Ben Drozd, a May 2025 graduate from Columbus, Nebraska, tied for 13th place in the Hearst Journalism Awards Podcast Competition on May 9.
Drozd, who double majored in sports media and communication and journalism, was recognized for 93 counties podcast episode, “Nance County: Genoa Indian Industrial School Museum,” published on Aug. 27, 2024.
The episode also won first place at the Midwest Broadcast Journalist Association’s Eric Sevareid Awards in the Student Market Radio: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category.
The Hearst Journalism Awards Program comprises 14 monthly competitions in various categories, including writing, photojournalism, audio, television and multimedia. Participation is limited to journalism programs accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, with each school allowed two entries per competition.
The Hearst Journalism Awards Program was founded in 1960 to support and encourage journalism education at the college and university levels. The program awards scholarships to students for outstanding performance in college-level journalism, with matching grants to their schools. The 62nd annual program, offering up to $700,000 in awards, includes five monthly writing competitions, two photojournalism competitions, one audio competition, two television competitions and four multimedia competitions, with championship finals in all divisions.
