Carolina J-school students win in international POY competition

The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media's Powering A Nation project and photojournalism major Emily Rhyne were recognized in the 72nd annual Pictures of the Year (POY).

Powering A Nation, the school's award-winning multimedia project that investigates energy issues in the U.S., was the lone winner in the News & Issue Editing – Magazine category for "Whole Hog," a special edition that covers the energy dynamics within North Carolina's hog industry.

Rhyne, a senior from eastern North Carolina, received honorable mention in the Multimedia Photographer of the Year category, finishing behind VII Photo's Ed Kashi, New York Times freelancer Jonah Kessel and The Denver Post's Mahala Gaylord. She also won an honorable mention in the Motion Feature Story category for "Pistola" — a video about a Los Angeles amateur boxer created during an internship at the Los Angeles Times.

Winners will be recognized April 9-10 during the POY Education & Awards Program at the Reynolds Journalism Institute in Columbia, Missouri.

In 2013, Powering a Nation project won two multimedia awards in the 70th POY competition for "100 Gallons." The first iteration of Powering A Nation received an Award of Excellence in the documentary project of the year category during the 67th POY in 2010.

The POY competition is administered by the Missouri School of Journalism. Each year, images number in the tens of thousands from entrants around the world.