The Guilfordian tied for first place in the 2005-2006 American Scholastic Press Association’s annual newspaper contest with a score of 945 out of 1,000 points. It scored 30 points more than the last year, with a perfect score in content coverage.
Participating publications submitted two issues of their paper to be judged based on a 1000-point scoring scale. Points were given based on content coverage, page design, general plan, art, advertising, illustrations, editing and creativity.
“I’m delighted to know that the work of last year’s staff is being acknowledged,” said Jeff Jeske, Dana professor of English and faculty advisor to The Guilfordian. “It’s easy to take a college newspaper for granted.”
Jeske also commented on the uniqueness of the Guilfordian compared to other college newspapers.
“I think Guilford writers tend to take on articles that reflect the college’s interests and values,” Jeske said. “They also treat them with much more attention to the diversity of opinion that exists on this campus.”
Editor in Chief Matt Haselton, a senior, shares Jeske’s excitement about the award. Haselton is entering his second year as editor in chief. “The award reflects our hard work and dedication,” Haselton said. “To get a first-place award is really satisfying. It’s nice to get recognition for the hard work we do.”
Haselton feels that this year’s Guilfordian staff will benefit from the award. “Last year, we were able to set a foundation for this year,” Haselton said. “Instead of having to build that system as we go through the year, we have a whole system of practicums of systems set up. Winning the award will give us the credibility and help us be seen as an organization that people want to join and stay a part of.”
Haselton hopes that the Guilfordian receives a perfect score in the ASPA’s 2005-2006 contest.
Charlie McAlpin, a 2006 alumnus who worked for the Guilfordian for two years, first as a writer and later as news editor, feels proud to have been a part of the newspaper. “Guilfordian writers who work diligently on their stories deserve ample credit,” McAlpin said. “They are students like everyone else, but they write papers weekly and publish them for the entire campus to see. It upsets me when people trash-talk the paper without thinking about the work their friends and classmates put into it.”
 “Guilford is a small school, and unlike other school papers, the Guilfordian essentially starts from scratch every year,” McAlpin continued. “It’s a constant battle to bring the whole system up to our high standards, so it’s truly an accomplishment to win this award.”
Jeske, entering his 21st year as Guilfordian faculty advisor, hopes that the entire staff’s experience with the newspaper is an enriching one.
“My personal goal is to have the Guilfordian significantly contribute to the growth of the students who are part of it,” Jeske said. “We hope that their experience of writing, editing, layout, and photography and their cultivation of strong work habits is something they will always take pride in and find useful.”