KU News Release

Jan. 29, 2009
Contact: Jennifer Kinnard, William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, (785) 864-7644.

KU journalism school retains first-place standing in Hearst contest

LAWRENCE — A journalism student and a recent graduate from the University of Kansas placed first and second in the in-depth writing category of the prestigious William Randolph Hearst Foundation Journalism Awards Program.

Matt Erickson, a senior in journalism and political science, won first place for his story, “Facing the Music: File-sharing Lawsuits, Delay by University Prove Costly for 13 Students.” Megan Hirt, a fall 2008 journalism graduate, placed second for her story, “A Sobering Struggle.”

KU’s William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications remains first among all schools in the 2009 Intercollegiate Writing Competition.

The Hearst Foundation holds an annual, yearlong competition in writing, often called the “Pulitzers of College Journalism.” This is its 49th year. The journalism school that accumulates the most points in each of the six writing competitions, titled the Intercollegiate Writing Competition, is the winner. KU won the Intercollegiate Writing Competition in 2007 and 2008.

“We are incredibly proud of these students,” said Ann M. Brill, dean of the journalism school. “The in-depth writing competition is the most prestigious and competitive part of the Hearst writing contests. These students are continuing the championship tradition set by Jayhawk journalists for decades.”

There were 92 students competing from 55 journalism schools across the country in what was the third writing competition of the academic year. Erickson, from Olathe, will receive a check for $2,000. Hirt, from Topeka, will receive a check for $1,500. The journalism school will receive matching grants.

“What impresses me about the two stories is how different they are from each other," journalism professor Ted Frederickson said. "Matt Erickson’s is a classic newspaper depth story with many, many sources, while Megan Hirt’s is a magazine-style narrative that gets its depth from how deeply it delves into the lives of a few key sources. The other story responsible for putting us in first place in the Hearst intercollegiate competition is Thor Nystrom’s first person story, “To Hell and Back,” which represents still another genre. All three were written for the same Depth Reporting class. That’s why writing classes are more about individual coaching than teaching a group of students how to write. You help each develop his or her own style and strengths.”

Erickson, who was editor of the University Daily Kansan in 2008, also qualifies to compete in the National Writing Championship, which will be held in June in San Francisco. His in-depth story was published April 30, 2008, in the University Daily Kansan. The story can be found online at www.kansan.com/stories/2008/apr/30/facing_music/.

Hirt’s story, “A Sobering Struggle,” profiled alcoholism in college students. It appeared in the Dec. 3, 2008, issue of the University Daily Kansan. It is online at www.kansan.com/stories/2008/dec/03/sobering_struggle/

“KU’s sweep of the top two places in this competition really reflects the standard of excellence at the University Daily Kansan and the KU school of journalism,” said Erickson. “The university’s performance in the Hearst writing awards this year only confirms for me that I’ve been lucky enough to work for the best student newspaper in the country and attend the best journalism school in the country. It’s a humbling experience to be a part of that tradition, and I’m thankful for it.”

KU journalism students also have placed in two other Hearst writing competitions this year. Recent graduate Thor Nystrom placed second in the feature writing competition. He received a $1,500 scholarship. Senior Patrick Luiz Sullivan de Oliveira placed eighth in editorial writing, winning a $500 scholarship.

The Hearst 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 competitions, three photojournalism competitions, four broadcast news competitions and one multimedia competition, with championship finals in all divisions (except multimedia). Currently, 108 accredited schools of undergraduate journalism in the United States are eligible to participate in the program, which awards up to $500,000 in scholarships and grants annually.

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.

Winners are listed below by hometown, year in school, major, parents’ names and high school.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Olathe 66062
Matthew Dean Erickson, senior in journalism and political science, son of Mark and Barbara Erickson; Olathe South High School.

From Roeland Park 66205
Patrick Sullivan De Oliveira, senior in journalism and environmental studies, son of Luiz Carlos and Pat Sullivan De Oliveira.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66614
Megan M. Hirt, fall 2008 graduate in French and journalism, daughter of Robert and Mary Hirt; Hayden High School.

MINNESOTA
From Baxter 56425
Thor Nystrom, spring 2008 graduate in journalism, son of Bob and Rachel Nystrom; Brainerd (Minn.) Senior High School.

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