Cardinal Points Receives New York Press Association Awards

April 27, 2014

For the third time, SUNY Plattsburgh’s student-run newspaper, Cardinal Points, has earned several awards from the New York Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

In addition to earning three individual awards, the newspaper took second for general excellence in the college division. SUNY Buffalo’s The Record came in first, with Ithaca College’s The Ithacan coming in third. The competition included 158 newspapers statewide.

“Being named the second-best college newspaper in general excellence in New York is no small feat, especially considering how many colleges there are,” said Shawn Murphy, department chair of public relations and journalism and Cardinal Points adviser.

Members from the Pennsylvania News Media Association served as judges.

They credited Cardinal Points with an “interesting use of graphics and powerful photography,” noting that the paper is a “wonderful asset to the students and their community.”

In addition, Lara Dufresne, from Stillwater, Minn., took third place in column writing; Zachary Ripple, from Selden, N.Y., took third for sports coverage; and both Stanley Blow III, Swanton, Vt., and Ian Tully, Mastic Beach, N.Y., took third for editorial writing. Judges were impressed with the journalists’ use of research, reporting and storytelling.

“I am once again proud of what the students who run Cardinal Points have accomplished,” Murphy said.

Tully was the editor in chief during the spring 2013 semester and Blow during the fall 2013 semester. This contest is based on a calendar year, not an academic year.

“The staff of Cardinal Points has shown time and again the pride they take in their delivery of clean-cut campus news,” Tully said. “They provide a valuable service to the students of SUNY Plattsburgh.”

The awards were announced at the NYPA Spring Convention in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., April 4-5. The convention is the largest newspaper training conference in the country and includes workshops, guest speakers and networking.