FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2009
Contact: Macaulay Knight
662.329.7119
mknight@pa.muw.edu

Wilson wins honors for presidential coverage

Columbus, Miss. – Sarah Wilson, a junior communication major at Mississippi University for Women, has received top honors from the Southeast Journalism Conference for her story on President Barack Obama’s campaign visit to MUW last March.

Wilson, the current editor of the student newspaper, The Spectator, won first place in the category of Best Election Writer. The award was announced at the SEJC convention in Nashville in February.

“Having the opportunity to cover President Obama’s visit to The W was a journalist’s dream,” said Wilson. “I won’t soon forget it, and I’m glad I was able to relay what happened to the people who weren’t able to make it. I’ve been able to meet so many amazing people and learn so much as a student journalist at The W.”

The annual SEJC contest pits Spectator staffers against other student journalists at more than 30 schools in the Southeast, including the University of Mississippi, the University of Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Emory universities.

“In one of the most important categories, Sarah triumphed over students from larger schools with larger communication programs. What a vivid testament to her talents and hard work,” said Margaret Mary Henry, MUW’s Gibbons professor of journalism and the faculty adviser to The Spectator.

“Once again Sarah Wilson has been recognized for producing outstanding work, and the department is proud of her demonstrated dedication as a journalist,” said Dr. Martin Hatton, chairman of The W’s Department of Communication. 

Last year Wilson took prizes in the Mississippi Press Association’s college journalism competition, including first place for Best Investigative News Series, second place for Best General News story and a shared first place for Best Editorials.

Wilson, 21, interned as a news reporter at The Commercial Dispatch over the past summer.