OXFORD, Miss. – Two University of Mississippi students have edged out hundreds of competitors for top honors in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications’ annual student magazine competition.
Nick Toce, a senior print journalism major from Jacksonville, Fla., received the first-place award for his entry titled “Grease Monkey.” Lauren Zimmerman, a second-year journalism graduate student from Waveland, placed third for her proposed periodical “Pappo.”
“You’re fulfilling a niche that has many fans (indulgent Southern cooks),” the judges wrote about Toce’s winning entry. “There’s a good mix of FOB stories, travel tidbits and longer features. You’ve clearly put thought into the food coverage. I’d rethink the title. It’s clever, but not appetizing.”
The judges’ remarks were equally complimentary of Zimmerman’s efforts.
“I was initially horrified by the idea of a magazine for the paparazzi, but the tongue-in-cheek humor of the issue, and the brilliantly original and meta idea itself won me over,” wrote one judge. “I find myself simultaneously impressed and horrified, but not bored! This girl’s got guts!”
Both students said they were stunned and excited by their respective wins. Ideas for their magazines arose from each person’s own reading habits and hobbies.
“I’ve always enjoyed food magazines, cooking for friends and family, the Food Network and cooking in general, so I thought it would be fun to create a magazine based on food,” Toce said. “I wanted it to be Southern-based and feature Southern chefs that cooked in a traditional Southern style.”
Because his magazine is about eating unhealthy foods that many people enjoy – such as a juicy hamburger, fries and a cold beer – Toce realizes Grease Monkey definitely would make health magazine editors cringe.
“That’s what my magazine is all about. It’s a very niche audience,” he said.
Zimmerman said her magazine came from her obsession with celebrity gossip.
“I’ve always found it entertaining how the paparazzi is so completely invasive when it comes to celebrity journalism,” Zimmerman said. “I wanted to be unique, but most importantly I wanted to be entertaining. It was something that was so ridiculous, exciting and even obnoxious that I knew I was going to have fun with it.”
Zimmerman fully expected the judges to either love her idea or hate it.
“Previous experience with presenting it to other people has taught me that no one falls into the middle,” she said.
Toce is interning with Spin magazine founder Bob Guccione Jr. and his associate, Kathleen Sherwin, on a variety of media projects. After graduation in May 2011, he plans to find work in the creative department for a magazine.
Zimmerman also would like to work in a magazine’s creative department after her graduation in December. However, if E! News or TMZ wants to hire her, Zimmerman said she’d happily put her stalking skills to work for them.
Journalism faculty and administrators expressed delight in the students’ accomplishments.
“I am proud of both of them,” said Samir Husni, director of UM’s Magazine Innovation Center. “Way to go.”
“This is another example of the quality of the magazine program at Ole Miss,” said Will Norton, dean of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. “Magazine students on this campus can excel in competition with the best students in the best journalism programs.”
The Magazine Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication is composed of journalism professors who teach courses in magazine writing, editing, management and design at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. Its popular student magazine contest draws hundreds of entries each year. First, second, third place and honorable mention awards are given in 11 categories, including consumer magazine articles, online magazine, single issue of an ongoing print magazine and start-up magazine project.
For the complete list of 2010 AEJMC student magazine contest winners, visit http://aejmcmagazine.asu.edu/
For more information about the School of Journalism, call 662-915-7146 or go to http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/