Ex-J Day speaker wins national award

A Springfield editorial cartoonist who spoke at WIU's Spring 2005 Journalism Day has won the 2008 Sigma Delta Chi national award for editorial cartooning, SPJ announced this week.

Chris Britt, who works out of the State Journal-Register and syndicates his work through GateHouse Media, was described as "fearless" by judges.

"Britt invariably presents points of view that are simultaneously contrarian and obvious," judges said.

Britt commented, "I love my job."

Here's a link to a pdf file of Quill magazine's page 41, showcasaing Britt and his work -- http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/spj/quill_20090607/#/42

Moreno, 'Courier' staffers awarded NewsTrain scholarships

Journalism instructor and Western Courier adviser Rich Moreno was awarded a McCormick scholarship to attend the Associated Press Managing Editors/ Midwest Press Institute NewsTrain workshop in St. Louis March 6-8.

“Three Western Courier editors also were awarded student scholarships,” Moreno said. “We are looking forward to attending.”

For details on the conference, go to http://www.newstrain.org/seminar_stlouis_highlights.html

Essayist picked by Western SPJ wins national award

An Aurora high schooler picked by Western's Society of Professional Journalists chapter and WIU faculty as winner of the Midwest Region's High School Essay Contest also won the national award, SPJ announced.

Mark Brouch of Aurora Central Catholic High School won a $1,000 scholarship in the annual competition, which this year had the thme "Why Free News Media Are Important."