YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University’s student newspaper, The Jambar, and journalists from the Department of Strategic Communication & Media collected multiple awards at the Ohio News Media Association Fellowship Day in Columbus, Ohio, on March 26.
Competing in a division that includes Ohio’s largest institutions, YSU students took home awards in five of the 10 competitive categories. The awards recognize excellence across several areas, including collegiate news and sports coverage, photojournalism, arts and entertainment reporting, design and headline writing.
“These awards are a testament to the hard work, professional standards and dedication of our student staff. We are incredibly proud to see their storytelling and technical skills recognized on a state level,” said Adam Earnheardt, student media adviser.
The Jambar staff and individual students were honored with the following awards:
- First Place, Sports Coverage: The Jambar staff, for writing in an active voice that made readers feel as though they were at the game.
- First Place, Arts & Entertainment: Scout Nicholson, recognized for her in-depth music reviews.
- Second Place, Design: The Jambar, specifically for the overall design and flow of the newspaper.
- Second Place, Headline Writing: The Jambar staff, for clever, eye-catching headlines that made the reader want to know more. The Jambar’s second-place headline was March 13, 2025’s story, “Penguins still in Wright State of mind after loss.”
- Third Place, Photojournalism: Alex Sorrells for his images that added important context to the stories they accompanied.