Belmont’s student-run online news network, the Belmont Vision, left its mark on the 2024 Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC), bringing home 19 awards and third place overall in the on-site competition.
The Southeast Journalism Conference is a consortium of nearly 40 public and private colleges and universities from seven states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Competition is divided into two parts: pre-published work in the Best of the South contest and onsite competitions done live at the conference.
Held at Troy University in Troy, Alabama, the 2024 conference hosted 210 students from 24 member schools who competed in events ranging from news writing to sports television reporting. Belmont won awards in 12 Best of the South categories, including four first-place wins, which included content posted on the Vision website from November 2022 to November 2023.
- First place, best radio reporter: Gracie Anderson
- First place, best radio journalist: Gracie Anderson
- First place, best video newscast: Belmont Vision
- First place, best website: Belmont Vision
- Second place, best sports writer: Ty Wellemeyer
- Second place, opinion-editorial writing: Braden Simmons
- Third place, best audio program: Belmont Vision
- Third place, best special events reporter/editor: Sarah Maninger
- Third place, best television feature reporter: Zach Watkins
- Sixth place, best news writer: Tessa Pendleton
- Seventh place, best press photographer: Isaac Wetzel
- Eighth place, best arts and entertainment writer: Zach Watkins
The Vision staff also placed in seven on-site categories, winning first place in five. The team placed third overall in the onsite competitions.
- First place, television news: Cat Da Rocha and Melody Scott
- First place, feature radio: Tessa Pendleton
- First place, arts and entertainment radio: Tessa Pendleton
- First place, news radio: Zach Watkins
- First place, television anchoring: Matt Sinofsky
- Second place, television sports: Cat Da Rocha and Melody Scott
“I'm incredibly proud of the Vision staff. They worked really, really hard this year. And it's a testament to everything they have done both in the class and out,” said Dorren Robinson, Vision faculty adviser. “I am so appreciative of all the hard work the students put into the events and to all faculty in the Entertainment and Media department.”