Two place in Top 20 in recent Hearst competition
Two journalism majors at Stony Brook placed among the top 20 in a recent sports writing Hearst Journalism Awards competition. This is the first time in recent years that students have placed for sports reporting.
Jake Basile, a senior from Plainview, came in at the No. 11 spot for “Stories from Fort Neverlose,” about the Long Islanders and their passionate fan base. He reported and produced the story for his narrative journalism course.
Jeremy Portnoy, a sophomore from Plainview, New York, tied for No. 19 for a story about the strong results and weak support Stony Brook Athletics receives from the student body. The story, “Funding, attendance issues at the core as Stony Brook Athletics shoots for national recognition,” ran in The Statesman last fall.
“Our students are producing stories that compete at the national level,” said journalism instructor George Giokas, who coordinates Hearst Award entries for the School. “When they win, they gain confidence and something more to put on their resumes. I’m proud of them.”
The Hearst Journalism competition recognizes the best reporting from college students, issuing awards in a variety of categories every month. Often called the Pulitzers of college journalism, the Hearst Program recognizes excellence in writing, photojournalism, audio, television and multimedia reporting for undergraduates majoring in journalism.
Stony Brook’s journalism students are regularly recognized for their work. So far this year, work produced by five students, including Basile and Portnoy, received awards. In 2021, 17 students won for different reporting projects, and the number of awards placed Stony Brook among Hearst’s most recognized universities in the nation.
“More and more, School of Communication and Journalism students are writing and reporting pieces that earn, and deserve, this kind of recognition,” said Laura Lindenfeld, dean of the SoCJ and executive director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. “In the past two years, our students have won a national Murrow Award, awards from the FAIR Media Council and the Long Island Press Association and more than 10 Hearst Awards. It’s wonderful to see their talents and abilities recognized in a way that will provide a meaningful boost as they begin their careers.”