The Southeast Journalism Conference named Chelsea Boozer, a junior journalism student at the University of Memphis, the 2011 Journalist of the Year and named Dr. Michael Chute, a faculty member at Union University, as the Journalism Educator of the Year, at its 26th annual convention in Martin, TN., Feb. 11, 2012.

Boozer was selected from among seventeen students nominated by faculty advisers and peers for the award from 40 schools eligible to submit nominees. Chute was nominated by fellow faculty in the conference and chosen by a selection committee comprised of former recipients of the award.

In addition to the top two awards, 177 students were ranked in 26 categories as being among the “Best of the South” in the SEJC’s annual journalism awards competition.

The SEJC competition is open to the organization’s member schools from eight states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee —recognized in its constitution as eligible to enter the contest. This year’s competition included 433 entries from 40 eligible member schools. Judges for the competition included 23 journalism professionals from newspapers, broadcast outlets and magazines across the country.

The purpose of the SEJC contest is to function as a journalism teaching-tool, as well as a competition. All entries are given a rating, and judges are encouraged to provide comments and professional advice. The ratings and commentaries are given to each school’s faculty delegate to distribute to his or her students who enter, regardless of whether their entry won top recognition. A comprehensive list of this year’s winners is attached.

2011 “Best of the South” Winners

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