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2023 Corbin Gwaltney Student Newspaper Award Winners

The Chronicle of Higher Education Announces Recipients of SPJ’s Corbin Gwaltney Awards for Best All-Around Student Newspapers

CONTACT:

  • Maureen Ryan, Chronicle Associate Director of Strategic Communications, (703) 303-3530, maureen.ryan@chronicle.com
  • Lou Harry, SPJ Manager of Publications and Awards, lharry@spj.org
  • Kim Tsuyuki, SPT Communications Specialist, ktsuyuki@hq.spj.org

WASHINGTON – The Chronicle of Higher Education honors the third annual winners of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Corbin Gwaltney Awards for Best All-Around Student Newspapers. The award is named after Corbin Gwaltney, co-founder of The Chronicle of Higher Education. He was a media innovator who built The Chronicle to be the most respected publication in higher education.

This year’s winners include:

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper – Small (1-9,999 students)

Staff of The Pendulum at Elon University in North Carolina

The judges commended Elon’s student journalists for their strong local news section, which includes government and enterprise coverage, and for their creative design work and infographics. “There’s a sense that the editors and designers don’t just care about the stories, they also care about the readers’ experience,” judges said of The Pendulum’s staff. “The work adds up to strong design, clean and clear copy, and all-around solid issues.”

Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper – Large (10,000+ students)

Staff of The Indiana Daily Student at Indiana University

Indiana’s student journalists drew praise for their design work on the Little 500 Guide, which covers the nation’s largest collegiate bike race, and the sophistication of their reporting. “There is a LOT to dig into in an issue of the Indiana Daily Student, which reads like a professionally produced community newspaper,” the judges said. “The stories demonstrate admirable enterprise work that’s relevant to the university and the community.”

The Chronicle of Higher Education will provide a $5,000 prize to each winning newsroom.

“Congratulations to the talented journalists of The Pendulum and to The Indiana Daily Student staff for their well-deserved wins,” said Pamela Gwaltney, Chair of The Chronicle of Higher Education. “I am deeply honored to continue Corbin’s legacy of supporting student journalists who are committed to truth-seeking and professionalism in their reporting. He believed in the power of the written word, and it’s gratifying to see these student journalists share his lifelong passion for integrity and curiosity as they hone their craft. The Chronicle is proud to partner with the Society of Professional Journalists to offer this award in memory of Corbin.”

SPJ presents the Mark of Excellence Awards annually, honoring the best in student journalism. Entries are first judged on the regional level. First-place regional winners advance to the national competition, and most are recognized at their respective regional SPJ conferences. The list of this year’s national winners is showcased on SPJ’s website.

The Chronicle of Higher Education, founded in 1966, is a privately owned, independent news and information organization. Every month, The Chronicle provides more than 1.5 million professionals across higher education the right information to make the best decisions for their students, institutions, and careers. For more than five decades, The Chronicle has been the unrivaled leader in higher-ed journalism, providing award-winning news and information, deep insights, and opportunities for professional growth to those who shape colleges and universities. It is owned by The Chronicle of Higher Education Inc., which publishes The Chronicle of Higher Education, Arts & Letters Daily, and The Chronicle Review.

The Society of Professional Journalists promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know.