Shannon Knebel of Cabot is a recent recipient of a William Randolph Hearst Journalism Award. The senior journalism major in the College of Communications at Arkansas State University is one of only four ASU students to ever receive such an honor.

Knebel received 16^th place nationally, the highest of any other ASU student, in the In-Depth Writing competition for her story "Student funds paid to unlicensed firms" in the Nov. 15, 2001, edition of The Herald, a student-run campus newspaper.

The story focused on spending practices of student activity fee money by several student-run organizations.

Faculty members in the Department of Journalism gathered to surprise Knebel with the news.

"I was speaking to a friend in a hallway when my academic advisor Dr. (Marlin) Shipman stepped up to me and said, ‘We need you in the newsroom’," Knebel said.

"I was sort of nervous to see everyone standing in the Herald newsroom and asked Dr. Shipman what was going on. He then continued on by telling me he didn’t think I had the required course hours to graduate in May, which was a cruel joke. No one should tease a senior about that," she added laughing. "About that time Dr. (Joel) Gambill stepped in and shook my hand saying, ‘Congratulations Miss Knebel -- the Hearst Award winner."

Knebel, who will graduate in May with a bachelor of science degree in journalism, credits her news staff for their hard work and assistance.

"In-depth reporting is really hard to do, but having a great staff to help pick up the slack was so helpful, especially since I was still editor. My entire staff really stepped up," Knebel said.

Looking back, Knebel admits that she would have done more with in-depth reporting and budgeting issues, except that "the work become so overwhelming you have you pick and choose your battles."

"I’m so honored to receive this award. It was a very difficult story to write," Knebel said. "It’s very reassuring to know this award is based upon the work and story itself, not the fact that it involved the governor’s son."

Knebel is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships including the Society of Professional Journalists Scholarship, the Troutt Brothers Memorial Scholarship and the Arkansas Press Association Scholarship.

She is the daughter of Charles Knebel and Sharon Fairchild, both of Cabot.

The national program is designed to encourage excellence in journalism education, according to a spokesperson for the competition. Prizes are awarded in writing, photography, television and radio news to undergraduates at accredited schools of journalism.

School-year competitions are judged by panels of media professionals from across the country and finalists compete at national championships in San Francisco. Winning students and their schools earn cash prizes and special medallions. Knebel will receive a certificate of merit.

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