Alabama State’s student newspaper earns national award for website

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Alabama State University
The arch at an entrance to Alabama State University’s campus. (ASU)

Student journalists at Alabama State University helped the school newspaper earn several regional awards along with some national recognition for the 2023-24 academic year.

According to the university, The Hornet Tribune is the largest student-run college paper in Alabama.

Keep reading to find out more about the student newspaper + what awards it received.

Silver Crown Award

Hornet Tribune Winners
Students at Alabama State hold some of the awards for The Hornet Tribune. (Alabama State University)

The publication and its journalists were awarded the national Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Silver Crown Award for The Hornet Tribune’s website. 

Crown Awards recognize overall excellence in print or digital student publications, chosen by a panel of judges.

“I was excited about all of our national and regional wins, but especially delighted about the coveted Silver Crown Award we took home. We have all worked so very hard over the last year to redesign the website in an effort to make it more user friendly and attractive for our audience.”

~ Dr. Kenneth A. Dean, newspaper general manager and advisor

The paper added four regional awards to its accomplishments from the Southeast Journalism Conference. While competing against 30 other member universities, Alabama State’s newspaper staff won awards for:

  • Best Editorial
  • Best Design
  • Best Press Photograph
  • Best Layout and Design

The Hornet Tribune also placed in a national competition sponsored by the Society of Collegiate Journalism. Dean said ASU was the only HBCU involved in the competition.

The Hornet Tribune

The student newspaper was originally called the Normal Reporter when it began in the 1880s. Today, the weekly paper covers not only the university but also the Montgomery-metro area.

Up to 30 students a year are involved in The Hornet Tribune, mastering skills such as:

  • Journalism
  • Photography
  • Editing
  • Graphic design
  • Social media
  • Advertising

“Today, we operate with dual missions: giving students hands-on training in the news industry and providing our community with reliable, independent news and information.”

~ The Hornet Tribune website

You can find more information about the paper or just follow along with all its content online including:


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Caleb Turrentine
Caleb Turrentine
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