By the USU department of journalism and communication

The Hard News Cafe swept the 2002 Mark of Excellence student online journalism awards for Region IX of the Society Professional Journalists.

The SPJ is a national organization that promotes excellence in journalism, both among professionals and students. Region IX comprises Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and El Paso County, Texas.

Regional first-place winners go on to competition in the annual national SPJ convention in October.

Here are the award winners from Utah State University:

Newspaper
1st--Clark Jessop, Utah Statesman, column writing
2nd--The Statesman, best all-round non-daily newspaper

TV
3rd--Mike Chidsey, TV sports reporting ("Big Air Competition")

Online (all online awards go to the Hard News Cafe)
1st--Marie Griffin and Joe Dougherty, online in-depth reporting ("Unpopular column brings Tremonton student fame, grief")
1st--Lindsay Blau, online feature reporting ("JJ--Heather Christensen's 'incredible privilege' and the challenge of a lifetime")
1st--Leon D'Souza, online commentary and opinion
2nd--Andrea N. King, online feature reporting ("Milkman: It's all about time and speed as Jay Jeppson...")
2nd--Kari Gray Hoopes, online in-depth reporting ("No arms? No worries...")
3rd--Melanie Steele, online feature reporting ("Living with glaucoma: An appreciation of sight")
3rd--Bryan Seeley, online general news reporting ("When JCOM students talk")
3rd--Landon Olson, online sports reporting ("Crosbie steps from player to assistant...")
Honorable mention, The Hard News Café, best online independent student publication.

(Note: This is a repeat for Leon D'Souza, who won a first in Region IX commentary last year and went on to win National; last year, the Hard News Cafe won the region and also finished on the top nationally)

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