The Delta Collegiate scooped up five awards at the 2016 Michigan Press Association (MPA) annual convention that took place on Jan. 28-29 in Grand Rapids.
Managing Editor Matt Brown, and former reporter Jacob Swiecicki both won first place in their respective categories. Photo Editor Josephine Norris took home a second and third place award, while Brown received a third place spot.
Swiecicki won first place in Division 3 – Investigative Reporting for his piece, Judge tosses out lawsuit by Delta’s former police chief. “In the end, it was the use of an important investigative tool – court documents – that produced the winning entry revealing the real behind-the-scenes reasons for a top Delta official’s departure,” the judge writes.
Brown received first place out of all divisions in Multimedia Reporting for his work, Bright Nights: the deconstruction of light pollution. The judge says it is, “an example of a true multimedia platform integrating video, text and graphics in a dynamic way.”
The judge concludes, “My first place winner truly used multimedia rather than relying solely on basic Premiere Pro production skills. We should encourage more multimedia experiences like it.”
Brown also took home third place in Division 3 – Editorial with the piece titled, Plant Yvette: Locker room fear mongering out of this world.
Norris’s two awards included taking the second place spot in Division 3 – Editorial with, Perform it, and they will come, and third place in Division 3 – News-Only Photo with her shot for the article, Black History Month bring West African Drum and Dance group to campus.
On the photo, the judge writes, “The smile you captured on the women’s face sold me on this photo.”
The MPA, established in 1868, promotes press freedom through its public policy work, “ease of use” advertising placement, professional development programs and legal hotlines. The organization is a source of new ideas for newspapers and their digital and print products.
“We’re witnessing top-notch story telling across the Great Lake State that connects college students to their campus,” says MPA Executive Director Mike MacLaren. “From stunning design to detailed reporting, Michigan Collegiate Press Association newspapers are developing exceptional journalists to chronicle the future in compelling ways. It’s exciting to see work get recognized.”