Two University of Mississippi journalism students place in prestigious Hearst competition – School of Journalism and New Media

Congratulations to 2 College of Mississippi Faculty of Journalism and New Media college students who lately positioned within the High 20 within the prestigious nationwide Hearst journalism competitors within the workforce digital information/enterprise class.

Rabria Moore and Billy Schuerman have been winners led by editor/adviser Ellen Meacham, in response to Patricia Thompson, former director of the S. Gale Denley Pupil Media Heart at Ole Miss.

Thompson mentioned the challenge tied for sixteenth place within the Hearst contest with a challenge from Elon College. The High 5 winners in that class have been college students from Western Kentucky, Syracuse, the College of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the College of Oregon.

The challenge, about water provide issues locally of Taylor, Mississippi, was printed in the course of the spring semester of 2021, and that is one in every of a number of main awards it has gained since then, Thompson mentioned.

Moore is coming into her senior 12 months at UM and is The Day by day Mississippian editor-in-chief for 2022-23.

Schuerman graduated in 2021 and simply accomplished his first 12 months within the visible communication grasp’s program at Ohio College. He spent winter break as a photographer and author at a newspaper in Colorado and has a photograph internship this summer season on the Virginian-Pilot, Thompson mentioned.

Moore, 20, is a Durant, Mississippi native coming into her senior 12 months on the college learning journalism and political science.

“I used to be very excited to search out out I obtained a Hearst award for this challenge,” Rabria mentioned. “Once I began this challenge, I didn’t take into consideration profitable any awards. My principal aim was to inform a narrative a couple of lady who’s been combating for entry to water, and hopefully carry consideration to the problem of water entry, particularly in Mississippi. I’m completely happy to obtain the award, however I undoubtedly take extra pleasure in realizing that the story has reached a broader viewers.”

Moore mentioned engaged on this challenge was completely different from others.

“For months, I used to be capable of go to Ms. Ilean’s residence to listen to about and see the issues she was going through with out entry to group water,” she mentioned. “I hope others, particularly folks residing in Mississippi, perceive that not everybody has entry to the identical sources. Water is one thing we take with no consideration and one thing we don’t sometimes take into consideration, however I hope folks can admire the ‘small’ issues that we don’t have to determine on our personal.”

She mentioned studying to hear was one of many issues she took away from the challenge.

“So many instances, we predict we all know somebody’s story or scenario,” Moore mentioned. “I feel listening offers folks the chance to inform their tales with out us injecting ourselves into these tales.”

Billy Schuerman is pictured on this black and white photograph.

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Schuerman, 23, who’s from Houston, Texas, mentioned he was elated to listen to that their exhausting work was acknowledged within the competitors.

“I’m extra hopeful that this recognition helps present a future for the group we reported on,” he mentioned. “Awards are secondary to the communities we serve.”

He mentioned the challenge was significant.

“Earlier than we’re journalists, we’re people, and this can be a human story,” he mentioned. “This was not a challenge we may simply stroll into. We devoted our time to telling a significant story about one thing that actually issues. I hope different college students can take away that with a purpose to inform the tough draft of historical past, we should really dedicate ourselves to the folks we serve.”

His recommendation to different journalists is to search out time to do vital tales.

“Not every thing you’re employed on will come by,” he mentioned, “however when you might have a chance to essentially do one thing vital, it’s vital to take it head on.”

Tags: greatest journalism colleges, Billy Schuerman, featured, Hearst, journalism awards, Ole Miss, Oxford, Rabria Moore, College of Mississippi, College of Mississippi Faculty of Journalism and New Media