From Our Archive
Aug. 26, 1999
Scripps Howard
Foundation sponsoring
"Most Valuable Staffer" competition
CINCINNATI -- The Scripps Howard Foundation, in
partnership with College Media Advisers Inc., is accepting
nominations for the first national competition to identify
five outstanding college newspaper staff
members.
The winners of the
"Most Valuable Staffer" competition each will receive a $5,000
scholarship and an all-expenses paid trip to New York for the
College Media Adviser's Spring National College Media
convention in March 2000. Matching $5,000 grants also will be
awarded to the students' newspapers.
Scholarships and
matching grant winners will be announced in February. The
Foundation and College Media Advisers will be accepting
nominations through Dec. 1.
"The Scripps Howard
Foundation strives to find creative and innovative ways to
encourage students who are considering careers in newspapers,"
said Judith G. Clabes, president and CEO of the foundation.
"This competition is an excellent means to accomplish that
end. We're looking forward to meeting the first five winners."
Ron Spielberger, executive
director of College Media Advisers, said, "This is a great
opportunity for college newspaper staffers to be recognized
for their outstanding work. College Media Advisers looks
forward to a continuing partnership in this awards
program."
Any college
newspaper in the U.S. that publishes at least weekly during
the regular school year may nominate one staff member. The
letter of nomination must be written by the newspaper advisor,
student publications director, a department chair or dean, or
other appropriate nominator and should explain how the student
has been "most valuable" to the newspaper. The staff member
must be enrolled as a full-time student in the college or
university, but is not required to be a journalism or
communications major, and may work in any department of the
newspaper.
The nomination
package should include a resume; three clips (photocopies
accepted) of published work from the college newspaper (story,
photographs, ads, editing samples, etc.); a letter from the
applicant explaining his/her philosophy of what a newspaper
should be and how his/her contributions have helped the
newspaper; a 500-word essay discussing a current industry
issue of the student's choice; a transcript of college course
work; and a copy of the newspaper itself.
The competition
will be judged by a panel of academic and newspaper
professionals. The decision of the judges will be final.
Mail complete nomination packet
to:
Jack Willis
Most
Valuable Staffer Competition
The University of
Oklahoma
860 Van Vleet Oval
Norman, Okla. 73019
College Media
Advisers, with more than 700 members coast to coast,
represents the people who advise the nation's collegiate
newspapers, yearbooks, magazine and electronic media.
Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps
Howard Foundation is a leader in industry efforts in
journalism education, scholarships, internships, literacy,
minority recruitment/development and First Amendment
causes.
Contact: Patty Cottingham, Scripps Howard Foundation, 513-977-3847, cottingham@scripps.com