The Knox Student Newspaper Named 'Best All-Around' in Journalism Contest

by Ashley Wolfgang ‘14

The Knox Student, Knox College's award-winning student-run newspaper, recently was recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) as Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper for SPJ's Region 5, which consists of Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.

The SPJ award, announced on April 12, is the latest in a string of honors for The Knox Student (TKS), a weekly print newspaper and online news site. During the past several months, it also has received awards from the Illinois College Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press.

As one of the first-place winners in SPJ's regional Mark of Excellence contest, TKS will advance to the national Mark of Excellence competition. Results are expected to be announced in May.

"This (SPJ) award speaks to not only the dedication of our staff members, but also to their sense of innovation," says TKS Editor-in-Chief Charlie Megenity. "TKS is constantly adapting how it presents information to its readers -- keeping up with their preferences, following the stories they want covered, and simultaneously staying in line with industry standards and practices."

"Journalism is definitely alive and well at Knox," he adds.

Tom Martin, TKS advisor and editor of Galesburg's The Register-Mail, explains that the Mark of Excellence award is "another indicator of how the talent, dedication, and leadership at TKS is producing a college publication that ranks nationally in terms of quality."

"TKS is a reflection of Knox College's commitment to excellence," Martin adds. "These students are bright, enterprising and motivated, and the student newspaper and the journalism program at Knox are growing together, benefitting from each other." (Photo at top: Martin working in a student in the TKS office.)

In February, TKS received 18 awards -- including five for first place in various categories and second place for General Excellence in its division -- from the Illinois College Press Association. This marked the fourth time since 2010 that TKS has taken first place or second place in the General Excellence category.

In October 2013, TKS received recognition in the Associated Collegiate Press Story of the Year contest, a national competition for student journalists. Competing against student newspapers from all over the country, including the University of Illinois, Indiana University, and the University of California at Los Angeles, TKS captured fourth place in the News Story category and honorable mention in the Editorial/Opinion category.

The Knox Student was founded in 1878 by S.S. McClure who, after graduating from Knox, created McClure's Magazine, one of the first publications in the field of American investigative journalism.