Caitie Switalski, a University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Journalism senior, has placed first in the 2017 Hearst Journalism Awards Radio Competition and will advance to the National Championship. Telecommunication junior Alexa Lorenzo was also honored, placing eighth.

Switalski’s main piece was on a Steinhatchee woman who lost everything after Hurricane Hermine flooded her trailer park.  Her package also included coverage of Florida delegates at the Republican National Convention.  She will compete at the National Championship in San Francisco from May 29-June 2.

Alexa won for her inspiring story of Kendall Lewis, a five-year-old girl battling a rare disorder. The audio is available here.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, was founded in 1960, to provide support, encouragement, and assistance to journalism education at the college and university level. The program awards scholarships to students for outstanding performance in college-level journalism, with matching grants to the students’ schools. The 57th annual program offering up to $500,000 in awards, consists of five monthly writing competitions, two photojournalism competitions, one radio competition, two television competitions, and four multimedia competitions – with championship finals in all divisions.

Posted: March 7, 2017
Category: College News, Student News
Tagged as: Alexa Lorenzo, Caitie Switalski, Hearst Journalism Awards