UTD Mercury Scoops Competitors in Contest

The student-run UTD Mercury newspaper snagged 21 awards for journalistic excellence in College Station over the weekend at the 99th annual conference of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA).

The UTD Mercury captured 18 awards, including best special edition and best in-depth reporting, for work the staff did during the year.

In addition, three Mercury staffers won awards in on-site competitions against collegiate journalists from across the state.

“This crop of awards illustrates the dedication by Mercury staffers to put out a quality product for the UTD community,” said Cristen Hixson, UTD student media adviser.

“As struggles arose during the year, I’m proud the students stepped up as leaders and continued to hone their craft,” Hixson said.

The UTD Mercury — which also earned first place for special edition newspaper last fall from the Associated Collegiate Press — is published on Mondays at two-week intervals during the school year, except holidays and exam periods, and once every three weeks during the summer.

The newspaper is available online at www.utdmercury.com.

Seven members of the newspaper staff also attended presentations by professional journalists during the three-day TIPA conference and also participated in live competitions against collegiate journalists from across the state.

Established in 1909, TIPA is the oldest and largest press association of its kind in the United States.

The organization works to open channels of communication and cooperation among student media programs at two and four-year colleges and universities in Texas.

Some of those media include student newspapers, newsletters, yearbooks, magazines and radio and television stations.