KU News Release

KU journalism school wins first in national Hearst writing awards competition

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas’ William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications has placed first in the Intercollegiate Writing Competition of the prestigious Hearst Journalism Awards competition.

“The Hearst competition is the most challenging writing contest in the country,” said Ann Brill, dean of the journalism school. “We are proud to be named the best intercollegiate writers in the nation by the panel of judges. To win this is a tribute to our students and their professors.”

Often called the “Pulitzers of College Journalism,” the Hearst competitions in writing, photography and broadcast news are annual and take place throughout the academic year. For the Intercollegiate Writing Competition, the journalism school that accumulates the most points in each category of the six writing contests is the winner.

The University of Missouri placed second in the writing contest, followed by Arizona State University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Kentucky and Northwestern University.

“Since the Hearst awards are highly competitive and recognize only exceptional reporting and writing, finishing first is a major accomplishment,” said Ted Frederickson, KU professor of journalism.

KU students won a total of $5,200 in the six writing contests, and the journalism school received matching funds plus $10,000 for finishing first. The winners in each category will receive cash prizes and medallions during the National Championships, which will be held June 8 in San Francisco, Calif.

The latest KU winners in the final category of the writing competition, spot news writing, were Curtis Jeffery “C.J.” Moore of Shawnee, who won $600 for fifth place, and Fred A. Davis III of Topeka, who placed 17th.

Moore and KU senior Francis D. “Frank” Tankard of Overland Park will compete at the National Championships. Tankard automatically qualified for the championships by placing first in one of the contests. Moore is one of two wild card entrants who qualified by earning the most points among students who did not place first.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program is fully funded and administered by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Currently, 107 accredited undergraduate schools of journalism in the United States are eligible to participate in the program, which awards more than $450,000 in scholarships and grants annually.

Publisher William Randolph Hearst established the foundation and the Hearst Foundation Inc. in the 1940s, before his death in 1951. Since then, the foundations have awarded more than $500 million in grants and programs.

KU students who won individual contests within the six categories of the Intercollegiate Writing Competition are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names, high school and award.

FORD COUNTY
From Dodge City 67801
Mark Anton Vierthaler, senior majoring in journalism (news and information), son of Carl and Nancy Vierthaler; Dodge City Senior High School; $600 for fifth place in personality/profile writing.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Shawnee 66216
Curtis Jeffery “C.J.” Moore, senior majoring in journalism (news and information), son of Jayne Moore; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; $1,500 for second place in sports writing and $600 for fifth place in spot news writing.

From Overland Park 66207
Francis D. “Frank” Tankard, senior majoring in journalism (news and information), son of Timothy and Valerie Tankard; Shawnee Mission South High School; $2,000 for first place in in-depth writing.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67205
Michael J. Phillips, senior majoring in journalism (news and information), son of Donna and David Phillips; Maize High School; 12th place in sports writing.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66606 and Cheyenne, Wyo.
Fred A. Davis III, senior majoring in journalism (news and information), son of Marla Kentch of Topeka and Fred A. Davis of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Hayden High School, Topeka; $500 for ninth place in personality/profile writing and 17th in spot news writing.

NEBRASKA
From Lincoln
Katherine Loeck, senior majoring in journalism (news and information) and French, daughter of Craig and Anita Loeck; Lincoln East Junior-Senior High School; 12th in editorials/column writing.

WYOMING
From Cheyenne and Topeka, Kan.
Fred A. Davis III. SEE SHAWNEE COUNTY

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.