Truman Journalism Student Receives State Media Distinction

For the second consecutive year, the Missouri College Media Association has named a Truman student as the state’s College Student Journalist of the Year.

Christina Collison, senior communication major from Newton, Kan., earned the honor at the Association’s annual convention April 8-9, in Lee’s Summit, Mo. Collison, the current editor of the Index, was selected from eight finalists from across the state for the honor following a nomination process and an on-site interview. Sarah St. John, a May 2004 communication: journalism graduate, was last year’s recipient.

Collison was particularly cited for her work as news editor in the spring of 2004, and for her development of convergent media in the newsroom as editor in chief this year. The association also recognized her direction of news coverage of the Kirksville plane crash in October 2004.

The annual MCMA journalism awards, as judged by the Missouri Press Association, were also presented at the convention. Students from the Index and from the Echo yearbook were honored for their work as they placed in 19 of the 27 categories in the contest.

Steven Chappell, adviser to the Index, presented a development session on media ethics at the convention. Steven Stepanek is adviser to the Echo.