Central Michigan Life won 31 awards in the 2009 Michigan Press Association Collegiate Editorial Competition.

The competition put CM Life up against other Division I schools including University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and Wayne State University.

“It’s always an honor for the newspaper to be recognized in state, regional and national awards,” said Jake May, a Grand Haven junior and 2008-09 editor in chief.

The MPA competition is the only statewide collegiate newspaper competition.

“CM Life usually wins a lot of awards in every division. This year, it won the most in (Division I),” said Director of Student Media Neil Hopp. “I think the most prestigious award is journalist of the year, based on the criteria you have to meet.”

Journalist of the Year

Brian Manzullo, a Saginaw senior and current editor in chief, won 2009 Journalist of the Year.

The student who wins journalist of the year must have done something special to advance the cause of collegiate journalism, Hopp said.

“The pitch was all the stuff I was doing online,” Manzullo said.

He started the Chip Shots Weblog while following the CMU football team last year, posting midweek takes, photos and live updates from games. He then served as online/multimedia editor in the spring.

Manzullo designed CM Life’s new Web site over the summer and has been instrumental in its upkeep.

“We want to increase our Web presence and take advantage of what the Internet can do,” Manzullo said.

It marks the second year in a row CM Life has had the Journalist of the Year. Former CM Life reporter Alex Piazza won Journalist of the Year in 2008.

“Each year we do well, and this year was no exception,” said Assistant Director of Student Publications Kathy Simon.

Other awards

CM Life placed third in general excellence behind the Grand Valley Lanthorn (GVSU) and Eastern Echo (EMU) after winning the award the previous two years.

Other notable awards CM Life received included best news photo by Jessica Scott, blog by Manzullo, news story by Lynn Fischer and a sweep of the feature category with stories from Daniel Monson, Brad Canze and Caitlin Foyt.

“It makes it worth the hundreds of ads that we design,” said Lindsey Reed, a Livonia senior and CM Life advertising manager, who won Best Black and White ad winner.

“Amongst our ad staff we’re going to do our own competition to get really creative ads.”

The staff of CM Life decides which ads and stories will be entered in the competition, which is judged by an out-of-state press association.

“For the department and the program, it’s just rewarding for the students to have their work recognized,” Simon said. “It’s also beneficial for our advertisers to know we’re giving them outstanding efforts in creating effective advertising.”

E-mail the author: Maryellen Tighe