/PRNewswire / -- New America Media (NAM) announced today that two journalists from ethnic news organizations in Atlanta won prestigious awards in NAM's national awards contest, which includes entries from ethnic media outlets across the country.
Leslie Froelich, of Mundo Hispanico, a weekly Hispanic newspaper, and staff writers at Azizah, a monthly magazine covering Muslim woman, will be honored for their outstanding work. Ms. Froelich won an Arts, Sports & Entertainment category for an article on "Spanglish," the mixing of the Spanish and English languages. The Azizah writers won an environmental category for feature stories exploring the Islamic approach to environmentalism.
Sandy Close, NAM's executive director, said the award winners exemplify the quality of work performed by ethnic media outlets across the country. Citing a new poll showing that the ethnic media in America is growing as mainstream newspapers struggle to keep readers, Ms. Close said more and more Americans are recognizing the influence of the ethnic media.
"Even as both mainstream and the ethnic media struggle to survive in difficult economic times, it's clear that the quality of work, and the ethnic media's commitment to the communities that they serve, has never been better," Ms. Close said. "The ethnic media is continuing to make an impact in urban and rural communities. NAM award winners, such as Ms. Froelich and Azizah Magazine, demonstrate that the ethnic media is making a difference."
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, and not speaking a word of Spanish until she learned it in high school, Ms. Froelich never imagined she would soon be writing for Nuevo Sumario newspaper in Cordoba, Argentina, then find herself covering finance, business, real estate, heath, and lifestyle at Mundo Hispanico, Atlanta's largest Spanish language newspaper.
It was in the newsroom, overhearing colleagues from Venezuela, Columbia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and across Latin America, where Ms. Froelich was first fascinated by the sounds of Spanglish, the hybrid language of English and Spanish embraced especially by younger Latinos in the U.S. While researching the story, Ms. Froelich sought to determine if the collision of Spanish and English was viewed as a bad thing -- a devaluing of the Spanish language -- or a good thing -- a natural evolution of words helping create a common framework especially among newcomers.
Ms. Froelich was surprised by her findings. "I thought I was going to find more of a balanced mix of responses, particularly among academics, that Spanglish is ruining the Spanish language, obstructing it," she said. "When really, most felt it was a reflection of where the country is headed."
The Atlanta-based Azizah Magazine published a package of stories entitled: "Color Me Green, Loving Planet Earth." Their stories explored the connection between Islam and environmentalism. It included one staffer's first person perspective of junking one's car for car sharing, a one woman's journey toward eco-activism. Contributor Nadirah Z. Sabir described running her last minute errands using a car share service. Readers were also invited to take the Azizah Green Test from editor Azizah Zahera to find out how green they are.
"We wanted to emphasize, going green is dear to us, because we have a spiritual responsibly to care for the earth," says Tayyibah Taylor, editor-in-chief and publisher of Azizah Magazine. "We tried to show how Muslims were doing it here."
Despite an emphasis on faith, Ms. Taylor says it was very important to not "preach." Instead, their package of stories tried to engage readers by highlighting what people were doing to make small changes in their lives. "The more you know about options and possibilities," Ms. Taylor said, "the more apt you are to put it into practice."
All the award winners from around the country will be honored at NAM's National Ethnic Media Expo & Awards on June 4-5 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta. The awards will be presented on June 4 at 6:00 pm, an event that will be co-sponsored by NAM and the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication.
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Showing posts with label journalists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journalists. Show all posts
Monday, June 1, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
UGA Grady College First Amendment Essay Contest Winners Named
Three high school students were selected from 127 entrants as winners in the annual First Amendment Essay Contest, sponsored by the University of Georgia’s Georgia Scholastic Press Association, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Cox Institute for Newspaper Management Studies.
“Georgia high school journalists clearly understand and appreciate the value of freedoms and protections provided by The First Amendment,” said Cecil Bentley, assistant director of the Cox Institute. “Several talented young writers shared thoughtful insights into how First Amendment freedoms impact their campus and community.”
Michael Cranford, a senior from Parkview High School in Lilburn, won first place in the contest. He will be awarded a $100 cash prize and $100 to his school newspaper, The Pantera.
“The students’ collective voices may push the boundaries of press and speech freedoms, but they also demonstrate how democracy requires both rights and responsibilities to enjoy its rewards,” Bentley said.
Finishing in second place was Amber Leone, a junior from North Forsyth High School in Cumming. Hamilton will receive $75 and an additional $75 for the school literary magazine, Threshold. Sophomore Jessica Norton from Decatur High School in Decatur won third place. She will receive $50 along with $50 for the school’s newspaper, Carpe Diem.
Cranford’s essay discussed the history of the First Amendment and applied it to the regular prior review and censorship of his publication.
“The fact that our school newspaper is not a public forum per se has huge ramifications on how we go about compiling the newspaper, what can be said, what cannot be said and our protection of freedom of the press under the First Amendment,” Cranford wrote. “Even once an article gets to the drawing board and is completed, the principal still has a very final and nonchalant way of keeping a story from print by strongly suggesting some materials not to be placed in the newspaper.”
Cranford explained articles discussing “real” solutions to move the drinking age to 18 were stopped before publication. Around the same time, similar topics popped up in another local high school newspaper.
“The main point of a high school newspaper is not to push the bounds of seniority review in scandalous reporting, however, its purpose is to teach the art of journalism to students, and for students to understand the good and controversial aspects of the trade,” he said. “As students find out, the First Amendment and its rights bestowed upon Americans are just as much an integral part of a high school newspaper’s staff with an audience of 2,000 as they are vital for a big city publication with readers in the millions.”
Leone’s essay discussed the First Amendment as a broader category of rights that should let students “take a stand for our art.”
She explained a situation in 2006 when the school yearbook included a mini insert of “Teen Issues” that covered teen pregnancy, alcohol use and drug use.
“Teens often have to face these issues, and the insert offered insightful information on dealing with those problems,” she wrote. “The school system should have recognized this as mature awareness; however, they simply regarded the whole situation as inappropriate.”
Leone said the literary magazine is subject to censorship now.
“These students are being shut out from their imaginative minds and freedom to speak out for what they believe in,” she wrote. “Why won’t we fight to defend our rights? Don’t we care anymore?”
Norton wrote about the First Amendment and its breadth of coverage, arguing it should apply to student publications as much as it does to professional ones.
“School censorship does nothing to protect students who are constantly exposed to ‘sensitive’ information through other media,” she wrote. “It is more prudent to let students read about these issues in articles written by their peers. In this way, student journalists learn to tastefully discuss controversial subjects in the media, and the student body is more likely to respond to the information presented.”
All three winning essays can be read in their entirety at http://www.grady.uga.edu/gspa/1stAmendmentEssay
The winners of the fourth annual contest will be recognized at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA) Awards Ceremony held in Athens on May 1.
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“Georgia high school journalists clearly understand and appreciate the value of freedoms and protections provided by The First Amendment,” said Cecil Bentley, assistant director of the Cox Institute. “Several talented young writers shared thoughtful insights into how First Amendment freedoms impact their campus and community.”
Michael Cranford, a senior from Parkview High School in Lilburn, won first place in the contest. He will be awarded a $100 cash prize and $100 to his school newspaper, The Pantera.
“The students’ collective voices may push the boundaries of press and speech freedoms, but they also demonstrate how democracy requires both rights and responsibilities to enjoy its rewards,” Bentley said.
Finishing in second place was Amber Leone, a junior from North Forsyth High School in Cumming. Hamilton will receive $75 and an additional $75 for the school literary magazine, Threshold. Sophomore Jessica Norton from Decatur High School in Decatur won third place. She will receive $50 along with $50 for the school’s newspaper, Carpe Diem.
Cranford’s essay discussed the history of the First Amendment and applied it to the regular prior review and censorship of his publication.
“The fact that our school newspaper is not a public forum per se has huge ramifications on how we go about compiling the newspaper, what can be said, what cannot be said and our protection of freedom of the press under the First Amendment,” Cranford wrote. “Even once an article gets to the drawing board and is completed, the principal still has a very final and nonchalant way of keeping a story from print by strongly suggesting some materials not to be placed in the newspaper.”
Cranford explained articles discussing “real” solutions to move the drinking age to 18 were stopped before publication. Around the same time, similar topics popped up in another local high school newspaper.
“The main point of a high school newspaper is not to push the bounds of seniority review in scandalous reporting, however, its purpose is to teach the art of journalism to students, and for students to understand the good and controversial aspects of the trade,” he said. “As students find out, the First Amendment and its rights bestowed upon Americans are just as much an integral part of a high school newspaper’s staff with an audience of 2,000 as they are vital for a big city publication with readers in the millions.”
Leone’s essay discussed the First Amendment as a broader category of rights that should let students “take a stand for our art.”
She explained a situation in 2006 when the school yearbook included a mini insert of “Teen Issues” that covered teen pregnancy, alcohol use and drug use.
“Teens often have to face these issues, and the insert offered insightful information on dealing with those problems,” she wrote. “The school system should have recognized this as mature awareness; however, they simply regarded the whole situation as inappropriate.”
Leone said the literary magazine is subject to censorship now.
“These students are being shut out from their imaginative minds and freedom to speak out for what they believe in,” she wrote. “Why won’t we fight to defend our rights? Don’t we care anymore?”
Norton wrote about the First Amendment and its breadth of coverage, arguing it should apply to student publications as much as it does to professional ones.
“School censorship does nothing to protect students who are constantly exposed to ‘sensitive’ information through other media,” she wrote. “It is more prudent to let students read about these issues in articles written by their peers. In this way, student journalists learn to tastefully discuss controversial subjects in the media, and the student body is more likely to respond to the information presented.”
All three winning essays can be read in their entirety at http://www.grady.uga.edu/gspa/1stAmendmentEssay
The winners of the fourth annual contest will be recognized at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA) Awards Ceremony held in Athens on May 1.
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