Jambar student newspaper recognized for best news coverage in the state

Jambar staff receiving ONMA Collegiate Awards included, from left: Tanner Mondok, Jambar photo editor and senior Journalism major; Rachel Gobep, managing editor and junior Journalism, broadcast and digital media track major; Jordan Unger, May 2018 YSU graduate, Journalism, now production assistant at WKBN; and Morgan Petronelli, editor-in-chief and senior Journalism major. Not pictured is Marc Weems, former Jambar sports editor and senior Journalism major.

The Jambar, Youngstown State University’s student newspaper, has been honored for having the best News Coverage among college newspapers in Ohio for the 2017-18 academic year.

The award was given by the Ohio News Media Association, one of the state’s largest and most influential groups of journalists, at its 2019 convention in Columbus.

The awards are one of the most rigorous competitions in college journalism because for many of the categories, including best News Coverage, the judges make their choices based on an entire section of stories, instead of a single story or page of stories.

The Jambar competes in Division A, consisting of universities with undergraduate enrollments above 10,000.  In winning best News Coverage, The Jambar beat out seven other Ohio universities, including Ohio University and Ohio State University, both of which have large journalism programs and newspapers that are published several days a week.

“It’s all about working hard, being fair and telling people what they need to know,” said Dave Davis, Jambar faculty advisor and a lecturer in the YSU Anderson Program in Journalism. “That’s what our students do. That’s what this shows.”

The Jambar winners are:

  • News Coverage: Morgan Petronelli, Rachel Gobep and Jambar Staff, 1st place.
  • In-Depth Reporting: Jordan Unger, 2nd place.
  • Sports Coverage: Marc Weems, 2nd place.
  • Photojournalism: Tanner Mondok, 2nd place.
  • Best Multi-Media: Rachel Gobep, 3rd place.

Following the awards ceremony and lunch, newly elected Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gave the convention’s keynote address.

The Ohio News Media Association, founded in 1933 and a strong advocate for state open records, represents the state’s professional print and digital publications.