Two senior Lion reporters take top spots in state

Two Lyons Township High School seniors swept up multiple awards in the annual Illinois Woman's Press Association (IWPA) High School Communications Competition. The Lion newspaper staffers captured three top finishes, one 2nd place win and one Honorable Mention.

The statewide high school contest recognizes excellence among students in 18 categories including writing, graphics, cartooning, photography and layout.

Lion newspaper reporter senior Lars Lonnroth, of LaGrange, won first place in the Radio/Television Interview or Talk Show category for a roundtable point-counterpoint television broadcast on socialism. He also took 1st place in the Best Newscast: Radio or Television category, entitled Happenings of the Halls, with an episode on teacher contract negotiations. Finally, Lonnroth earned an Honorable Mention award for a Video News Story that captured tension over financial difficulties faced by a suburban Chicago school district.

Fellow reporter and senior Pilar Valdes, of Countryside, took 1st place in Single-Page Layout category for her piece on intramural soccer.

Together Lonnroth and Valdes earned 1st place in place in the state for News Writing for their piece on a pregnancy center in LaGrange. The judges said, “This article is a fine example of the power of investigative journalism. The authors showed great initiative and audacity in uncovering the truth about this so called women's care center. The authors took care to provide authoritative information through quotes and sources on the difference between a medical center and an anti-abortion pregnancy center. Bravo to these young journalists, bold enough to expose the well-funded anti-choice movement. For sheer gumption, it deserves first place.”

To read the award-winning News Writing story, click https://www.lionnewspaper.com/news/2019/01/25/pregnancy-center-opens-in-la-grange/.