Left to Right: Megan Schmit, Phoebe Zerwick, Heather Hartel, and Erin Stephens
Erin Stephens and Heather Hartel have been awarded the Bynum Shaw Prize in Journalism. Megan Schmit was recognized as a finalist for the award.
This annual journalism award is named for Bynum Shaw, a WFU graduate who worked as a Washington Correspondent, European Correspondent, and editorial writer for the Baltimore Sun before returning to Wake in 1965 to run the journalism and creative writing programs.
Shaw inspired a generation of journalism students, many of whom went on to distinguished careers. His spirit of skepticism and belief that independent journalism can make the world a better place is needed now as much as ever.
Finalist Megan Schmit, a Communication major and Journalism and Art History minor, worked as an intern at Wake Forest Magazine and with Providence Media, a publisher of regional magazines in Rhode Island. She has far exceeded the course requirements for the minor and has also helped build the Journalism Program website. She is also committed to a career in journalism. Schmit stands out among graduating seniors for her commitment to the values and practice of an independent press.
Erin Stephens, a Communication major and Journalism and Entrepreneurship minor, was the Old Gold and Black (OGB) Social Media Editor last year and the News Editor before that. She was instrumental in leading the newspaper away from its focus on the weekly print edition towards a more multimedia, digital publication.
Heather Hartel, an Economics major and Journalism and Politics minor, was a finalist for the Shaw prize last year for her work as one of the three producers for the Unmasked Podcast, which tackled complex stories, such as funding from the Koch Brothers and sexual assault on campus. She spent the fall semester abroad, returning to campus as the Online Managing Editor at the OGB. Hartel will be interning for American City Business Journals in Charlotte this summer.