Recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate Brian Beach placed 18th in the Hearst Journalism Awards explanatory reporting competition Jan. 30.

Beach is a May 2023 graduate from Overland Park, Kansas, who majored in journalism. His winning entry, “‘Capitalism with a heart’: How Ho-Chunk Inc. strengthens tribal community in Winnebago,” was published by the Nebraska News Service on May 19, 2023.

The Hearst competition annually recognizes the best college journalism, including feature writing, investigative journalism, photojournalism, multimedia, television and audio. Entries are evaluated based on their reporting, crafting, creativity and economy of expression. The explanatory reporting competition drew entries from 73 universities nationwide, with 20 finalists selected from 123 submissions.

“We take immense pride in celebrating Brian,” said Shari Veil, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. “His outstanding performance underscores our commitment to nurturing journalistic talent at UNL.”

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program was founded in 1960 to support, encourage and recognize journalism students across the United States. The program awards more than $700,000 in scholarships and grants annually, and its competitions in writing, photojournalism and broadcasting are widely considered among the most prestigious in the country.