Top row left to right: Abby Coe, Callie Stone, Jordan Stringfield, Sarah Cornwell, Will Spencer and Bethany Collins. Bottom row left to right: Ms. Tomi McCutchen, Antonia Steele, Trenton Michon, Kaylee Michon, Jerrianna Somerville, Mekenzie Coleman and Clarissa Spitzley. UT Martin’s participating members in SEJC | Pacer Photo / Pacer Staff
Feb. 9-11, 2023, members of The Pacer newspaper staff and UT Martin’s radio station WUTM traveled to Thibodeaux, Louisiana to the Southeast Journalism Conference hosted at Nichols State University.
The Southeast Journalism Conference is a three-day event hosted by industry professionals and attended by colleges from all across the southeast United States. During the conference, there are onsite competitions, information sessions, and an awards banquet for students.
This conference is revolved around strengthening journalism and mass media skills for its participants.
UT Martin students’ efforts were recognized through actively participating in onsite events and awards entries prior to and at the conference.
Onsite competition participants were awarded as follows:
- Public Relations- Sarah Cornwell, Mekenzie Coleman, Jerrianna Somerville, 3rd place
- Current Events- Trenton Michon, 3rd place
- Opinion/Editorial Writing- Bethany Collins, honorable mention
- Design/Layout- Clarissa Spitzley, 2nd place
- Copy Editing- Abby Coe, 3rd place
Prior to SEJC, students also had the opportunity to submit applications for various categories of “Best of the South” awards. These awards were based on material completed by participants prior to submission deadlines. Like on-site competitions, “Best of the South” awards cover a broad field of submission categories.
“Best of the South” Award recipients are as follows:
- Best Press Photographer- Dylan Ingram, 4th place
- Best Graphic Design/Data Journalist- Sarah Johnson, 1st place
- Best Radio News Reporter- Callie Stone, 3rd place
- Best Radio Journalist- Davis Gregory, 3rd place
- Journalist of the Year- Antonia Steele, 4th place
As stated previously, students also had the opportunity to attend information sessions about hot topics in the mass media industry. A session titled, “You’ve Got Skills, So You’ve Got Options: Cool Careers Outside the Mass Media” was hosted by The Pacer faculty adviser, Ms. Tomi McCutchen, The Pacer executive editor, Kaylee Michon, and UT Martin MMSC graduate student, Antonia Steele.
This information session demonstrated the vast availability of careers open in and outside mass media that are typically brushed aside. Students in attendance learned how to set themselves apart from other people pursuing a career in mass media and other industries.
Moreover, all students from across the southeast had the opportunity to build connections, network, and collaborate. Ideas discussed at SEJC were able to be discussed for further implementation at respective campuses.
For more information on the Southeast Journalism Conference, visit www.sejc.org
