‘The Gamecock’ named top collegiate newspaper in South Carolina

Wins 11 awards from SC Press Association

“The Gamecock,” the University of South Carolina’s student newspaper, and its staff won 11 awards at the South Carolina Press Association’s winter meeting held in Greenville on March 3.

The SCPA presented “The Gamecock” with “Best Overall Division I” in the annual contest for collegiate newspapers.  “The Gamecock” was recognized for excellence for its in-depth coverage of Hurricane Katrina where eight of “The Gamecock”’s staff drove to hurricane-affected areas in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi to cover the story.    

“The Gamecock” staff won 10 individual awards in the competition with Clemson University, Winthrop University, Furman University, USC-Aiken, Claflin University, Bob Jones University and USC’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication’s “Carolina Reporter.”

Michael LaForgia, “The Gamecock’s fall editor in chief, won two first place awards.  LaForgia’s coverage of Katrina evacuees flocking to Columbia garnered top honors in the Feature Story category.  His position coverage on the newspaper’s opinion page earned him first place in Editorial Writing. 

Jonathan Hillyard, fall sports editor, won first place for Sports Story for his coverage of Steve Spurrier’s football squad winning last season’s historic game against the Florida Gators.  Hillyard had also received first place recognition in this category in last year’s SCPA contest.  Chas McCarthy, Design Director, took first place for Front Page Layout and Design. 

“The Gamecock”’s advertising design staff swept the advertisement awards category.  Margaret Law won first and second place for her “Hazing Prevention Week” and “Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Programs” advertising designs.  Laura-Joyce Gough won the third place award for her “Go-Go Carolina” design.         

“The Gamecock”’s news staff took home two of three awards in the News Story category.  Staff writer Jess Davis earned second place for her on-site Katrina disaster coverage in Louisiana.  Megan Sinclair earned second place for Specialty Page Layout & Design for her “Party like it’s 1939” page spread.  Stephen Fastenau was recognized with a third place award for his coverage of a campus Facebook controversy.

“The Gamecock” is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina.  It is published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the fall and spring semesters and weekly during the summer.