Carolina Connection named best radio newscast; students win national SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards

UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media students won top honors in two categories of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) national Mark of Excellence Awards given for work published in 2012.

Carolina Connection, the school’s weekly radio magazine that airs on WCHL 1360 AM, won the Mark of Excellence Award for the nation’s best all-around radio newscast. August 2012 master’s graduate Josh Davis won the television feature photography category for “Fractured,” which was produced for “100 Gallons” — the school's interactive website that explores the human connection with water.

Business journalism major Caitlin McCabe was a national finalist in the general news reporting category for her Daily Tar Heel article “UNC sexual assault victims speak up on imperfect system.” Carolina Connection staff also was a national finalist in the radio in-depth reporting category for its series on Chancellor Holden Thorp’s resignation.

The Mark of Excellence awards recognize collegiate work published or broadcast during 2012. This year, student journalists submitted more than 4,600 entries.

UNC winners in the national competition were previously recognized by receiving first place in SPJ’s Region 2 competition.

First-place national winners will be recognized at the Excellence in Journalism 2013 conference Aug. 24-26 in Anaheim, Calif.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, visit www.spj.org.