished in the top eight of the Hearst competition for 24 straight years, including national championships in 2000, 2001 and 2005.

WKU students have won 15 Hearst individual national championships since 1985 — photojournalism in 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2016; multimedia in 2015; writing in 1985; and radio news in 2006.

Often called “The Pulitzers of college journalism,” the Hearst Journalism Awards Program, in its 58th year, five writing, two photojournalism, one radio, two television, and four multimedia competitions offering up to $700,000 in scholarships, matching grants and stipends; 105 member universities of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication with accredited undergraduate journalism programs are eligible to participate in the Hearst competitions.

Contact: School of Journalism & Broadcasting, (270) 745-4144