Awards & Honors
Mississippi State wins 38 awards at Southeast Journalism Conference
Student journalists from Mississippi State University won 38 awards at the 2024 Southeast Journalism Conference, including 1st place overall in the “Onsite” competition. The conference was hosted by Troy University Feb. 23-25.
Between the “Best of the South” and “Onsite” competitions, Mississippi State took home nine 1st-place awards. Aubrey Carter, a junior Communication major from Alabaster, Ala., was named “Best Television Journalist” in the competitive “Best of the South” competition. Caleb Bowman, a senior Meteorology major from Brock, Texas, was named “Best Special Event Reporter” for his coverage of environmental issues in Mississippi.
“We placed in almost every category we entered,” said Communication Department instructor Josh Foreman, who organized the Best of the South competition this year. “It shows the quality of our program as a whole.”
Mississippi State competed against students from the University of Kentucky, University of Alabama, University of Tennessee, University of Mississippi, and around 20 other universities from around the Southeast.
For the Best of the South competition, students enter the work they have produced over the previous year. Although students from the University of Kentucky took home more first-place awards in the “Best of the South” competition, Mississippi State had more placements than any other university.
The Onsite competition requires that students compete head-to-head over the three days of the conference. Mississippi State also won the overall Onsite competition in 2023.
“I enjoyed the fast-paced atmosphere and seeing fellow student journalists at work,” said Samuel Hughes, a senior Communication and Spanish major from Biloxi, Miss. “I photographed a beautiful dance performance and wrote a feature on an art exhibition. I stepped into the moment, produced some solid work, and enjoyed time with my friends.”
At the conference, students learned from professionals such as CNN’s Tom Foreman and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Ashley Remkus.
“It was so nice to see everyone get recognized for their talent and hard work,” Carter said. “I’m just really thankful for my professors who have helped me grow as a journalist and instilled so much confidence in me.”
Mississippi State will host the 2025 Southeast Journalism Conference.
The complete list of award winners is below:
1st - Best TV Journalist (Best of the South)
Aubrey Carter, junior Communication major from Alabaster, Alabama
1st - Special Event Reporter or Editor (Best of the South)
Caleb Bowman, senior Geoscience major from Brock, Texas
1st - Best Audio Program (Best of the South)
Mississippi State University
1st - Best Artist/Illustrator (Best of the South)
Bryce Yzaguirre, junior Art major from Northport, Alabama
1st - Overall Winner (Onsite)
Mississippi State University
1st - Arts and Entertainment Writing (Onsite)
Megan Gordon, senior Communication major from Sylacauga, Alabama
1st - Feature Photography (Onsite)
Ivy Rose Ball, junior Communication major from Muscle Shoals, Alabama
1st - Feature Writing (Onsite)
Samuel Hughes, senior Spanish and Communication major from Biloxi, Mississippi
1st - Page Design (Onsite)
Joshua Britt, senior Information Technology Services major from Nesbit, Mississippi
2nd - Best News Writer (Best of the South)
Pamela Dankins, senior Communication major from Amory, Mississippi
2nd - Best Feature Writer (Best of the South)
Samuel Hughes, senior Spanish and Communication major from Biloxi, Mississippi
2nd - Best Arts and Entertainment Writer (Best of the South)
Megan Gordon, senior Communication major from Sylacauga, Alabama
2nd - Best Photographer (Best of the South)
Ivy Rose Ball, junior Communication major from Muscle Shoals, Alabama
2nd - Best Graphic Designer or Data Journalist (Best of the South)
Joshua Britt, senior Information Technology Services major from Nesbit, Mississippi
2nd - Best Magazine Designer (Best of the South)
Jill Horner, senior Art major from Jackson, Mississippi
2nd - Best Radio News Reporter (Best of the South)
Amelia Middleton, senior Communication major from Hernando, Mississippi
2nd - Research (Best of the South)
Communication majors Macie Banks, Sam Leamon, Savannah Fort and Chloe Leggett
2nd - Best Public Service Journalism (Best of the South)
Mississippi State University
2nd - Arts and Entertainment Photography (Onsite)
Samuel Hughes, senior Spanish and Communication major from Biloxi, Mississippi
2nd - TV News Reporting (Onsite)
Aubrey Carter, junior Communication major from Alabaster, Alabama and Teirrah Tidwell, senior Communication major from Jackson, Mississippi
2nd - Radio Sports Reporting (Onsite)
Elizabeth Keen, senior Communication major from Vicksburg, Mississippi
2nd - TV Anchoring (Onsite)
Moriah Norman, senior Communication major from McDonough, Georgia
3rd - Best Radio Feature Reporter (Best of the South)
Olivia Beck, senior Communication major from Navarre, Florida
3rd - Best Advertising Staff Member (Best of the South)
Annalise Rome, senior Communication major from Ridgeland, Mississippi
3rd - Best Radio Station (Best of the South)
WMSV
3rd - Best TV Station (Best of the South)
Mississippi State University
3rd - Best Magazine (Best of the South)
Etre
3rd - Arts and Entertainment TV Reporting (Onsite)
Megan Gordon, senior Communication major from Sylacauga, Alabama
3rd - Radio Feature Reporting (Onsite)
Megan Gordon, senior Communication major from Sylacauga, Alabama
3rd - TV Feature Reporting (Onsite)
Anthony Jenkins, senior Communication major from Columbus, Mississippi
3rd TV Sports Reporting (Onsite)
Moriah Norman, senior Communication major from McDonough, Georgia and Teirrah Tidwell, senior Communication major from Jackson, Mississippi
3rd - Public Relations (Onsite)
Chloe Evans, senior Communication major from Nettleton, Mississippi and Michael Cassidy, senior Communication major from Stafford, Virginia
3rd - AI Collaboration (Onsite)
John Baladi, senior Business Management major from Madison, Mississippi and Kate Myers, freshman Communication major from Ruston, Louisiana
3rd - Current Events (Onsite)
Joshua Britt, senior Information Technology Services major from Nesbit, Mississippi
4th - Best News Writer (Best of the South)
Lizzie Tomlin, senior Communication major from Starkville, Mississippi
4th - Best Newspaper Designer (Best of the South)
Samuel Hughes, senior Spanish and Communication major from Biloxi, Mississippi
4th - Best Newspaper (Best of the South)
The Reflector
8th - Best Opinion/Editorial Writer (Best of the South)
Lucy Hallmark, sophomore Biochemistry major from Summit, Mississippi