Newspaper and yearbook students went to the OSM Spring Media Day on Tuesday, and the staff of the Demon Direct picked up a couple of awards.
Spring Media Day is a training day for journalism, newspaper and yearbook students all across Oklahoma. Oklahoma Scholastic Media hosts the event, which features breakout sessions and an awards assembly. The Demon Direct received Highest Honors and All-Oklahoman in the OSM competition.
The Demon Direct’s awards were given in the Critical Service contest for all print and online publications for Divisions II and III. The Duncan Middle School’s online newspaper is a Division III publication. However, the Demon Direct was also one of two publications in the running for Sweepstakes, which is the top awards given.
Lower level awards range from Merit, Distinguished Merit, Honors and finally Highest Honors. Those receiving Highest Honors are eligible to receive All-Oklahoma. Those receiving All-Oklahoma
“I am proud of how the group has done this year,” Derrick Miller, journalism teacher and newspaper adviser, said. “Receiving All-Oklahoma is exciting. We were one of two Division II or III schools to receive this honor.
“With the judge’s critiques we know we have areas to focus on next year. However, we will start to implement changes this year.”
In all, 10 Duncan Middle School students attended Media Day (five from newspaper and five from yearbook). The students left about 7 a.m. and returned back to school around 5:15 p.m.
During the day, they attended three different breakout sessions, which gave them unique aspects of journalism and an opportunity to learn from experts in the field. Each of the students received notepads during the day to take notes to share with their publication peers.
Isabella Reyes, the clubs editor for the Demon Direct, said she was proud of the awards the Demon Direct staff received this year.
“I am filled with joy and excitement,” Reyes said.
For the Demon Direct to be considered for the awards, Miller had to fill out an application that asked about the site and had to write a letter explaining the challenges the publication has faced this year, the technology available and any other information that could impact the site’s production. The letter also had to explain how the publication took last year’s judge’s note to find ways to improve.
Miller said the awards are a representation of the efforts the student staff members put into this year’s website publication.
“We’ve done a lot of work on the site this year, but there is always room to improve,” he said.
