MSU student earns top 10 national placement in Hearst awards
STARKVILLE, Miss.— A student in Mississippi State University’s Department of Communication, Media and Theatre has earned national recognition in the prestigious Hearst Journalism Awards, often described as the “NCAA tournament of college journalism,” held this past fall.
Aubrey Carter, a 2025 MSU graduate and current CMT graduate student, placed ninth nationally in the Hearst TV Feature Competition, one of the program’s most competitive categories. The contest drew 109 entries from 66 accredited journalism programs across the country. Only the top 20 entries nationwide received recognition.
“It was extremely surreal to get the email that I placed ninth nationally in the Hearst Journalism Awards,” the Alabaster, Alabama, native said. “Storytelling and reporting have become such a passion of mine. This award was such a boost of confidence. I feel blessed to be part of a university that has taught me and pushed me to keep reaching for my full potential. This award ignited a new spark in me to continue chasing my dreams and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
As an undergraduate student, Carter served as the sports editor and then the managing editor for MSU’s student newspaper, The Reflector, and a member of Take 30 News, MSU’s award-winning, student-produced weekly newscast. Her entry into the Hearst TV Feature Competition was produced during her tenure at Take 30 News.
Carter’s placement marks an early milestone for MSU’s CMT program following its recent accreditation by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, which enables the department to compete in the Hearst Journalism Awards for the first time.
“This achievement is a direct reflection of the strength of our curriculum and the opportunities made possible through ACEJMC accreditation,” said Terry Likes, head of the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre. “Accreditation ensures our students are competing on a national level with the very best programs in the country, and Aubrey’s success demonstrates that our students are more than prepared to do so.”
The TV Feature Competition was the first broadcast contest of the 2025–2026 Hearst awards cycle.
The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, now in its 66th year, offers up to $700,000 annually to support and recognize student journalists. The program includes 14 competitions each academic year spanning writing, photojournalism, audio, podcast, television and multimedia storytelling, with championship finals in most divisions.
Participation in the Hearst program is open to students enrolled at ACEJMC-accredited universities who are actively involved in campus media and have published or produced eligible work.
MSU’s Department of Communication, Media and Theatre earned ACEJMC accreditation in 2025 following a comprehensive multi-year review process evaluating curriculum, faculty, student services and industry engagement. Only 120 programs nationwide hold the distinction.
For more information about the Hearst Journalism Awards Program, visit hearstawards.org.
For more information about the College of Arts and Sciences or the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre, visit www.cas.msstate.edu or www.comm.msstate.edu.
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