The University’s student-run newspaper, The Outlook, was named “Most Outstanding Newspaper,” in addition to first place with special merit, by the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) for the third time in the past four years in its annual national competition.
Professor John Morano, the paper’s faculty advisor, said, “To achieve this recognition, back-to-back no less, really brings home the point that hard work and dedication to sound journalistic principles is worth the effort. The students who produce The Outlook are a special breed, and it looks like the paper is reflective of that.” Morano feels it is both rewarding and an honor to see that the ASPA recognizes the work that is accomplished in The Outlook newsroom.
Judges awarded the paper 1970 points out of a possible 2000 in categories that included editing, creativity, art, advertising and others. Under the leadership of the former Editor-In-Chief, Jacklyn Kouefati, The Outlook received perfect scores for content coverage, page design and general plan.
“You (The Outlook) have an excellent school newspaper, which shows the creativity and journalistic knowledge of your editors, writers, photographers, layout/graphics designers and advisor,” one judge wrote.
Casey Wolfe, current Editor-In-Chief of The Outlook, feels pressured to carry on the title of “Most Outstanding Newspaper of the Year,” but aims to accomplish this again by continuing to be consistent. “Previous award-winning Editor-In-Chiefs set a high bar, but they also showed me how to lead a newspaper that is worthy of a national title. I think they left me with a lot to work with so I’m going to do my best to push myself and my staff to keep producing the best newspaper we can,” Wolfe said.
Having worked with The Outlook for four consecutive years, Wolfe said the paper has high standards for reporting and aesthetic, so the staff will not settle for producing anything less than they did the week (issue) before. “We cover topics that people want to read. We take pride in covering topics that can sometimes be controversial honestly and ethically. We don’t shy away from the tough stuff and we keep the traditional aspect of print journalism intact,” commented Wolfe.
Dr. Chad Dell, Chair of the Department of Communication, said, “[The Outlook] is the newspaper record for our community and so it can ask important questions, it can deal with critical subjects that face us as an institution and as members of a community. I feel better knowing that The Outlook is there asking and getting answers for these important questions.”
Wolfe feels the support not only from the journalism professors but the entire University community continues to strengthen The Outlook and help create a healthy support system for all paper contributors.
“I am always almost in awe that it gets done [at The Outlook] every week,” Morano said. “The students set the bar, from what I can see, pretty high and they work very hard to get it at that level and usually surpass it.”
Dell expects The Outlook will continue to work to the best of its ability to ask good questions and serve the readers and the community of the University. He said, “I hope and expect that The Outlook will not rest on its laurels but it will push itself to be even better. There are plenty of measures of quality and we always have to push ourselves to not be satisfied and to challenge ourselves to take that extra step and I’m confident that The Outlook will continue to do that.”
PHOTO TAKEN by Brianna McCabe
