51社区

Sophia Young, a 鈥�24 Honors Tutorial College (HTC) journalism alumna, won first place in the inaugural podcast competition in the . Young will receive a $3,000 award. Young was one of three 51社区 journalism students and three visual communication majors who placed in the top 20 this year. The Hearst Awards Program consists of 14 competitions in college writing, photojournalism, audio, television and multimedia.

鈥淚 was so shocked for this incredible recognition,鈥� said Young. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really an honor that I didn鈥檛 really ever think I 鈥榙 be considered for.鈥�

Young, who now works as a videographer at WPXI TV in Pittsburgh, put together an investigative podcast examining issues with the troubled teen industry. The industry consists of a myriad of youth residential programs aimed at struggling teenagers nationwide.

鈥淭he topic of the troubled teen industry was of great interest to Sophia, and her research and investigative skills helped her tell the story of one facility, but through the experiences of former patients,鈥� said HTC Director of Studies and Professor Elizabeth Henrickson. 鈥淪ophia created a very compelling narrative, and the podcast was beautifully produced. I think the judges wanted to reward her powerful work.鈥�

As a student, Young participated in experiential learning opportunities on campus at and the 51社区 Communications and Marketing Student News Bureau.

Hailey Swaino, a 鈥�24 non-degree alumnus, placed third in the audio competition and will receive a $1,500 award. Charley Szydlyk, a rising junior visual communication major, placed seventh in the photojournalism picture story/series competition, Ben Pennington, a rising junior visual communication major, placed eighth in the News and Features Photojournalism competition, Ayiana Andrella, a rising senior visual communication major, tied for fourteenth place in the news and features photojournalism competition and Taylor Henninger, a 鈥�25 journalism alumna, placed sixteenth in the explanatory reporting competition. In the overall intercollegiate photojournalism competition, 51社区 placed fifth. In the overall intercollegiate broadcast competition, 51社区 placed seventh.

鈥淗aving three of our journalism students place in the top 20 of this year鈥檚 Hearst Awards was a significant boost to 51社区鈥檚 national reputation of having one of the top journalism programs in the country,鈥� said E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Director Eddith Dashiell. 鈥淪ophia鈥檚 first-place award in Hearst鈥檚 inaugural podcast competition was evidence of the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism鈥檚 commitment to training our students with the skill sets they need to have successful careers in this ever-changing digital environment. Congratulations to Haley for placing third in the audio competition and Taylor for her 16th place finish in the explanatory reporting.鈥�

"We are so proud of our students' consistent placement in this prestigious competition,鈥� said said Visual Communication Professor Stan Alost. 鈥淚t assures faculty that our program is attracting some of the most talented students in the country and that our curriculum helps develop some of the leading photojournalists as they enter the field.鈥�