Carolina News & Reporter writers, photojournalists take top SC honors

Seven students from the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications took top honors in a recent statewide contest for collegiate journalists.

The South Carolina Press Association contest compared the students’ 2024 work to that of college students around the state.

The journalism school’s winning work was published on the Carolina News & Reporter website.

The students with the Carolina News & Reporter were enrolled in the school’s multi-media Capstone program in the spring or the fall. They worked with journalism instructors Brandon Shulleeta and Eileen Waddell to produce quick-turn and in-depth stories with photos, videos and graphics.

Some of the photojournalists who won were part of a partnership between the Carolina News & Reporter and students enrolled in the 2024 Talmadge Moore LeGrand Photojournalism Workshop with visual communications instructor Renée Ittner-McManus. The students spent 16 hours last spring at the Carolina Cup in Camden, producing a body of work from before dawn to after dusk at the steeplechase racing event.

Students from The Daily Gamecock, the university’s student-run website and newspaper, also made a good showing. The Daily Gamecock draws its staff from across campus and from an array of majors, frequently including journalism and mass communications.

The honorees are:

FIRST PLACE

Carolina News and Reporter

Feature story: Jocelyn Dussault, who worked with photojournalist Kat Smith, for “A Democratic model for November? A Columbia neighborhood and its older Black voters.”

“Dussault and Smith blended thorough research with a compelling narrative,” the judge wrote. “They have clearly applied their education to craft a piece that is both engaging and insightful, exhibiting professional-level storytelling. Their ability to weave historical context with personal interviews creates a vivid portrayal of the community’s impact. Well done.”

News photograph: Mingo Martin, for a photo of USC students celebrating in the Thomas Cooper Library fountain when USC’s women’s basketball team won the national championship.

“A lot of anticipation and a bit of luck made this national championship celebration a winner,” the judge wrote. “You can feel the exuberance of the students as they go a little bit crazy in the fountain. Well composed.”

Photo story: Alexis Croft, Jada Kirkland and Megan Sever, for images from the spring’s Carolina Cup race in Camden.

“This is a wonderful photo story with a variety of images and situations from the Carolina Cup,” the judge said. “The emotion and excitement of the events is well documented in these outstanding photos. You can feel what it was like to be there.”

The Daily Gamecock

News story: Sydney Dunlap and Kate Robins, “‘They were screaming for help’: Students say College GameDay crowds were unsafe, out of control.”

Sports story: Griffin Goodwin, “Houses divided, families united: How students with South Carolina, Clemson ties navigate rivalries between schools.”

Page One design: Savannah Nagy and Grant Richa, “Restoring the old ball game: Local community members increase efforts to ‘Save Capital City Stadium.’”

Sports photograph: Taylor Kitchens, or an image of Dawn Staley hoisting the trophy after USC’s women’s basketball team won the national championship.

Infographic: Savannah Nagy, “The faculty wage gap”

Mixed media Illustration: Taylor Kitchens, “Clemson vs. Carolina preview graphic”

Website: staff

Video: Sydney Dunlap and Kate Robins, “‘They were screaming for help’: Students say College GameDay crowds were unsafe, out of control.”

General excellence: staff

SECOND PLACE

Carolina News & Reporter

News: Riley Edenbeck, “Feel Free maker Botanic Tonic to change minimum age for sale from 18 to 21.” The manufacturer made the change after Edenbeck wrote an earlier story interviewing users, who said the tonic sold in convenience stores near college campuses is highly addictive and toxic to human health when overused.

Sports photograph: Megan Sever, for a photo taken at the Carolina Cup showing a riderless horse continuing its run on the racetrack while officials try to stop it. The photo also was part of a winning photo story from the Cup.

The Daily Gamecock

Sports story: Mingo Martin, “‘A rave broke out:’ Alumni, fans reflect on 15 years of South Carolina’s Sandstorm tradition.”

Column or editorial writing: Varsha Gowda & Jenna Swenson, “Column: The university needs to improve accessibility on campus to students with disabilities.”

Photograph: Alicia Caraciolo, for an image of a carpet of trash left by students fleeing the scene of a College GameDay gone wrong.

Photo story: staff, The Daily Gamecock, for a package of photos taken at the State Fair in Columbia.

Mixed media: Savannah Robinson, “Rivalry history”

Infographic: Olivia Abner, “How does a hurricane form?”

Use of social media: Sydney Dunlap, Elena Keller and Awani Bildikar

THIRD PLACE

Carolina News & Reporter

Photograph: Cassie Cornwell, for an image of a flood victim standing in water from the overflowing Congaree River.

The Daily Gamecock

Arts and entertainment writing: Macaila Bogle, “Public murals, sculpture connect Columbia artists to communities.”

Sports story: Emma Edwards, “South Carolina football reunites family on field, in stands.”

Video: Taylor Kitchens, “Behind the scenes of the student newsroom”

Page One design: staff, “Out of time: USC housing shortage leaves upperclassmen scrambling, rushing to unsafe, off-campus options.”

Mixed media: Savannah Robinson, “Freshmen swimmers on Junior National Team”

NOTE: Tyuanna Williams, now a masters student at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, won second place in the under-10,000-student division for a photograph of former Vice President Kamala Harris she shot for The Panther newspaper while an undergraduate at Claflin University.