Durham VOICE honored at AEJMC conference
The Durham VOICE took second place in the Student News Project contest.
Sponsored by the Newspaper and Online News Division, the award was announced on Aug. 7 at the conference in San Francisco.
The VOICE, a collaboration between journalism programs at Carolina and N.C. Central University, covers Northeast Central Durham, an area often overlooked by other news organizations. During the academic year, student journalists produce a monthly print edition and semiweekly online edition, which can be seen at durhamvoice.org.
“Awards are always nice to receive, but when your newspaper represents a largely marginalized and underserved community, it is especially rewarding to be honored by the Newspaper Division of AEJMC,” said senior lecturer Jock Lauterer, who founded the project. He shares the award with associate professor Andy Bechtel of the journalism school and Lisa Paulin, who teaches at NCCU.
In addition to covering Durham, the student staff of the VOICE serve as mentors to teens in the area, offering instruction in writing, photography and and other skills. Some of their work appears in the VOICE.
“I am sure for many of the urban youth who write for the Durham VOICE, this is their first such national recognition — one which is sure to inspire them to continue their careers in journalism,” Lauterer said.