Four Western students take top prize in regional SPJ awards; will go on to national competition

The Pacific Northwest region (Region X) of the Society of Professional Journalists has announced the winners of its Mark of Excellence 2021 awards competition, and four Western student journalists have won top honors and will move on to the national awards competition. A number of WWU students were also named as finalists.

Winners (will move on to the national competition later this spring)

General News Photography (large institutions of 10,000+ Students): Zack Jimenez, The Planet, Western Washington University, for "Climate Protester"

Online News Reporting (large institutions of 10,000+ Students): Jax Kiel, Klipsun Magazine, Western Washington University, for "By Any Other Name"

Non-Fiction Magazine Article (large institutions of 10,000+ Students): Maya Anderson, Klipsun Magazine, Western Washington University, for "Can You See Me?"

Best Use of Multimedia (large institutions of 10,000+ Students): Lauren Decker, Klipsun Magazine, Western Washington University, for "Not Just Your Vampire Weekend"

Finalists

In-Depth Reporting: Nate Sanford, The Western Front, Western Washington University, for "Behind the systems: WWU Newman Center forces LGBTQ+ employee to resign"

Feature Photography: Duncan Mullen, The Planet, Western Washington University, for "Rainier’s Rare Wolverines"

Online/Digital Feature Videography: Samantha Baxley, Klipsun Magazine, Western Washington University, for "Young and Green"

Online Feature Reporting: John Elias Olson, Klipsun Magazine, Western Washington University, for "OK, Zoomer."

Online Feature Reporting: Alex Moreno, Klipsun Magazine, Western Washington University, for "Life in the Viewfinder"

Online In-Depth Reporting: Maya Anderson, Klipsun Magazine, Western Washington University, for "Does Everyone Count?"

Best Student Magazine: Staff, The Planet, Western Washington University, for The Planet Magazine: “The Movement” Issue, Winter 2020

Non-Fiction Magazine Article: Grace McCarthy and Faith Owens, The Planet, Western Washington University, for "Mr. Earth Day"

COVID-19 Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage: Emma Savage, The Planet, Western Washington University, for "Agricultural Workers Face COVID-19"