Neon Tommy Writers Sweep SPJ Awards (via USC Annenberg)

Neon Tommy writers swept The Society of Professional Journalists Awards, taking first place and moving to nationals in multiple categories. We celebrate our writers below.

Online Opinion & Commentary
Winner: USC Blunders, Francesca Bessey, Neon Tommy, University of Southern California
Finalist: Racial Profiling By LAPD , Rikiesha Pierce, Jacqueline Jackson and Ashley Yang, Neon Tommy, University of Southern California
Finalist: Sexual Assualt Commentary, Francesca Bessey, Neon Tommy, University of Southern California

Online In-Depth Reporting
Winner: “Back home: The Failures” by Package: News21 staff, News21.com, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
Finalist: “Uncounted And Invisible: Homeless Youth In Hollywood” by Brianna Sacks, Neon Tommy, University of Southern California
Finalist: “Homelessness in Berkeley” by staff, The Daily Californian, University of California Berkeley

Online News Reporting
Winner: “Life at the top: In L.A.’s skyscrapers, diverse firms, great views” by Cale Ottens, The Los Angeles Times, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
Finalist: “UC Berkeley officials declare emergency after explosion by California Hall” by staff, The Daily Californian, University of California Berkeley
Winner: “Harvard-Westlake Alums Provide Powerful Backing To Eric Garcetti” by Paresh Dave, Neon Tommy, University of Southern California

Feature Photography (Large)
Winner: “Revealing Voices: Portraits of the LGBT community in Malawi” by Blaine Ohigashi, UCLA Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: “Crossing Los Angeles: Photo Essays Of L.A.'s Iconic Streets” by Neon Tommy Photography Department, Neon Tommy, University of Southern California
Finalist: “School shooting Memorial and review” by Corsair Staff, Corsair News, Santa Monica College

General News Photography (Large)
Winner: “Monsoon Storm” by Courtney Pedroza, Downtown Devil, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
Finalist: “Nick Pasquale Vigil” by Brandon Choe, UCLA Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Finalist: “TimeFlies Concert” by Charles Magovern, Neon Tommy, University of Southern California

Best Independent Online Student Publication
Winner: downtowndevil.com, Downtown Devil, Arizona State University
Finalist: neontommy.com, Neon Tommy, University of Southern California
Finalist: dailybruin.com, UCLA Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles

Best Digital-Only Student Publication
Winner: “Back Home: The Enduring Battles Facing Post-9/11 Veterans” by staff, News21, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
Finalist: 24/7 Digital News by staff, Neon Tommy, University of Southern California

Congratulations to Francesca Bessey, Rikiesha Pierce, Jacqueline Jackson, Ashley Yang, Brianna Sacks, Paresh Dave, Charles Magovern, the Neon Tommy Photography Department, and the entire Neon Tommy staff!