The Jay and Gail Milner Distinguished Student Journalism Awards
The Jay and Gail Milner Distinguished Student Journalism Awards are given annually to recognize excellence in student media produced by TCU journalism students.
Details
- The work should have been published between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.
- Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2025, via this Google form.
- Students may submit works in multiple categories, which are outlined below.
Categories and prizes
Reporter of the Year ($1,000)
Recognizes outstanding achievement by a reporter, photographer or other multimedia journalist over the course of the school year. The judging is based on a compilation of five examples (sidebars to submissions do not count toward the five total stories) of the reporter’s work. Work may be on a single beat or cover a variety of topics and can include news and feature stories. A cover letter, maximum of one page, is required.
Editor of the Year ($1,000)
Recognizes outstanding achievement by an editor or other student leader over the course of the school year. The judging is based on nominations, which should include a statement of no more than 500 words about the student’s work. Entry should include five (5) examples that show the student’s best work and leadership of staff, which can include news judgment, news play, editorial decisions and bylined content. Students may nominate themselves, but we are particularly interested in colleagues’ nominations.
Story of the Year ($1,000)
Recognizes an outstanding single effort by a reporter. The judging is based on one text news, feature, profile or sports story, which may include additional multimedia elements. An optional personal statement of no more than 250 words about the submission may be included.
Feature Writing ($100)
Recognizes an outstanding single effort by a reporter. The judging is based on a feature or entertainment story, including personality profiles. Sidebars subordinate in length and content to the article may be included.
Enterprise Reporting ($100)
This includes explanatory and investigative journalism on any topic. If from a series, one article of the series may be submitted but must be accompanied by not more than one page summarizing the remaining articles and describing resultant actions, if any. Sidebars may be included.
Sports Writing ($100)
A news, feature story or commentary in sports that is related to an event or issue, or sports personality.
Visual Storytelling ($100)
A multimedia piece that uses visual storytelling techniques, including explanatory journalism. Video should include varied shots of subjects, appropriate audio (natural sound, for example, or voice-over reporting), and have a beginning, middle and end. Multi-source content preferred; package can include more than one story.
Social Media General Coverage ($100)
Recognizes excellence in social media content encompassing newsworthy information, feature content or sports. Write a synopsis of the content and provide inks to social media content. May be one post or multiple posts related to the same subject matter posted within the same week.
Social Media Breaking News ($100)
This category recognizes excellence in social media content encompassing breaking news. Write a synopsis of the content and provide inks to social media content. May be one post or multiple posts related to the same breaking news subject matter posted within the same week.
Newsletter ($100)
A single weekly newsletter (sports or news) that showcases excellent original content combined with curated content from other sources. Provide links to newsletter, available through the newsletter archive.
Video Story (up to 2 minutes) ($100)
A published news or feature story that presents new information. Provide link to video on TCU 360 or Vimeo. May be standalone video or part of a newscast or package.
Photos ($100)
Minimum of four images (at least two news and two features) and maximum of eight images. Provide links to images from TCU 360.