Two 812 The Magazine stories win AEJMC honors
Two stories written by Media School students for 812 The Magazine have won a first and second place in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications’ student magazine contest.
Senior Jenna Fagan took first prize in the features category for her story, “Dear Dolly,” and senior Sarah Whaley and junior Madison Borgmann won second place in service and information for their story, “Cornfed Comedy.”
812 The Magazine is a publication created each semester by students in lecturer Nancy Comiskey’s MSCH-J360 Creating an Indiana Magazine course. Students in the class pitch, report, edit, photograph and design the entire magazine, and five of the best stories are selected as submissions for the AEJMC contest.
This is not the first time this publication has been honored by the AEJMC magazine division. Six pieces from 812 Magazine have been in the top three stories over the last four years. This year, Comiskey said the contest success can be attributed to the perseverance and persistence of the reporters.
“A lot of really hard work and really diligent reporting is what set these stories apart,” said Comiskey. “All of the good writing in the world can’t help if the reporting isn’t there.”
Winning stories are chosen by judges who have excelled in the magazine profession. Mike Sager, writer-at-large for Esquire and author of two books, chose winners in the features category, and editor-in-chief of Chicago Magazine Elizabeth Fenner was the judge of the service and information category.
Contest co-chair and associate professor of journalism at University of Kansas Carol Holstead said the reputation of these acclaimed judges adds to the prestige of the AEJMC award.
“What makes winning this contest an honor for students and professors is the pedigree of the judges,” she said. “The judges who selected the Indiana University students are exceptional journalists.”
Having their byline connected to the esteem of the AEJMC award will help Fagen, Whaley and Borgman stand out in the job market and forge their own careers as respected journalists, according to Comiskey.
“It’s a terrific honor to put on a resume,” Comiskey said of the contest. “Being first and second in the country will show employers that these students know how to find, report and write impactful stories others overlook.”