The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Magazine Division recognized several Kent State student publications for excellence in magazine writing and design.
Of the 282 entries from 30 universities across the nation -- the most AEJMC has ever received -- A Magazine, The Burr and Fusion earned seven awards in the competition.
“We're really proud to be recognized among a national group of talented journalists, especially reaching general excellence with only our second issue,” said Emily Inverso, a senior magazine journalism major and editor of A Magazine. “I hope these awards speak to the promise of the staff and future of the magazine.”
Inverso and the magazine were awarded second place in the Articles - People and Design categories, respectively. A Magazine also placed third in General Excellence. Roger Black, design director at Edipresse Asia in Hong Kong, commented that A Magazine had a “great cover” and “top photography.”
The Burr was recognized in General Excellence, and student journalists Mark Haymond and Rachel Campbell received awards for their writing.
Campbell, a senior magazine journalism major, received second place in the First Person Articles category for her story about mystery migraines, entitled “Failure to Diagnose.”
“Like any writer, or any creative person for that matter, I took a life-changing experience that was truly terrifying and turned it into a piece as a way of coping,” Campbell said. “I had been working on that story for about 6 months. I was happy to have it published in The Burr, and ecstatic when I found out it had won second place in the first-person category.”
Seth Porges, freelance writer for magazines such as InStyle, Forbes, Men's Journal and Rolling Stone and a judge in Campbell’s category, commented: “In this story about a mystery migraine, the [author] used the FP format as a tool that makes the reader root for her—and laugh along the way...She also has a knack for picking small details that carry large literary weight—a real sign of a promising talent and of a strong voice.”
Finally, Fusion received third place in Design for its “good cover” and “well-placed book.”
Campbell said the awards received by the publications, both in 2013 and in the past, speaks to the level of dedication the University has toward its students.
“I think the success The Burr has achieved throughout its history is a reflection of the superb quality of both the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Kent State as a whole,” she said. “The education and experience students like myself receive on this campus is unmatchable.”