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Paquette won the writing competition, earning a $5,000 award, and Johnston was second and received $4,000. Both also receive Hearst medallions. Keating was a runner up and received a $1,500 prize. IU ranked fourth overall.
The program stages a series of contests over several months, focusing on five areas of journalism. Students submit entries published or posted in collegiate media. IU won the Intercollegiate Writing Competition for the second year in a row.
The top eight students were invited to compete in San Francisco, where they wrote three stories, including one that required on-the-spot reporting.
The three IU students share their thoughts on the experience below:
Danielle Paquette
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It’s something I’d dreamed about, over and over again—arriving at the final Hearst reception dinner in downtown San Francisco, posing for pictures in my swankiest black cocktail dress, enjoying a fine dinner with William Hearst III and a witty Portland editor (who named one of the fancy green desserts a “pseudo pickle”).
When I walked through the golden-colored elevator doors, I relished the exhausted feeling of hard work completed.
From the top of the skyscraping hotel, I saw rows of pastel apartments, the Pacific Ocean and the last three days of reporting flash across my memory. I prowled those sloping streets, guided by three years of journalism school, experience from four wonderful internships and my iPhone GPS.
I got kicked out of a Financial District building four times: first in an office, then in the hallway, then in the lobby, then on the sidewalk (which I calmly asserted was public property). I weaved through ever-heavy pedestrian traffic, laughing through tears and crying through laughter. I stayed up all night, cursing whoever decided the nearby Starbucks would close at 8 p.m. I did a handstand against my Palace Hotel room wall. I called my dad at least five times.
“Calm down, you manic kitten,” he said.
One minute before deadline, I turned in my three stories. I cursed myself for running out of time to edit. I wondered if I’d let anyone down.
It’s all I could think about at the reception dinner. It took all I had to sit still as they called our names.
“Our first and second place winners are both from Indiana,” announced judge Peter Bhatia.
At that point, I stopped hearing his words. Tears slid down my cheeks. The Portland editor wiped them away with a napkin.
When Bhatia announced I won, I walked up to the podium and shook his hand. It was the moment I lost all fear.
Now, I realize the Hearst Competition gave me confidence to blast the “You can’t do this” anxiety from my conscience. My experience in San Francisco was just as valuable as winning the national title. I navigated a city I'd only visited in books. I made good friends who are becoming great friends. I overcame self-doubt and composed something coherent on the tightest deadline I'd ever encountered.
And most important, I met real-life brilliant journalists who’ve watched the industry grow and change though the decades. They’ve had awesome days. They’ve had horrible days. But everyone told me, in one way or another, it’s the best career in the world. It’s worth every day of uncertainty. It’s not about the money.
And you can make it, truly make it. All you need is a pen and that inconvenient, burning, never-give-up passion.
“Calm down, you manic kitten,” he said.
One minute before deadline, I turned in my three stories. I cursed myself for running out of time to edit. I wondered if I’d let anyone down.
It’s all I could think about at the reception dinner. It took all I had to sit still as they called our names.
“Our first and second place winners are both from Indiana,” announced judge Peter Bhatia.
At that point, I stopped hearing his words. Tears slid down my cheeks. The Portland editor wiped them away with a napkin.
When Bhatia announced I won, I walked up to the podium and shook his hand. It was the moment I lost all fear.
Now, I realize the Hearst Competition gave me confidence to blast the “You can’t do this” anxiety from my conscience. My experience in San Francisco was just as valuable as winning the national title. I navigated a city I'd only visited in books. I made good friends who are becoming great friends. I overcame self-doubt and composed something coherent on the tightest deadline I'd ever encountered.
And most important, I met real-life brilliant journalists who’ve watched the industry grow and change though the decades. They’ve had awesome days. They’ve had horrible days. But everyone told me, in one way or another, it’s the best career in the world. It’s worth every day of uncertainty. It’s not about the money.
And you can make it, truly make it. All you need is a pen and that inconvenient, burning, never-give-up passion.
Caitlin Johnston
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I experienced a week filled with all of my favorite aspects of journalism: hunting down honest, engaging stories; debating journalism, politics and life with top editors and journalists; socializing with genuine people whom I'm sure I'll talk with for years to come; and, of course, taking part in some amazing dinners.
I expected my fellow competitors and I would be at one another’s throats all week. After all, journalists are competitive by nature. Instead, we bonded through this gauntlet of assignments. It's amazing how the shared stress of long nights and seemingly endless reporting can unify a group so quickly.
While the week was trying, I was prepared. The past four years with the journalism school instilled in me the skills and confidence necessary to rise to the challenge. The assignments were nothing I hadn't seen before. Profiles, news stories, features. I've written them all within the walls of Ernie Pyle.
Thanks to the editing, mentoring and guidance from top-notch faculty, supportive staff and my talented and inspiring fellow students, I had all the skills required. Hearst provided the outlet to put my undergraduate studies to the test. And, I'm thankful to say, I came out on the other side unscathed and with something to show for it.
IU's performance this past week — three finalists, two claiming the top awards — is incredible. Literally, if someone told me after we won Intercollegiate last year that we'd go on to not only win again this year, but finish with the showing we did, I'd bet against them. Not because I don't have faith in our school — I do, beyond words — but because a showing of that nature is unfathomable.
But looking at the instructors and talent we have within our school, it becomes less and less of a surprise. For years, I boasted of our school's amazing programs, the inspiring faculty and talented students. Now, schools and professionals across the country will get a glimpse of what I've known for the past four years. Our journalism school provides students with the tools needed for success — and, in turn, my fellow students have an uncanny, sometimes frightening, ability to take those tools and set out with laser-like focus to produce honest, quality journalism.
Finally, I'd like to thank Tom French, Ruth Witmer and Ron Johnson, especially, for their support and encouragement. Our success was a result of guidance and knowledge from the entire school, but these three went out of their way on a daily basis to make sure my peers and I had everything we needed to go out and take on the world. And that's exactly what we've done. Now we all have something to show for it.
IU's performance this past week — three finalists, two claiming the top awards — is incredible. Literally, if someone told me after we won Intercollegiate last year that we'd go on to not only win again this year, but finish with the showing we did, I'd bet against them. Not because I don't have faith in our school — I do, beyond words — but because a showing of that nature is unfathomable.
But looking at the instructors and talent we have within our school, it becomes less and less of a surprise. For years, I boasted of our school's amazing programs, the inspiring faculty and talented students. Now, schools and professionals across the country will get a glimpse of what I've known for the past four years. Our journalism school provides students with the tools needed for success — and, in turn, my fellow students have an uncanny, sometimes frightening, ability to take those tools and set out with laser-like focus to produce honest, quality journalism.
Finally, I'd like to thank Tom French, Ruth Witmer and Ron Johnson, especially, for their support and encouragement. Our success was a result of guidance and knowledge from the entire school, but these three went out of their way on a daily basis to make sure my peers and I had everything we needed to go out and take on the world. And that's exactly what we've done. Now we all have something to show for it.