Several Ball State University students from the University’s College of Communication, Information, and Media won awards in the Best of Indiana Journalism competition held by the Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).

Meanwhile, The McKinley Avenue Agency—a student-run, full-service strategic communication and media sales organization at Ball State—boasted three individual student award winners in the recent 2023 College Media Business & Advertising Managers (CMBAM) annual contest.

SPJ awards
The annual SPJ Best of Indiana Journalism Contest is open to professional and student journalists. The Ball State students and other Best of Indiana Journalism winners were honored by SPJ at its yearly banquet held April 21.

Ball State student winners this year were:

  • STUDENT TELEVISION BEST NEWSCAST 

1ST PLACE 

NEWSLINK INDIANA STAFF 

Special Report: Senate Bill One 

NewsLink Indiana 

  • STUDENT TELEVISION NEWS REPORTING 

1ST PLACE 

ANNA CHALKER 

Muncie 4-year-old’s accidental death 

NewsLink Indiana 

  • STUDENT RADIO NEWS REPORTING 

1ST PLACE 

ADELE REICH 

This Indiana fall brings dry conditions and dry rivers 

Indiana Public Radio 

  • STUDENT TELEVISION FEATURES REPORTING 

3RD PLACE 

DAULTON COX 

A Set Above: Quinn Isaacson 

Ball State Sports Link 

  • STUDENT TELEVISION VIDEOGRAPHY 

1ST PLACE 

PEYTON MONNELL 

Ball State Sports Link 

  • STUDENT RADIO SPORTS REPORTING 

3RD PLACE 

ISREAL HALE 

David Letterman announces partnership with Ball State Esports and racing team 

Indiana Public Radio 

  • STUDENT FEATURE STORY 

1ST PLACE 

GRAYSON JOSLIN 

Mapping Out Munseetown 

Ball State Daily News 

  • STUDENT COLUMN WRITING 

1ST PLACE 

GRAYSON JOSLIN 

Ball State Daily News 

  • STUDENT NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY 

1ST PLACE 

ELI HOUSER 

Latinxpalooza during Ball State’s 2022 Unity Week 

Ball State Daily News 

  • STUDENT FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHY 

1ST PLACE 

RYLAN CAPPER 

From Humble Beginnings 

Ball State Daily News 

  • STUDENT PAGE ONE OR COVER DESIGN 

2ND PLACE 

RYLAN CAPPER 

“Truly Overwhelmed’ 

Ball State Daily News 

  • STUDENT BEST DESIGN OTHER THAN PAGE ONE OR COVER 

1ST PLACE 

MAGGIE GETZIN 

Brain Drain 

Ball State Daily News 

  • STUDENT GRAPHICS OR ILLUSTRATION 

1ST PLACE 

MAGGIE GETZIN 

Memorializing Black Mamba 

Ball State Daily News 

  • STUDENT BEST JOURNALISM WEBSITE 

2ND PLACE 

DAILY NEWS STAFF 

Ball State Daily News 

  • STUDENT PAGE ONE OR COVER DESIGN 

1ST PLACE 

ALEX BRACKEN 

The Senses Issue 

Ball Bearings Magazine 

  • STUDENT FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHY 

2ND PLACE 

NATHAN ABBOTT 

Earthen Exploration 

Ball Bearings Magazine 

For the full list of winners, visit the SPJ website.


CMBAM contest
The McKinley Avenue Agency enjoyed a successful showing in this year’s CMBAM annual contest, with an organization-record three individual award winners.

CMBAM is a nonprofit membership organization for university student media groups that connects sales, marketing, design and management students— and advisers—to support independent student journalism.

Ball State student award winners in this year’s contest were:

  • Karissa Wiegand, First Place, Best PR Director
  • Jose Leyva, Third Place, Best Sales Director
  • Katie Harp, Honorable Mention, Best Designer

The McKinley Avenue Agency works to empower local businesses and garner professional expertise through a variety of creative, innovative, and strategic solutions. Through its work, the agency strives to transform the local and campus communities through bold, creative partnerships and to produce the next generation of revolutionary advertising and communications professionals.

For more information, visit the McKinley Avenue Agency website.