ӰרLouisiana Focus,Ӱר a weekly radio news program produced by Ӱר students, earned a top regional award presented by the Society of Professional Journalists.
It was named the ӰרBest All-Around Radio NewscastӰר at the recent SPJ Region 12 Spring Conference held at McNeese State Ӱר. Region 12 is composed of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards honor the best examples of collegiate journalism from the previous year.
ӰרLouisiana Focus,Ӱר is broadcast on Sunday mornings on Radio Lafayette, 106.3. ItӰרs prepared by students taking a broadcasting class taught by Dr. Bill Davie, a professor and coordinator of the ӰרӰרs Mass Communication/Broadcast program.
Entries in the SPJӰרs Mark of Excellence Awards are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. First-place and finalist awards are presented.
Regional first-place winners advance to the national SPJ Mark of Excellence award competition. National winners will be recognized at a convention in Orlando, Fla., in September.
UL Lafayette senior Heather Hailar received finalist awards for a radio feature about the historic Oliver Pollock Oak Tree near Washington, La., which was endangered by traffic, and a radio news report about revamping the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Mike Francingues, also a UL Lafayette student, was a finalist in the editorial writing category for work published in The Vermilion, the ӰרӰרs student newspaper.