Alestle Wins Top American Scholastic Press Association Award
The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s student newspaper, won the First Place with Special Merit Award from the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) for the 2015-2016 academic year. Last year, the Alestle was runner-up.
Former Editor-In-Chief Hailey Huffines and current Managing Editor Puja Mehta were also awarded the distinction of Outstanding Investigative Reporting for their story “Gov. Rauner Proposes Hard-hitting Budget Cuts.”
Publications that receive First Place with Special Merit awards score more than 950 points of a maximum 1,000 possible points, and, in the reviewer’s opinion, was an outstanding overall example of scholastic publication in format, content and presentation. The Alestle scored 965 points.
“This is so exciting. I was hoping we would move up in the rankings, but am extremely pleased we moved to the top rung,” Student Publications Program Director Tammy Merrett said. “The Alestle staff should be proud.”
The ASPA’s annual review and contest for scholastic newspapers, yearbooks and magazines compares student publications to others at colleges, universities and high schools around the nation. Judges base their scores on page design, story layout, graphics, headlining, style, advertising, photography, content, creativity and editing. Points are allocated in the various competition categories based on the judges’ assessment.
The Alestle competed nationally against many other four-year school newspapers from across the country. Only five other colleges and universities were winners in the same category, including the Daily Titan at California State University – Fullerton and the Fordham Ram at Fordham University.
The Alestle scored highest in content coverage and creativity with perfect scores. Other high scores included art, advertising, illustrations and editing.
The judge’s comments about former Editor-in-Chief Hailey Huffines and her staff in the letter from ASPA were positive.
“You have an excellent school newspaper, which shows the creativity and journalistic knowledge of your editors, reporters, writers, photographers, layout/graphics designers and advisor.”
SIUE’s student newspaper regularly wins awards in the annual Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show Awards and the annual Illinois College Press Association awards as well.
