by Emily Mosier
More than 20 schools participated in competitions at the 2023 Southeast Journalism Conference convention, and Troy University students rose to the occasion, bringing home more than a dozen awards for print, television and radio work.
Held at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, the convention awards recognized journalism students from across the region for not only their hard work throughout the past year, but also on-site competitions.
Emmaleigh Clegg, a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Panama City, Florida, said she is glad she traveled to Louisiana this past weekend to compete.
“I deeply value the experience I had,” Clegg said. “It helped me grow because it showed me that I can do good work on a time limit.”
Marissa Lacey, a senior broadcast journalism major from Madison, Alabama, won Best Radio Journalist for the second year in a row, and she spoke about how being a part of Troy’s journalism extracurriculars has been vital for her development.
“I’ve seen so many TV shows or movies where there’s a college student who runs the local radio station, and I always thought that it would be so fun,” Lacey said. “It’s nothing like that, but I have a home at the radio station to where even when I’m not working, I want to be there.
“I feel that it really prepared me for my career.”
In addition to 10 individual awards, Troy also received recognition for its student media groups, including TROY TrojanVision, which was named third in the category of Best Video Newscast and second in Best Television Station. The Talk of Troy of TROY, which broadcasts on Troy Public Radio, won second in Best Audio News Program.
Caleb Thomas, a multimedia journalism major from Marietta, Alabama, said he was glad to have won an award – third place in Sports Writing – as a freshman.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to get writing experience with the Trop and would like to credit Professor (Stefanie) East and the Trop editors for all of the help they’ve given to me,” Thomas said. “I’m looking to continue the hard work and keep improving my skills.”
The 2024 convention will be held at Troy University, with Dr. Robbyn Taylor serving as SEJC’s new president.
Trojan Living Editor Kris Harrell attended the conference. Read his review of a Louisiana concert found on page 7 of this edition of the Tropolitan.
“Best of the South”
Kris Harrell—1st Place, Best Arts & Entertainment Writer
Caleb Thomas—3rd Place, Best Sports Writer
Georgia Clark—1st Place, Best Television Journalist
Cailey Wright—2nd Place, Best Feature Television Reporter
Claudia Peppenhorst—3rd Place, Best News Reporter
TROY TrojanVision—3rd Place, Best Video Newscast
TROY TrojanVision—2nd Place, Best Television Station
Kameron Banks—2nd Place, Best Radio News Reporter
Jaelanne Thomas—2nd Place, Best Radio Feature Reporter
Marissa Lacey—1st Place, Best Radio Journalist
Talk of Troy—2nd Place, Best Audio News Program
On-site competition
Emma Ellis—1st Place, TV Anchoring
Cailey Wright—2nd Place, TV Reporting
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