KU News Release

Two KU journalism students place in top 10 in sports writing contest

LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas students finished in the top 10 in the sports writing category of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards Program, often called the College Pulitzers.

The awards put KU’s William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications in first place in the Intercollegiate Writing Competition. KU has accumulated the most points after the first four writing competitions. Two competitions remain for this year.

Thor Nystrom, a senior from Baxter, Minn., placed third and won a $1,000 scholarship for his article on ticket scalping. Brian Lewis-Jones, a senior from Lenexa, placed seventh and won a $500 scholarship for his feature article on cage fighting.

“We are very proud of our students’ continued successes in the Hearst writing competition,” said Ann Brill, dean of the journalism school. “Their accomplishments are a reflection of the quality of students and teachers at KU, and to our commitment to excellence in storytelling.”

Nystrom is the son of Bob and Rachel Nystrom of Baxter, Minn., and is majoring in journalism and mass communications (news and information emphasis) with a minor in English. He is a graduate of Brainerd Senior High School in Brainerd, Minn.

Lewis-James is the son of David and Gwen Lewis-James and majoring in journalism and mass communications (news and information emphasis). He is a graduate of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.

The final winners will be named in April, following the last writing competitions of this academic year. Last year, KU finished first in the Intercollegiate Writing Competition.

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The Journalism Awards Program, conducted under the auspices of accredited schools of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication, is fully funded and administered by the W. R. Hearst Foundation. The program consists of six writing, three photojournalism, four broadcast news and one multimedia competitions, with championships in all divisions except multimedia. The program awards more than $500,000 in scholarships, grants and stipends annually.

There were 83 students from 49 schools nationwide who participated in the sports writing competition. More than 100 undergraduate accredited schools of journalism in the United States are eligible to participate in the program. For samples of winning work, check the monthly winners section of the award program’s Web site.

Publisher William Randolph Hearst established the William Randolph Hearst 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.

Nystrom and Lewis-Jones’ articles can be viewed on the University Daily Kansan’s Web site.

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