Beacon multimedia team shines in Gold Circle Awards

The Beacon has won five Gold Circle Awards for digital media in a variety of multimedia categories. These awards draw entries from schools around the country, including large universities with major journalism programs. The Gold Circle Awards are sponsored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, which is based at the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York City. The entry period covered content published between Oct. 2, 2019 and Oct. 12, 2020.

FIRST PLACE– Single Spot News Photograph : Ryan Reynolds for “Toxic air fills The Bluff”

SECOND PLACE – Podcast: Jennifer Ng, Molly Lowney for “What on Earth?”

SECOND PLACE– Video Feature Package: Taylor Ursulum, “The Beacon reflects on Student Press Freedom Day”

THIRD PLACE – Interactive Graphic: Brennan Crowder, “2020 Summer recap: Everything that’s happened since COVID-19 shutdown campus”

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL INTERACTIVE

THIRD PLACE – Photo Illustration: Brennan Crowder, “Computers get Zoom fatigue too”

The judges also awarded Certificates of Merit for the following:

First Person Experience: Mia Werner, “Anti-Semitism at UP: We must condemn bigotry always”

Personality Profile: Havi Stewart, “Isley Cachero: Fighting to be the 1%”

Sports Feature: Lindsey Warren, “A chance to get off the hamster wheel: Fall sports coaches share how coaching and their lives changed during the COVID-19 pandemic”

Photo Slideshow: Molly Lowney, “Environmental Justice Immersion brings revelations from UP’s backyard”

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Beacon wins big in 2019-20 regional and national awards

As we head into a new and historic academic year, here’s a round-up of the most recent awards The Beacon won in 2019-20.

A photo by Beacon photographer Jennifer Ng won First Place for Breaking News Photography nationwide in the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards. The Beacon competed against student publications at colleges and universities with fewer than 10,000 students.

Jennifer’s winning photo was shot during the massive Climate Strike demonstration in downtown Portland last fall.

Photographer Annika Gordon, who has won many awards for her photography, won a national award for opinion writing: First Place Gold Circle Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for her personal commentary, “I’m racist, so are you. White people, let’s improve.”

Those were just two of many awards Beacon staffers recently won for their work in those two contests. The Beacon also won:

Third Place (nationally) for Best University Student Publication in the 2020 Catholic Press Association Media Awards.

Best Website for four-year colleges/universities in the annual competition sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Association of Journalism Educators (PNAJE).

Other winners and finalists:

Society of Professional Journalists regional Mark of Excellence Awards (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska)

General news reporting –

FIRST PLACE: Madison Pfeifer – “DACA students await Supreme Court Decision”
Finalist- Gabi DiPaulo – “A City Split in two: Students travel to the border wall“

In-depth reporting –

FIRST PLACE: Austin De Dios- “Tuition increases don’t tell the whole story“
Finalist: Dora Totoian- “Diversity and inclusion progress report: INCOMPLETE“

Feature Writing–

FIRST PLACE: Catherine Cieminski- “Curb your enthusiasm: Should you really pet that dog?“

Finalist: Dora Totoian – “Faculty celebrates community and leadership for F-Gen Day”

Finalist: Delaney Vetter- “More than my stature: Navigating life with dwarfism”

Editorial Writing

FIRST PLACE: Dora Totoian, Gabi DiPaulo and Delaney Vetter

Online/Digital Feature Videography-

FIRST PLACE: Elizabeth Lyons-Best- “Behind the Scenes of the Penelopiad“

Breaking News Reporting

Finalist- Madison Pfeiffer- Owen Klinger disappearance and death coverage (collection of articles, updates)

General column writing–

Finalists: Annika Gordon, Dora Tototian, Carlos Fuentes

Sports writing

Finalist- Jamison White: Jacobo Reyes: Broad experience, a steady presence and a tough choice

Finalist- Kyle Garcia: Mary Cain’s slam on Nike sheds light on her year at University of Portland

Sports Column Writing

Finalist- Kyle Garcia and Morgan Wahler

General News Photography

Finalist – Molly Lowney- DACA Candlelight Vigil

Sports Photography

Finalists – Brennan Crowder- Soccer team celebrates after a goal

Online Feature Reporting

Finalist: Ajay Davis, Brennan Crowder, Elizabeth Lyons-Best- “Behind the Scenes of the Penelopiad”

GOLD CIRCLE AWARDS – Columbia Scholastic Press Association

News Writing (Planned News)– THIRD PLACE: Carlos Fuentes, “City Removes Unauthorized Stop Signs”

Video Feature Package– THIRD PLACE– Erica Lavik and Elizabeth Lyons-Best, “Hip Hop Kyle”

Gold Circle certificates of merit:

Breaking News– Madison Pfeifer, “Brush Fires Set Near Campus Considered Suspicious” 

Photo Slideshow– Brennan Crowder, “A Pilot’s Inside Look at Indy Car”

Single Feature Photograph– Paula Ortiz Cazaubon, “Tanzanian Children Watch for Mass Wedding” 

Interactive Graphic– Austin De Dios, “Analysis: UP Tuition Increases Don’t Tell the Whole Story” 

2019-2020 Tuition Increases
Infogram

Meal Plans
Infogram

Discount Rates
Infogram

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Awards-apalooza 2019

Brennan Crowder, Sam Cushing, Dora Totoian and Maddie Pfeiffer accept the Silver Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York during 2019 Spring Break.

The Beacon’s work has been recognized recently by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the College Media Association (CMA).

The CSPA awarded the Beacon a Silver Crown Award for general excellence during the 2017-18 publishing year. A delegation of Beacon staffers received the plaque in New York City during the annual spring College Media Association conference.

At that conference, The Beacon received Second Place for “News Delivery” for its comprehensive coverage (including social media) of last fall’s campus protest against Fr. Paul Scalia.

Finally, we just received word that The Beacon is a regional finalist (or winner) in several categories of the SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards. We are in Region 10, which encompasses Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. The list of honored students and their work is below.

SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards

(Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska schools fewer than 10,000 students)

Breaking News Reporting

Claire Desmarais, Hannah Sievert: Former UP President Named in Sex Abuse Report

Claire Desmarais, Jennifer Ng, David Jacobs, Annika Gordon: Protest over Scalia LGBTQ Views Draws Hundreds

Breaking News Photography (schools fewer than 10,000 students)

Jennifer Ng:

Fr. Paul Scalia and his mother walk through protesters silently protesting his LGBTQ views. Photo by Jennifer NG

Annika Gordon:

Jennifer Ng:

In-depth Reporting – Wally Awards and aftermath

Olivia Sanchez, Rachel Rippetoe, Brigid Lowney and Kyle Garcia:

https://www.upbeacon.com/article/2018/04/commentary-the-wallys-sanchez

https://www.upbeacon.com/article/2018/04/ofdctb5dzueagc6

https://www.upbeacon.com/article/2018/04/poorman-apologizes-to-students-parents-and-faculty

https://www.upbeacon.com/article/2018/04/reaffirming-pilot-values

https://www.upbeacon.com/article/2018/11/moving-forward-athletics-making-changes-to-title-ix

Feature Writing

Ana Clyde, Annika Gordon – “What Latinos look like”

Brigid Lowney, Molly Lowney – “Making Life Small”

Sports Writing, Rachel Rippetoe: 

Making Strides: Six Years of Athletics Under Scott Leykam

Sports Photography

Annika Gordon- 

Molly Lowney:

Molly Lowney:

Online/Digital News Videography – David Jacobs, Claire Desmarais:

Students lead protest against Red Mass speaker

Online Opinion & Commentary- Rachel Rippetoe and Erin Bothwell:

https://www.upbeacon.com/article/2018/05/qfch0hmk9tnkvvq

https://www.upbeacon.com/article/2018/04/editorial-local-news

https://www.upbeacon.com/article/2018/02/editorial-studentmedia-matters

Apple Awards – College Media Association

Second Place – News Delivery (for coverage of protest of Fr. Scalia)

 

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Awards and Internships, Spring 2016 edition

The Beacon has won four regional Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and advances to the national competition in the following categories:

General News Reporting, In-Depth Reporting, Online Sports Reporting and Photo Illustration.

Here are the specifics:

General News Reporting: “Students Safe After Paris Attacks” by Clare Duffy, Malika Andrews and Luke Loranger

(Finalist: “Faculty to Admin:I’m underpaid” by Cheyenne Schoen, Clare Duffy and Malika Andrews)

In-Depth Reporting: “Transgender student finds a home/Transphobic Incident Spurs Pain, Action” by Cheyenne Schoen and Lydia Laythe

Online Sports Reporting: “His Way Out” by Malika Andrews, Hannah Baade and Parker Shoaff

Photo Illustration: “Are We Prepared?” by Nathan DeVaughn and Hannah Baade

(Finalist: “Where Does Your Trash Go?” by Rebekah Markillie)

The regional competition involved student media from universities in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska with enrollment under 10,000. National winners will be announced at the SPJ convention in New Orleans in September.

Also, the College Media Association awarded The Beacon Second Place in the Apple Awards for Best Newspaper from schools with fewer than 5000 students. First Place went to Rice University’s student newspaper.

Malika, Cheyenne, Ben and Clare with the award at the College Media Convention in New York

Additionally, several Beacon staffers have landed selective media internships this summer.

Malika Andrews will intern at the Denver Post as part of the elite Sports Journalism Institute. The Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism has awarded paid internships to Clare Duffy (The Bend Bulletin) and Cheyenne Schoen (Klamath Falls Herald and News). Ben Arthur will intern for the sports department of KOIN-TV (CBS).

Go team!

– Nancy Copic, Asst. Director for Student Media

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SPJ Awards Region 10

The Beacon has won 10 regional Mark of Excellence awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. The competition includes collegiate newspapers from Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. The Beacon competed in the “small” university/college category (5000 or fewer undergrads).

What we don’t know is whether the awards were for First, Second or Third Place. That will be announced at the SPJ regional conference at Gonzaga the weekend of April 13. First Place finishers advance to the national SPJ Mark of Excellence competition.

Here’s the list of award-winners from The Beacon:

Editorial Writing – Caitlin Yilek
Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper  – Beacon staff
Breaking News Photography “She said yes!” -Jackie Jeffers
Feature Photography  “The story behind the ink” by Giovanna Solano
Feature Writing “Molly’s Legacy: Hope for Haiti” – Kate Stringer
General Column Writing Sarah Hansell, Amanda Munro & Lydia Laythe
General News Reporting “Access Denied” – Phillip Ellefson
General News Reporting “Students Cooperate but still can’t party”-Kelsey Thomas
In-Depth Reporting “What’s in our air?” – Rosemary Peters
Sports Photography “Round Two!” -Jackie Jeffers

-Nancy Copic

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Did not see this coming…Hurray!

When I saw the email subject line “Gold Circle Winners Announced,” my reflex was to steel myself for disappointment. My expectations could not have been lower.

Gold Circle Awards are national awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association based at the graduated school of the Columbia School of Journalism in N.Y. There are so many better-funded, impressively-staffed college journalism programs and student media programs out there, I believed The Beacon could maybe score an honorable mention. At best.

Not that I don’t swell with pride over the work of the students journalists at The Beacon. I obviously had enough faith to enter The Beacon’s work. It’s just that, well, our little Beacon, we’re not really in the major leagues.

Are we?

The email revealed the surprising (to me, at least) answer: Yes, at least in 6  awards categories.

Six awards and three certificates of merit (honorable mention). Did I mention these are national awards?

So… drumroll, please, I am thrilled to announce The Beacon won the following Gold Circle Awards:

Editorial Writing- 2nd place: Caitlin Yilek and Rosemary Peters- “Where are all the women?”

Personal Opinion: On-campus issues- 3rd place: Caitlin Yilek- “Breaking my silence”

Personality Profile- 2nd Place: Laura Frazier- “Impossible is Nothing”

Certificate of Merit: Natalie Wheeler- Homeless teen turned UP student

Overall design:Tabloid format- 2nd place:  Hannah Gray, Rosemary Peters, Elizabeth Tertadian

Page one design,tabloid format -2nd Place: Hannah Gray-“‘Big Bang Theory’ star returns to The Bluff”

Certificate of Merit:Hannah Gray, Rosemary Peters- “Would you pay $6.95 for this?”

Single subject news or feature package, single page, tabloid- 3rd Place: Will Lyons and Shellie Adams- “Netflix Nosedives”

Certificate of Merit: Rosemary Peters – “What’s in our air?”

Where are they now?

Of the eight students who won Gold Circle Awards, four graduated from UP last May:

Former Beacon Editor-in-Chief Rosemary Peters, who was an engineering major at UP, is pursuing her interest in scientific journalism at Imperial College London, where she will earn an master’s in Science Communication.

Former Beacon news editor Hannah Gray does research for a think tank in Washington, D.C.

 Caitlin Yilek is an editorial writer and copy editor for the St. Cloud Times in her home state of Minnesota.

Natalie Wheeler won a Snowden Foundation paid journalism internship, and is currently reporting at the East Oregonian in Pendleton.

Now for the four returning Beacon staffers who won Gold Circle Awards:

Liz Tertadian is editor-in-chief of The Beacon.

Laura Frazier is news editor of The Beacon. She also won a Snowden Foundation internship, and worked as a reporter for the Portland Tribune and Forest Grove News-Times last summer.

 Will Lyons is opinions editor of The Beacon.

 Shellie Adams is design editor of The Beacon.

‘Looking forward to more astonishing achievements from these students and alums!

-Nancy Copic, Ass’t Director of Student Media & adviser to The Beacon

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A great way to end the year

The Beacon took home 22 (!) awards from the statewide collegiate competition sponsored by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, including nine FIRST PLACE awards in the following categories:

• Best Writing- Laura Frazier
• Best News Story- Consequences: Drinking without thinking by Laura Frazier
• Best Feature Story- Back to The Bluff after ‘Big Bang’ break by Natalie Wheeler
• Best Sports Story- Finding the balance by Bruce Garlinghouse
• Best Section- Hannah Gray, Rosemary Peters
• Best Special Section- Elizabeth Tertadian, Sarah Hansell, Kate Peifer, Sports staff
• Best Series- Rip City Classic by Jason Hortsch, Kyle Cape-Lindelin, Bruce Garlinghouse, John McCarty
• Best Columnist- Caitlin Yilek
• Best Spot News Photo- Christina Nelson

Laura Frazier, Natalie Wheeler, Shellie Adams, Jason Hortsch, Liz Tertadian and Rosemary Peters bask in the glory after the ONPA awards ceremony on May 11.

The Beacon won the following SECOND PLACE AWARDS:

• Best Writing – Natalie Wheeler
• Best Feature- Impossible is nothing by Laura Frazier
• General Excellence
• Best Series- Bon Appetit by Natalie Wheeler, Will Lyons, Rachel McIntosh
• Best Review- Po’Shines by Jocelyne LaFortune and Caitlin Yilek
• Best Cartooning- Ann Truong
• Best House Ad- Student Media Open House by Rosemary Peters

Honorable Mention:

• Best Section- Catilin Yilek, Rosemary Peters
• Best News Story- Would you pay $6.95 for this? by Natalie Wheeler
• Best Editorial- Caitlin Yilek and Rosemary Peters
• Best Graphic- Shellie Adams
• Best Sports Photo- Bill Michielsen
• Best Cartooning- Ann Truong

Congratulations everyone!

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And the winner is (uh… winners are)

From today’s awards ceremony of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Collegiate Day:

1st Place:

Best Section– Hannah Gray, Rosemary Peters, Enid Spitz, Laura Frazier  (Beacon News Section: The Road to River Campus & Your Safety on and off campus)

Best Series– Andy Matarrese, Laura Frazier  (Foundation president withdraws from gala  / GSP works with UP administration)

Best Sports Story– Bruce Garlinghouse  (BOOM! Pilots fly high over No. 24 St. Mary’s)

Best Graphic -Rosemary Peters

2nd Place:

Best Photography– Kevin Kadooka  (BOOM! Pilots fly high over No. 24 St. Mary’s; Homecoming 2010;The inside scoop on the bell tower)

Best Review -Enid Spitz  (Eat at Le Bistro Montage)

Honorable Mention:

Best News Story– Philippe Boutros, Hannah Gray  (Campus-wide alert leads to arrest)

Best (Features) Section– Roya Ghorbani-Elizeh, Laura Frazier, Rosemary Peters, Elizabeth Tertadian (Living/Feature section)  From hall director on The Bluff to cop on the street and likealittle:Online flirting captures UP)

Best Special Section– Rosemary Peters, Andy Matarrese, Staff  (75^th Anniversary of The Beacon)

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According to the ONPA, 17 Oregon collegiate newspapers submitted a total of 603 entries. Congratulations one and all!

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Keep your fingers crossed

The Beacon is a finalist for several awards from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Winners will be announced May 6th. Keep your fingers crossed!

Best News Section– Hannah Gray, Rosemary Peters, Enid Spitz, Laura Frazier  (Beacon News Section: The Road to River Campus & Your Safety on and off campus)

Best Features Section– Roya Ghorbani-Elizeh, Laura Frazier, Rosemary Peters, Elizabeth Tertadian (Living/Feature section)  From hall director on The Bluff to cop on the street and likealittle:Online flirting captures UP)

Best Special Section– Rosemary Peters, Andy Matarrese, Staff  (75^th Anniversary of The Beacon)

Best News Story– Philippe Boutros, Hannah Gray  (Campus-wide alert leads to arrest)

Best Series– Andy Matarrese, Laura Frazier  (Foundation president withdraws from gala  / GSP works with UP administration)

Best Sports Story– Bruce Garlinghouse  (BOOM! Pilots fly high over No. 24 St. Mary’s)

Best Review -Enid Spitz  (Eat at Le Bistro Montage)

Best Photography– Kevin Kadooka  (BOOM! Pilots fly high over No. 24 St. Mary’s; Homecoming 2010;The inside scoop on the bell tower)

Best Graphic -Rosemary Peters

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ONPA Awards- Woo hoo!

“Collegiate Day,” sponsored by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, concluded with the annual awards ceremony for its statewide competition. Let’s just say it was a good day for The Beacon:

First Place – General Excellence, non-daily newspaper  (Beacon staff)

First Place – Best News Story (“Celebrating Molly” – Andy Matarrese)

First Place – Best Sports Story (“Davis up for CLASS award” – Lisa McMahan)

First Place- Best Review (“Where the Wild Things Are” – Elliot Boswell)

First Place – Best Spot News Photo (“Car fire remains mystery” – Erica Ellingsen)

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Second Place- Best Editorial (“Honoring Molly Hightower’s service, sacrifice”- Jon Hiser)

Second Place- Best Spot News Photo ( “Junior Parents Weekend goes off without a hitch” – Kevin Kadooka)

Second Place- Best Cartooning (Samantha Heathcote)

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Honorable Mention:

Best News Story (“Students skip class to honor MLK”  -Hannah Gray)

Best Sports Photo (“Pilot baseball opens with three wins”-Erica Ellingsen)

Best Special Section (“Moving on UP” – Rosemary Peters &  Beacon staff)

Best Feature Photo (“Pump up the purple” homecoming spread-Erica Ellingsen, Reilly Hourigan, Jordan Schager)

Best Design (Oct 8, 2009 & Jan 28, 2010 issues- Andy Matarrese, Jordan Schager, Beacon staff)

Best Photography – Reilly Hourigan

Best House Ad (“Not on campus to pick up The Beacon?”- Andy Matarrese)

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