Missouri Interscholastic Press Association held its 52nd annual J-Day March 31, virtually using Whova and Zoom apps.
The event included over 20 speakers and presenters including KSDK news director Art Holliday, Society of Professional Journalists president-elect Rebecca Aguilar and freelance agricultural writer and marketer Rachel Robinson.
Also MIPA announced its 2020-2021 awards.
Overall awards included an All Missouri rating for the WG Echo online, superior ratings for the Echo Yearbook and the Voices of Webster podcast, and an excellent ratings for the print version of the Echo newspaper and the Echo News Roundup newscast.
Individuals who earned All Missouri ratings include senior Jaden Fields for her editorial/op-ed “Capitol riot shows inequity of police response,” Fields and junior Zeke La Mantia for their entertainment review “2020 acts as real zombie movie: Echo reviews best of pandemic movies,” and senior Elise Wilke-Grimm and sophomore Calvin Lescher for their online feature package “Restaurants reopening/Indoor dining becoming available.”
Individuals who earned superior ratings include sophomores Maren DeMargel and Izzy Poole for their broadcast news feature “Concerns about COVID-19 change school bussing,” Wilke-Grimm for her editorial/op-ed “Schools should increase mental health screenings,” senior Addie Palmquist for her editorial/op-ed “Woman, Warrior, Legend: Ginsberg’s legacy will be remembered,” junior Jackson Parks for his blog entry “Movie Theaters during Covid-19,” sophomore Lydia Urice for her online feature package “Review: Starbucks releases holiday drinks,” and La Mantia for his social media reporting on WG Echo’s Instagram.
Individuals who earned excellent ratings include senior Sophie Schnieders and the yearbook staff for overall theme/concept “History in the Making,” Palmquist for her blog entry “‘Manly men’: A necessity or a stereotype?” Fields for her online feature package “Voices of Webster: Editorial: Capitol riot shows inequity of police response,” Urice for her online feature package “School nurses share experience during pandemic” and Wilke-Grimm for her news photo “County voters line up to cast ballots.”
Honorable mentions were earned by freshman Joe Harned for his commercial/PSA “Echo demonstrates how to wash hands,” senior Kelly Woodyard for her sports story “Players express views about social distancing in sports,” Fields for her news photo “Responsive students have year’s 1st safety drill” and her radio/podcast news feature “Voices of Webster: COVID changes Halloween celebrations,” freshman Calum Shank for his news photo “Families enjoy re-opened county parks,” junior Myah King for her sports photo “The Best Offense…” and sports feature/reaction photo “Pregame,” junior Ben Miller for his student life/organization photo “Junior embraces snowy half-day fun,” Urice for her radio/podcast news features “Voices of Webster: School nurse shares perspective” and “Voices of Webster: Former principal joins district as Special School District area coordinator,” DeMargel for her radio/podcast news feature “Voices of Webster: Students incorporate masks into Halloween costumes,” and DeMargel and Poole for their radio/podcast news feature “Voices of Webster: Concerns about COVID-19 change school bussing.”
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