DePaul journalism students and student news outlets had a banner awards season this year. The DePaulia, DePaul’s main student news source for more than 75 years, set a new school record at the Illinois College Press Association with 11 awards, including a second-place award for best non-daily newspaper.

The DePaulia garnered multiple honors, predominantly for excellence in writing and photography, from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Region 5 Mark of Excellence Awards.

“We were very proud that these awards were content-driven,” says DePaulia faculty advisor Marla Krause.

In addition, The Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) recognized The DePaulia with a record-setting 11 editorial awards, including second place in the state for general excellence in non-dailies, the highest ever in The DePaulia’s history.

Red Line Project takes prestigious Lisagor Awards

The student-run Red Line Project was also a success.  The Red Line Project, an online news source covering neighborhoods surrounding the CTA’s Red Line won three of Chicago’s prestigious Lisagor Awards, competing not against other students, but against major media outlets. Lisagors are typically awarded to professional news organizations and rarely given to students or student-run news outlets.

“I think these awards recognize that our students understand cross-platform storytelling,” says College of Communications Instructor Mike Reilley. “That’s a marketable skill in today’s difficult media market, and having these awards on their résumés will help them plan internships and careers.”

Two Lisagors were awarded to the staff as a whole, including best start-up publication and best online feature story for “10 Remember 9/11,” commemorating the tenth anniversary of the World Trade Center terrorist attack. Four Red Line Project reporters—Alaina Africano, Katie Karpowicz, James Mazurek and Sarah Vonnegut-Gabovitch—were recognized for best online business story for their piece on small businesses near Red Line stops.

The Red Line Project is the first student publication in the 35-year history of the awards to win three Lisagors and is one of six finalists for the Associated Collegiate Press National Pacemaker Award for online student media site. The award, which will be announced in November, is considered the highest honor a student media outlet can receive.