Tribune Sweeps Awards

ASU's Hornet Tribune Newspaper and Staff Receive Top Awards At "Best of South" Competition 

By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU 

Alabama State University's student newspaper, The Hornet Tribune, and several of the publication’s student-journalists recently earned “Best of the South” awards at the 2023 Southeastern Journalism Conference, which was held at Nichols State University. 

ASU’s director of Student Media, Kenneth Dean, explained that there was keen competition at the event, including The University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, the University of Mississippi, the University of Tennessee, Samford University and Xavier University of Louisiana. 

"At the event, Alabama State University's Hornet Tribune, won the overall ‘Best Number-Two Newspaper’ in the South and the ‘Best Number-Five Website.’ Its individual student awards were most impressive with four staff members taking home the following awards: Kendall Manns, named as the ‘Best, Number-One Opinion and Editorial Writer;' Jaelyn Stansbury, named as the 'Best, Number-One Press Photographer;' Lateef Oloko, ‘Best, Number-One Newspaper Designer;’ Ronald Martin, ‘Best, Number-Four, Artist and Illustrator;’ and Khalil Stewart, ‘Best, Number-Seven Special Event Reporter,' " Dean said. 

IMPORTANT WIN FOR THE TRIBUNE 

Dean said the awards reflect the excellent work by the newspaper’s staff and will help with the attraction of future journalists to the team. 

"This is the first time in my recollection that we have ever won so many awards - six combined this time -- and this signifies that we have produced some exceptional student journalists," Dean said. "I am very proud of each and every staff member because this is a team effort, and they pulled together and did well." 

STUDENT EDITOR SAYS AWARDS VALIDATE HARD WORK 

The Tribune's student editor-in-chief, Kendall Manns, believes the awards are a representation and validation of all the hard work that his staff has put in during the past year.  

"Despite countless challenges, we have pushed through and made the necessary sacrifices to produce quality, award-winning work. There is so much talent on this staff, and I admire each and every one of them," Manns said. "I could not do it without my staff." 

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104. 

###ASU###