OU Daily earned a Gold Crown for overall excellence in the college hybrid news category and its staffers earned 10 Gold Circle honors in results announced Friday by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York.
As an organization, the Daily was one of four college media outlets across the nation to earn top honors in the hybrid news category along with the Ball State Daily News, the Indiana Daily Student and The Ithacan. This marks the Daily’s eighth consecutive year to earn a Gold or Silver Crown and its seventh time in that span to earn the top Gold distinction.
In Circle honors, which are awarded based on individual pieces, Daily staffers earned the following:
First-place honors:
• Digital media breaking news: Mason Young for Racism, Sports and Murphy’s Law: Cale Gundy’s actions post 1st major test of culture Brent Venables is building at OU
• Digital media personal opinion regarding on-campus issues: Francisco Gutierrez for What I talk about when I talk about copy editing
Second-place honors:
• Digital media breaking news: Staff for All clear after active shooter reported on South Oval: Timeline of events
Third-place honors:
• Digital media in-depth news/feature story: Karoline Leonard for Remembering the Cookie Queen.
• Digital media sports feature: Mason Young for “Let your life speak”: OU’s “Unity” jerseys carry special meaning for Prentice Gautt’s family, players who designed and wore them
Certificate of Merit honors:
• Digital media news feature: Jillian Taylor for OU medical students fear state legislation will further restrict access to comprehensive reproductive education
• Digital media sports feature: Carolyn Lien for “She’s irreplaceable to this team”: Jordan Bowers has overcome obstacles to become OU gymnastics’ leader
• Digital media sports feature: Colton Sulley for “We’re not stopping”: Marketing efforts elevate OU women’s sports growth amid record-breaking athletics seasons
• Digital media single sports photograph: Bob Nguyen for a close-up image of OU soccer player Emma Hawkins at the goal
• Digital media single sports photograph: Bob Nguyen for an image of OU football player Drake Stoops scoring a touchdown after losing a shoe
The digital entries were published between October 2022-October 2023.
The Gold Circles have recognized outstanding achievement in newspapers, magazines and yearbooks since 1984. Digital media categories were added in 2009.
About OU Student Media
OU Student Media is the steward of the OU Daily, which for more than a century has served Norman with free independent local journalism, the city's largest reporting staff and nationally honored coverage while launching the careers of media professionals. OU Daily produces news 24/7 online and in premium print products available in approximately 50 locations around Norman year-round.
