The annual Bynum Shaw prize for excellence in student journalism is shared this year between Alexandra Karlinchak and Rafael Lima. The Journalism faculty also selected two finalists, Logan Bolton and Lauren Berryman. The annual prize 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 lead the journalism and creative writing programs. Shaw’s spirit of skepticism and belief that independent journalism can make the world a better place are needed now as much as ever. 

Rafael Lima (‘21) exemplifies Shaw’s spirit through his dedication to the Old Gold & Black, his reporting on indigenous people in Brazil as a fellow with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, and his wide range of interests, among them social justice, environmental protection, international affairs and sports. As Prof. Barry Yeoman says: “Some student-journalists are, at their heart, craftspeople. Others are driven by the impulse to empower the voiceless. Rafael is the rare student-journalist who is both—equally mission-driven and writerly.”

Alexandra Karlinchak (‘22) brings an infectious energy to her leadership of the Old Gold & Black in a year that demanded a vibrant, independent student press. The newspaper served that role on a campus facing a global pandemic by telling stories of student life, providing reliable and timely information, and holding the administration to account when such public-service journalism was necessary. “Alexandra has the energy, talent and sense of fairness to lead through turbulent times,” says Prof. Phoebe Zerwick.

Logan Bolton (‘22) is an intrepid reporter and vivid storyteller, with a talent for capturing detail, asking the right questions, and making connections others overlook. Her sports coverage stands out for capturing the drama of competition. “She stands up for what she thinks and believes in,” notes Prof. Ivan Weiss. “She suffers no fools, but has tremendous empathy. To put it simply, she has the makings of a great journalist.” Faculty are especially grateful to her for moderating the Q&A portion of the Journalism Program’s spring roundtable on race and the media. 

Lauren Berryman (‘22) is an innately talented student journalist. Regardless of the course, she demonstrated a consistent ability to report and interview deeply and write stories that resonated with clarity and insight. “She especially excelled when writing science or environmental stories where the complex issues needed to be explained in a clear and compelling way,” says Prof. Justin Catanoso. Lauren is bound for graduate school in journalism to further develop her skills with a goal of eventually becoming a science writer.