The Observer, the student-run newspaper at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, won second place in the category of “non-weekly four-year university paper” on Feb. 28 in the Best of Show contest at the Midwinter National College Newspaper Convention.
The newspaper also won first place in the category of “multimedia package contest” for “A Second Look: More Stops Along the 7 Train” by online editor P.J. Williams, a senior.
“The Observer has won so many awards in recent years, it is easy to forget that each year brings new leadership and new challenges,” said Robert Grimes, S.J., dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center. “This year’s staff deserves special praise, not only for the award in a traditional journalistic category, but even more so for its first award in a multimedia category, clearly the wave of the future.”
“I could not be more proud of The Observer’s staff,” said editor in chief Ashley WennersHerron, a senior. “After a particularly difficult year, it’s lovely to have recognition for the hard work our talented editors and writers put into every aspect of the newspaper.”
Adviser Elizabeth Stone, Ph.D., professor of English and communications and media studies, noted that the newspaper’s staff was acutely aware of the enormous changes that are underway in journalism, and have adapted accordingly.
“This year The Observer editorial board made the decision to move forward and concentrate on online multimedia. I’m very proud of the entire editorial board and its collaborative and cooperative action,” she said.
The Observer took first place in Best of Show in 2008 and 2009, and 10th place for Best Website in 2009. In 2007, The Observer won an honorable mention in Best of Show.
The Midwinter National College Newspaper Convention is sponsored by the Associate Collegiate Press.
