Student Award for Diversity

The Robert G. McGruder Student Award for Diversity

This award honors Robert G. McGruder, a 1963 Kent State graduate and leader in the area of diversity in journalism, and recognizes work published or broadcast in print or online in a Student Media outlet, other professional media outlets such as an internship, or as part of a MDJ classroom assignment. The award is not discipline specific.

The number of winners to be recognized will be chosen by members of the School of Media and Journalism Diversity & Globalization committee each year.

This award is open to undergraduates and graduate students working in a Media and Journalism class, internship or student media outlet for work done during the contest period. The entrant must have done the majority of the work on the project to be considered.

Nominations are ongoing. Submissions must meet these criteria:

Any MDJ student, faculty or staff member may nominate
Work must be completed between Sept. 1, 2022, and Aug. 31, 2023
Student(s) must be in good academic standing
Work must be created as part of an MDJ class, MDJ student group, including student media, or MDJ internship that was “published” in some way. For example, it might include:
- Published student media work
- Group work made public or available to audiences outside of MDJ
- Internship work primarily produced by the student that is shared beyond the organization/business
- Work that is part of a competition judged by people outside MDJ

Winners will be chosen based on the following criteria:

Work must illustrate a positive impact on diversity, equity, inclusion, or belonging as it supports the diversity mission of the School of Media and Journalism
Work must demonstrate excellence in advertising, digital media production, journalism, or public relations
Work should be novel in some way, provide a unique perspective, be relevant and timely, or demonstrate takeaways for the reader regarding DEI&B topics
Work with reach or impact beyond the walls of MDJ is especially welcome