Two University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications student journalists were recognized in the 2019-2020 Hearst Journalism Awards Multimedia Competition. Journalism seniors Mackenzie Behm and Gaby Eseverri placed third and seventh, respectively, in the Multimedia III: Digital News or Enterprise Story category.

Behm’s WUFT News Special Report, “Abaco’s Dark Clouds: Five Months After Hurricane Dorian, Haitian Immigrants Struggle to Find Shelter and Schools,” received third place and qualifies her to compete in the National Multimedia Championship. Behm also placed fourth in Multimedia I: Narrative Video Storytelling and second in Multimedia II: Innovative Storytelling and Audience Engagement.

Eseverri’s winning entry was a WUFT News Special Report on Florida’s Rodman-Kirkpatrick Dam on the Ocklawaha River.

Due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the National Championship has been cancelled as an in-person event.  In its place, an alternative competition will be held for the qualifying multimedia, writing, photo, radio, television finalists, all who will complete for scholarship awards of up to $10,000 in each category.

The Journalism Awards Program, now in its 60th year, added multimedia to the competitions in 2010.  The program also includes five writing, one radio, two television, and two photojournalism competitions offering up to $700,000 in scholarships, matching grants and stipends.  104 member universities of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication with accredited undergraduate journalism programs are eligible to participate in the Hearst competitions.

Posted: April 14, 2020
Category: College News, Student News
Tagged as: 2019-2020 Hearst Journalism Awards, Gaby Eseverri, Mackenzie Behm