Pleiad Takes Six in Statewide Journalism Contest

March 25, 2024

Thanks to the excellence of individual writers and the staff as a whole, the Albion College Pleiad recently won six awards in the Michigan Press Association’s statewide Better Newspapers Contest.

The Pleiad’s performance placed it just behind division competitors from Michigan State University (State News) and Central Michigan University (CM-Life). Albion was one of only two liberal arts colleges to earn awards in this year’s division.

“I remain continuously impressed by the students’ professionalism, both in what appears on the page and in all their efforts to learn, grow and improve our processes to produce the product our readers receive,” said Krista Quesenberry, assistant professor of English and Pleiad adviser. “It always fills my heart with joy when their efforts are recognized by professionals in our field.”

Quesenberry was especially pleased to note the staff’s second place award for Publication Editorial (Our Thoughts Following the Michigan State Shooting) and the third place finish in the Online Newspaper category (based on review of several complete editions). “We have not regularly published staff editorials in recent years, and we have never before entered the portfolio-based Online Newspaper competition, so those are two special honors,” she said.

Individual writing and reporting awards were won by:

• Juan Rodriguez ’24, Second Place Column, Review or Blog — Opinion: On Guns and Gays – Queer Folk Are Taking Up Arms, Rightfully So
• Bonnie Lord ‘26, Third Place — Investigative Reporting: Albion Water Quality (Series)
• Sophia Perrault ‘26, Third Place Column, Review or Blog — Sports for Opinion: After Protesting Pride Night, Ivan Provorov Should be Held Accountable
• Gabriel Peraino ‘26, Honorable Mention Column, Review or Blog — Sports for Opinion: Miguel Cabrera’s Retirement Announcement a Bittersweet End to Legendary Career

“I was flabbergasted — like any creative looking back on past work, all I could see were… learning moments,” said Lord of her award. “Regardless, I’m so proud to have written something that made an impact — especially in the realm of water quality, a cause I have a lot of interest in. I put everything I can into the Pleiad because student journalism is fundamentally, deeply valuable,” she concluded.

“I am filled with such pride, knowing that I had a part in leading our team to achieve such a feat,” said editor in chief Bella Bakeman ’25. “We do our best to ensure we are reporting the truth wholly and accurately, representing our student body effectively, and writing stories that people want to read. Receiving this sort of recognition helps me to remember that we are doing good work for our local college community.”

Members of the Pennsylvania Press Association reviewed 567 entries submitted by 19 Michigan college newspapers for the contest.

The Pleiad began in 1883 and currently publishes articles online three times a week with a print edition published three times a semester.