Students from the Northern Iowan student newspaper at the University of Northern Iowa won 11 awards at the annual Iowa College Media Association awards presentation.

“I’m especially pleased with the Northern Iowan’s two first place awards for special section cover and headline writing,” Christopher Martin, the Northern Iowan faculty co-advisor said. “I’m also impressed that the NI received second place awards for best newspaper front page and best media website. The Northern Iowan’s student editors are maintaining quality in print while also producing an excellent website.”

Northern Iowan executive editor Nixson Benitez was also a top three finalist for the ICMA’s Pat Pisarik Student Journalist of the Year.

The ICMA presented the awards in a virtual session over Zoom on Feb. 17, 2022. The materials considered for the contest were published between Oct. 17, 2020 and Oct. 15, 2021. Fourteen Iowa colleges and universities are members of the ICMA.

The winners of UNI’s 11 ICMA awards: 

• Best Headline Writing (1st), Colin Horning, Caroline Christensen

• Best Magazine Cover or Special Section Cover (1st), Karla DeBruin

• Best Print Newspaper Front Page (2nd), Caroline Christensen

• Best Media Website (2nd), Karla DeBruin

• Best Print/Online Profile (2nd), Nixson Benitez

• Best Print/Online News Photo (2nd), Karla DeBruin

• Best Written Feature Reporting (3rd), Emma’le Maas

• Best Graphic or Illustration (3rd), Karla DeBruin

• Best Print/Online News Reporting (Honorable Mention), Elizabeth Kelsey

• Best Print/Online Investigative News Reporting (Honorable Mention), Emma’le Maas

• Best Print/Online Profile (Honorable Mention), Karla DeBruin, Caroline Christensen

The University of Northern Iowa’s independent student newspaper was founded in 1892. Digital journalism professors Christopher Martin and Anelia Dimitrova are co-advisors to the newspaper, which receives funds from UNI student fees. The website is northerniowan.com.