School of Journalism & Media

UT Student Journalists win regional SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards

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Student journalists at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, won several first-place and finalist awards at the annual Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Region 12 Conference last month.

Award-winning work included stories covering Hurricane Helene and the 2024 presidential election campaign.

Senior journalism and media major and The Daily Beacon Editor-in-Chief Shelby Wright said she is proud of her work on Hurricane Helene, which won in the general news reporting category. She sees the award as another opportunity to spread awareness about the impact of this tragedy.

“I think it shows how important journalism is at the end of the day,” … Read more “UT Student Journalists win regional SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards”

Living East Tennessee Host, Mental Health Advocate Embodies Volunteer Spirit

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Growing up, Amber Lynn Carroll (‘13) knew she wanted to do something that honored her inner performer.

She also loved to write. So, when the School of Journalism and Media alumna discovered there was a career path combining both passions, she wanted in.

She joined her high school TV station and started covering sports. It felt completely natural. She then enrolled at Western Kentucky University before transferring to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to pursue a degree in broadcast journalism, and her passion for storytelling and serving the local community only grew.

It would eventually blossom into an award-winning career … Read more “Living East Tennessee Host, Mental Health Advocate Embodies Volunteer Spirit”

Graduating Senior Griffin Hadley Proud To ‘Carry The Torch’

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Griffin Hadley and Kate McCarville the Tennessee men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams receiving the Torchbearer award at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center in Knoxville, TN. (Photo By Kyndall Williams/Tennessee Athletics)

School of Journalism and Media Professor Erin Whiteside met graduating senior Griffin Hadley for the first time during an informational session for students selected to cover the 2024 Paralympic Games for the USA TODAY Network in Paris.

“But it was not until around 3 am on Aug. 29 (the first day they were in Paris), when Griffin was working in a hotel lobby surrounded by his jet-lagged peers, … Read more “Graduating Senior Griffin Hadley Proud To ‘Carry The Torch’”

Land Grant Films Team Produces Award-Winning Short Documentary on Blind Woodworker

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Senior Carter Moore interviewing Greenville, Tennessee native and woodworker George Wurtzel for the Land Grant Films short documentary “Carving The Creative Vision”.

In small-town America, there always seems to be that person everyone knows who perfectly reflects what that community is all about. 

This phenomenon is what prompted Nick Geidner, School of Journalism and Media professor and Land Grant Films director, in 2023 to pitch to the student documentary production team a series highlighting unique individuals from various small Tennessee communities. 

While the full series has not yet developed, the team’s initial research introduced them to Greenville, Tennessee native and … Read more “Land Grant Films Team Produces Award-Winning Short Documentary on Blind Woodworker”

Thatcher, Durben Selected for 2025 Carnegie-Knight News21 Project

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Juniors Gracyn Thatcher and Alexa Durben, both journalism and media majors, will represent the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, this summer at the 2025 Carnegie-Knight News21 Fellowship at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

Two School of Journalism and Media students have been selected to participate in a prestigious national reporting initiative this summer.

Juniors Gracyn Thatcher and Alexa Durben, both journalism and media majors, will represent the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, this summer at the 2025 Carnegie-Knight News21 Fellowship at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.… Read more “Thatcher, Durben Selected for 2025 Carnegie-Knight News21 Project”

The Election Project, Student Journalists Win Big at 2025 Southeast Journalism Conference

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Students in the School of Journalism and Media earned several awards for their reporting coverage including Best Public Service Journalism for The Election Project and Best TV Station at the 2025 Southeast Journalism Conference

The Election Project won “Best in the South” in public service journalism at the 2025 Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC).

A collaborative reporting initiative between the School of Journalism and Media and The Media Center at the College of Communication and Information, the Election Project gave students invaluable hands-on experience in election reporting while also educating the public on the 2024 presidential election and other civics topics.… Read more “The Election Project, Student Journalists Win Big at 2025 Southeast Journalism Conference”

Alumnus’ Paralympic Coverage Earns Top 10 Spot in Hearst Journalism Awards Competition

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School of Journalism and Media alumnus Lukas Vysniauskas’ (‘24) with US Paralympian Carson Clough in Paris.

School of Journalism and Media alumnus Lukas Vysniauskas’ (‘24) reporting on US Paralympian Carson Clough at the 2024 Paralympic Games has been recognized by the Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

Vysniauskas finished ninth in the 2024-25 Hearst Multimedia Narrative Video Storytelling Competition.

The Hearst Journalism Awards is a nationally recognized program that honors colleges and students that produce exceptional work in the field of journalism and media. Winners in the multimedia narrative video storytelling competition were selected from 81 entries submitted by 47 schools in … Read more “Alumnus’ Paralympic Coverage Earns Top 10 Spot in Hearst Journalism Awards Competition”

Alumna Goes Viral for Coverage of LA Wildfires

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When Ashley Sharp (‘18) learned about the 2016 Great Smoky Mountain wildfires, she wanted to help.

She knew WBIR Channel 10 News would need assistance covering this tragedy, so she requested to be excused from Professor Sam Swan’s class to join their team. The journalism and media student at the time worked part-time for the television station as an editor and photographer and wanted to contribute her efforts to report on what many locals remember now as the Gatlinburg wildfires.

“He looked at me and said, ‘This is more important than being in class.’,” Sharp said. “It’s funny to kind … Read more “Alumna Goes Viral for Coverage of LA Wildfires”

Journalism and Media Student Pierce Gentry Places Second in Hearst Audio Competition

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Journalism and Media senior Pierce Gentry embraces Joy Lambert, a resident of Hampton, Tennessee, who lost her home to flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Gentry reported from rural communities in East Tennessee during the aftermath of the storm for WUOT 91.9fm and NPR. (Justin Hicks / KPR)

School of Journalism and Media senior and WUOT 91.9 FM reporter Pierce Gentry has earned second place in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program’s 2024-2025 Hearst Audio Competition.

“I can’t begin to express in words how it feels to be recognized on such a national scale and by such a prestigious organization,” Gentry … Read more “Journalism and Media Student Pierce Gentry Places Second in Hearst Audio Competition”

UT Faculty Research Shows Dramatic Shift In Ukrainian Attitudes After Invasion

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UT Faculty Research Shows Dramatic Shift In Ukrainian Attitudes After Invasion written by Randall Brown and originally published on the College of Arts & Sciences site.

A new study published by an interdisciplinary team of Tennessee researchers sheds light onto the dynamics of national unity experienced by Ukrainians following the 2022 Russian invasion.

While a nation would be expected to rally against an aggressive foreign army crossing its borders, researchers were surprised by the speed and magnitude of the unifying public attitude shift in Ukraine. They detail the findings in their paper, “Response to collective threat: Russian invasion unifies … Read more “UT Faculty Research Shows Dramatic Shift In Ukrainian Attitudes After Invasion”