The Broadcast Journalism and Mass Media program sent 14 students to the University of Missouri to participate in Missouri Interscholastic Press Association/Missouri Journalism Education Association’s annual J-Day. Over 1,500 students attended the event on March 30, 2022 with their schools from around the state. Participants were able to experience 37 different sessions on campus to learn how to make their journalism programs better. Junior Shia Mobely feels that it was a good experience. 

“It was fun going out and experiencing life on the campus and seeing what it would be like to go to that school,” Mobely said. 

Students were able to attend sessions such as “Producing a Show,” “Keys to Great Photography” and “Basic Newspaper Design” to help make their websites,newspapers, and broadcasts better. 

Towards the end of the day MIPA/MJEA awarded the schools and students with their Best of Show and All Missouri Awards. Senior Jordan Guenthener, Sophomore Destiny McDonald and Junior Journie Russell won the Best of Show Award for their PSA over the Covid-19 vaccine that aired on Tribal Review. Guenthener believes it was a great honor. 

“I’m so glad Ms. Green asked me to do it because I really enjoyed making it and enjoyed the help of Destiny Mcdonald and Journie Russell capturing footage,” Guenthener said. “I really like that the work I put in and the dedication I have is being recognized.”

Two Other students in the broadcast and journalism programs took home top awards. Senior Sarah Rellihan won All Missouri for her commercial over the school’s coffee shop which also airs on Tribal review. Senior Julia Couch won an All Missouri in the photography section for her sports photography. Rellihan feels it was good to be rewarded for her hard work. 

“It felt really good winning,” Rellihan said. “I spent a lot of time going in and editing and picking out the music, I went through several different texts and overlays. It felt really good to have my hard work recognized, especially being a senior and I’m just proud of myself for that.” 

Following the Best of Show and All Missouri awards are Superior, Excellent and Honorable Mention ratings. The broadcast and Journalism programs took home 16 awards all together. Broadcast journalism earned six of those awards and the Mass Media program 10. 

Here are the award winners and their categories.

Broadcast

Jordan Guenthner, Destiny McDonald, Journie Russell – Best Of Show Commercial/PSA

Sarah Rellihan – All-Missouri Commercial/PSA

Alea Akers – Superior Commercial/PSA

Derby Barr – Excellent News Story

KFOI Sports -Excellent Live Sports Broadcasting

Tribal Review – Honorable Mention Newsmagazine

Online

Julia Couch – All Missouri Sports Photography

Julia Couch – Superior Sports Photography

Julia Couch – Excellent Sports Photography

Jordyn Gates – Honorable Mention Sports Photography

Shia Mobley – Honorable Mention Academic Photography

Karina Hernandez & Julia Couch – Superior Editorial Writing

Shia Mobley – Excellent News Writing

Aurora Spriggs – Excellent Feature Writing

Trey Lee – Honorable Mention Sports Writing

The Signal Website – Excellent Overall Website