Kent State student media brought home 17 awards this weekend from the Society of Professional Journalists Region 4 conference.

The society is a national organization dedicated to improving and protecting journalism, according to its Web site.

“It’s nice to get recognized for hard work,” said Ryan Loew, former editor of the Daily Kent Stater. “It’s not why we do it, but it’s nice.”

Loew, current Web editor for the Stater, attended the conference and was editor when the staff broke the news about Lester Lefton accepting the position of president at Kent State.

Region 4 spans publications in Michigan, Ohio, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Daily Kent Stater

First place awards

• Daily Kent Stater staff – breaking news reporting on Lefton being appointed Kent State president

• Deanna Stevens – online news reporting, “Rock out with your ‘hawk out”

• Ben Breier- general column writing, “Banana Phone”

• Chris Sharron – editorial cartoon

Second place awards

• Sean Daugherty – feature photography, “Welcome to Miami”

• Ryan Houk – general column writing, “New Orleans”

Third place awards

• Daily Kent Stater staff – best all-around daily student newspaper

• Daily Kent Stater editorial staff – editorial writing, “Our view”

“It’s great that we’re a recognized publication,” said Seth Roy, editor of the Daily Kent Stater. “I’m proud to be part of the Stater.”

TV2

First place awards

• Nick Stroud – television feature reporting

• Julie Bercik and Justin Kier – in-depth reporting

Second place awards

• TV2 staff – college daily newscast

• James Everetts – television feature reporting

• Katie Morse – general news reporting

“I think it’s great. We’re really proud of TV2,” sales manager Katie Morse said. “Nick is going to nationals, and we’re all crossing our fingers.”

Magazines

First place awards

• Fusion magazine – best student magazine

• The Cyburr – best affiliated Web site

Second place awards

• The Burr – best student magazine

“Everybody put in a ton of work,” said Jessica Lentine, former art director of The Burr and current editor. “It’s satisfying to be rewarded in such a large scale, such as the Society of Professional Journalists awards.”

Third place awards

• Fusion.kent.edu – best affiliated Web site

“I’m incredibly excited because it’s a newer magazine and for it to be recognized as the best in the region is exciting,” said Jackie Mantey, fall editor of Fusion. “I’m so proud of the staff. And for the online to be third is important, too.”

Contact College of Communication and Information reporter Emily Andrews at [email protected].