Inaugural Cox Institute Showcase Celebrates Student Work

Students in the Cox Institute’s Journalism Innovation and Writing Labs were recognized on April 21 for their work during the 2022–23 school year. They received a medal, certificate and a printed copy of their work, which also served as centerpieces for the tables in the Peyton Anderson Forum.

Lori Johnston, the director of the Journalism Writing Lab, said she has seen students grow in confidence and reporting abilities during the past year.

“The students work so hard,” Johnston said. “We just felt like they needed their moments in time to be recognized for the work that they have done.”

Liz Rymarev, a third-year journalism student, is part of the Covering Poverty project, which is the cornerstone of the Writing Lab. 

“It was really sweet just to have that kind of piece of recognition, I guess, for the work that we do,” Rymarev said. “It’s a small medal but it leaves a big impact.”

She said she appreciated the chance to meet other students involved with the Cox Institute that she doesn’t usually interact with and professional journalists who attended the showcase. Those included Mark Waligore, managing editor/senior director of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Nicole Williams, senior manager of partnerships at the AJC; Dink NeSmith, chairman of The Oglethorpe Echo; and Andy Johnston, editor of The Oglethorpe Echo.

Lori Johnston said the Institute will continue showcasing student work in the coming years.

 The Journalism Innovation Lab, led by Amanda Bright, creates innovation initiatives to develop the products, practices and people of the industry’s future. Innovation Lab students worked with more than 20 newspapers and radio and TV stations across Georgia this year to help them achieve specific digital goals from email newsletters to social media campaigns to website refreshes.

The Journalism Writing Lab’s mission is to guide students as they report, write and produce meaningful stories, deepening their reporting abilities. Students have reported pieces for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Oglethorpe Echo and The Current.

See pictures from the showcase here.