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Holmes Community College won five awards during the 2023 Mississippi Press Association (MPA) Better Newspaper Contest. Elijah Mangum of Florence won three awards and Jacob Dickerson of Hernando won one. Mangum took home second place in General News, as well as both a second and third place in the Best Use of Video category. Duncan won second in the Sports Feature category. The Growl newspaper came in second place for Overall General Excellence, as well. The awards were presented during the O.C. McDavid Journalism Conference held March 30 at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson.
Two Holmes journalism students were able to represent the college at the conference: Mangum and Kaitlyn Anderson of Jackson. Sponsored annually by MPA, the conference is named after the late O.C. McDavid, who served as managing editor of the Jackson Daily News. This year’s conference began with a welcome by MPA President Stephanie Patton. Next, local artist Candy Cain gave a presentation/demonstration. She spoke about her life’s work while creating a batik, which is a painting made with hot wax and dye on silk. She also produced a textured canvas using caulk and plaster, allowing students to step in and assist her with her work.
Following Cain’s demonstration, attorney Haley Gregory from Butler Snow gave a presentation titled, “Dealing with Defamation.” Lunch followed Gregory’s lecture. The last presentation of the day was an editor’s panel that discussed community journalism’s impact and future in Mississippi. The panel featured Lyndy Berryhill from Stone County Enterprise, Jackie Hampton from The Mississippi Link, Peter Imes from The Commercial Dispatch and Stephanie Patton from The Leland Progress.
After the panel discussion, MPA Executive Director Layne Bruce announced the winners of the Better Newspaper Contest before dismissal.
For more information about MPA, visit www.mspress.org/.
For more information about student publications at Holmes, contact Mary Margaret Busby at mbusby@holmescc.edu.
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IN THIS PHOTO: Pictured are Holmes Community College Growl newspaper staff members (left to right) Kaitlyn Anderson of Jackson and Elijah Mangum of Florence at the Mississippi Press Association Conference on March 30. Mangum won three awards, Jacob Duncan (not pictured) won one award, and The Growl as a whole won second place for Overall Excellence.
