Journalism students earned statewide recognition at the 2026 Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards, bringing home three professional contest awards and eight student contest awards.
The annual CTSPJ awards recognize outstanding journalism produced across Connecticut and were presented during an awards dinner on June 10.
In the professional Excellence in Journalism Awards competition, Southern students competed alongside working journalists from news organizations throughout the state.
Students in Professor Cindy Simoneau’s JRN 300 class earned first place in Division C Data Reporting for their story, “Survey: Social media dominates students’ news consumption.” The project was published by CT Community News and later republished by the Hartford Courant.
Roselyn Martin Somtochukwu Ilo received second place in Division C Diversity Coverage for “Elena’s Light honors refugee advocates, raises concern for the future,” which was published by CT Community News, CT News Junkie, and Connecticut Public.
Students in Professor Jodie Gil’s JRN 220 class earned third place in Division C Health Reporting for “How Connecticut is training college students to help prevent suicide.” The project was supported through a Solutions Journalism grant and was republished by CT Community News, CT News Junkie, the Hartford Courant, and WSHU.
Southern student media organizations also received eight awards in the CTSPJ Student Journalism Contest. Students from Crescent magazine earned six honors, including first place for magazine layout, while Southern News received two awards recognizing excellence in reporting and photography.
The award-winning work highlights Southern’s commitment to experiential learning and community-centered reporting. Many of the recognized projects were produced through the Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative, a statewide initiative that connects student journalists with professional publishing opportunities and news outlets across Connecticut. Southern was a founding member of the Collaborative, and journalism faculty continue to serve on its board of directors, helping students gain real-world reporting experience while contributing meaningful coverage to communities throughout the state.
