KU News Release

Journalism students earn honors for opinion columns

LAWRENCE — Two journalism students at the University of Kansas finished in the top 10 in the editorial/opinion columns category of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s prestigious Journalism Awards Program, often called the College Pulitzers.

Travis Robinett, Austin, Texas, senior, placed third and won $1,000 for his column about the T-shirt battle between Missouri and Kansas and, in particular, a Mizzou T-shirt celebrating William Quantrill’s civil war raid on Lawrence that killed more than 100 people. Elizabeth “Betsy” McLeod, Lenexa junior, placed sixth and won $500 for her column “The war comes home” about her upcoming marriage to a Marine just home from Iraq.

“The Hearst competitions are the most challenging writing contests in the country,” said Ann Brill, dean of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. “We are so proud of our students for placing in the top 10 in opinion writing. To do well in the Hearst competitions is a tribute to our students and their professors.”

Robinett is the son of Mark and Carolyn Robinett of Austin and a graduate of L.C. Anderson High School in Austin. McLeod is the daughter of Bradley and Debrah McLeod and a graduate of Bishop Miege High School in Mission.

KU is now among the top five schools in the competition after two of six contests. In 2007, KU finished first in the Intercollegiate Writing Competition of the Hearst Awards.

“I have been here nearly 28 years and in that time we have never had two in the top 10 in opinion writing, although we have consistently place high in the Intercollegiate Writing Competition,” said Ted Frederickson, professor of journalism.

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 monthly writing, three photojournalism, four broadcast news and one multimedia competitions, with finals in all divisions except multimedia. The program gives more than $500,000 in scholarships, grants and stipends annually.

There were 102 students from 61 universities who participated in the program’s second writing competition of this academic year. For samples of winning work, check the monthly winners section of the Journalism Awards 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.

For more information about the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, contact Jan Watten, program director, or visit the foundation's Web site.

Robinett and McLeod’s articles can be viewed on the University Daily Kansan's Web site.

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