UNA Pressroom

The Flor-ala Ranks Among Top Student Newspapers

Feb. 23, 2016



Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

Scott Morris, Student Media Adviser

FLORENCE, Ala. - The Flor-Ala and The Roar-Ala ranked among the top five student publications in the region at the 2016 Southeast Journalism Conference at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.

These two student-led publications at the University of North Alabama competed against 35 colleges and 441 entries in the SEJC's annual Best of the South competition.

The Roar-Ala magazine, which The Flor-Ala staff produces and distributes annually to incoming students through the university's Student Orientation Advisement and Registration program (SOAR), ranked fourth for Best College Magazine.

The Flor-Ala ranked fifth for Best College Newspaper.

The following Flor-Ala student staff members also received honors at the SEJC awards banquet:

  • Former Page designer Shilo Cupples, Best Newspaper Page Layout Designer, first
  • Editor-in-Chief Kali Daniel, Best News Graphic Designer, second
  • Former Associate Sports Editor Kadin Pounders, Best Sports Writer, third
  • Managing Editor Jasmine Fleming, Best Opinion/Editorial Writer, eighth

UNA Student Media Adviser Scott Morris said the SEJC does not have contest divisions based on enrollment, so The Flor-Ala competed against several much larger universities from across the Southeast.

"The UNA community can be proud of these talented students as they work hard throughout the year to produce 30 newspaper editions and a magazine while maintaining the florala.net news website and several social media channels," Morris said. "Rather than taking time to celebrate after Friday night's awards, our students said they needed to finish writing stories for the next edition of The Flor-Ala. This is typical of their dedication."