Student Media at UT Dallas

Student media groups at UT Dallas earned numerous awards at a recent statewide convention. From left are Sam Konings (AMP), Jatin Julakanti (AMP), Suzy Koduri (UTD TV), Linda Asiamah (AMP), Miguel Perez (The Mercury), Anwesha Bhattacharjee (The Mercury), Anthony Laurienti (UTD TV), Andrew Gallegos (The Mercury), Esteban Bustillos (The Mercury) and Linda Nguyen (UTD TV).

UT Dallas student media groups took home 32 awards at the 2015 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) convention held April 8-11 in San Antonio.

The University’s student newspaper, The Mercury, earned first-place awards for special edition, page one design, feature photo, sports page design, sports feature photo and illustration. The newspaper also took three second-place spots, five third-place awards and seven honorable mentions.

Miguel Perez, editor-in-chief of The Mercury, was named Editor of the Year, the second year in a row the award went to a UT Dallas student. Since 2012, The Mercury has competed in Division 2, for non-daily newspapers from four-year institutions.

“I was a little surprised when I first learned I received the recognition, but I’m very grateful,” Perez said. “This has without a doubt been the toughest job I’ve ever had. Ultimately, my work is just an extension of my team’s, and I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without them.”

It’s amazing to see the camaraderie and collaborative spirit of our students. We’ve got print and broadcast groups coming together to plan concerts, shoot talk shows and produce multimedia projects. I’m constantly impressed by their great work, and these awards clearly show that I’m not alone.

Chad Thomas,
director of student media

Chad Thomas, director of student media, said Perez has had a positive impact this year on all the student media groups at UT Dallas.

“Miguel’s levelheaded approach as an editor and leader has had a trickle-down effect at The Mercury and throughout student media. He’s organized a team of mature, ambitious journalists and has earned the respect and friendship of his peers throughout the department,” Thomas said.

The University’s student opinion magazine A Modest Proposal (AMP) earned a first-place award for on-site headline writing, as well as two third-place spots and two honorable mentions.

Meanwhile, UTD TV received third place for on-site Spanish TV newswriting along with two honorable mentions.

“UTD TV has spent this semester really trying to make our productions more professional in every aspect, and our success at TIPA shows what we’re doing is working,” said Stanley Joseph, marketing director.

Thomas, who led a workshop, judged on-site news contests and provided critiques for other schools’ publications at the convention, praised the collaboration he saw between UT Dallas student media groups this year.  

“It’s amazing to see the camaraderie and collaborative spirit of our students. We’ve got print and broadcast groups coming together to plan concerts, shoot talk shows and produce multimedia projects. I’m constantly impressed by their great work, and these awards clearly show that I’m not alone,” Thomas said.

More than 400 students from nearly 50 schools attended the convention.