SUNY Plattsburgh Student Newspaper Earns 13th All-American Ranking

Cardinal Points, the independent, student-run newspaper at SUNY Plattsburgh, has been named an All-American newspaper for the spring 2012 semester by the Associated Collegiate Press.

The All-American ranking is the 13th for Cardinal Points, which was inducted into the college newspaper Hall of Fame in October 2010.

All-American status, awarded to student newspapers for journalistic excellence, is bestowed on only about 20 percent of college newspapers nationwide.

Along with the four Marks of Distinction, Cardinal Points received a score of 1,005. To be named an All American, a newspaper must score 900 or higher out of 1,090 points and receive at least four marks of distinction out of the five possible. Cardinal Points received Marks of Distinction in these four categories – coverage and content; photos, art and graphics; layout and design; and leadership.

Student-editors for the spring 2012 semester were: Ben Rowe, editor in chief; Matthew Hamilton, managing editor; Elizabeth Reff, news editor; Yessenia Funes and Stanley Blow III, associate news editors; Gabrielle Bilik, Fuse editor; Kaitlyn Affuso, associate Fuse editor; Ja’Pheth Toulson, sports editor; Ricky St. Clair, associate sports editor; Ian Tully, opinions editor; Gregg Twergo, photo editor; Rob Schulz, associate photo editor; Amanda Fruehauf, art director; Paul Stern, online editor; Alexandrea Huebner, associate online editor; and Patrick Nolan, advertising manager.

Shawn W. Murphy, professor of journalism and chair of the Department of Journalism, is the faculty adviser to Cardinal Points. He has advised the newspaper since fall 1997.