UF student wins Hearst competition
Almost as soon as recent University of Florida journalism graduate John Cox landed in San Francisco earlier this month, he started competing in the national Hearst Championships. After attending a dinner reception, he received his spot-news assignment and quickly hit the pavement.
Forty-eight hours later, Cox became the third UF College of Journalism and Communications student in the past 10 years to win the coveted Hearst writing championship. He received $5,000, with a match for the Department of Journalism.
“It was overwhelming, really,” Cox said. “I worked really hard before going out there to prepare.”
Earlier this year, Cox won first place in the Hearst competition’s in-depth reporting category. He was one of six Hearst winners from such schools as Pennsylvania State University and Northwestern University invited to compete in San Francisco. They wrote three stories in 48 hours: a profile, a news piece and a spot-news article.
Cox received the topics of his profile and news piece six days before the competition. He profiled Alice Waters, a chef who helped revolutionize California cuisine with her use of organic food.
“I researched it to death before I got out there,” he said.
Reporting Master Lecturer Mike Foley attended the competition to cheer on his former student and friend. In his class, Cox broke a story about Pepsi replacing Coke as UF’s campus distributor.
“That’s when I knew there was something special about him,” Foley said. “He’s developed into a mature writer. The kid’s good.”
Telecommunication student Miles Doran won fourth place in the Hearst’s Radio Broadcast News Championship, earning $1,500.
The college is a global leader in journalism and communication education. It awards bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. It offers programs in advertising, print and broadcast journalism, public relations, and telecommunication production and operations, as well as graduate-level specializations in science/health communication, documentary, media law, political communication and international communication. The college’s faculty includes many nationally and internationally renowned scholars.
In the News
- Gainesville Sun: Journalism grad wins Hearst
Posted: June 16, 2008
Category: College News
