Campus newspaper editor wins award for Best Copy Editor

Emily Brown, editor-in-chief of Liberty University’s student-run campus newspaper, the Liberty Champion, won the 2015 College Media Association (CMA) Apple Award for Best Copy Editor on Saturday, March 14, at CMA’s spring national convention in New York. This is the first time a Liberty student has won the award.

The Apple awards recognize students’ abilities in different forms of media. Copy editing applicants participated in a four-part test administrated by a professor from Columbia University’s journalism school, which tested editing and grammar skills as well as familiarity with Associated Press (AP) style.

Brown, a senior, credited her education at Liberty and experience with the Champion for preparing her to succeed.

“At Liberty, all of my professors and courses have given me the opportunity to get practical experience in journalism, especially at the Champion,” Brown said. “I have had lots of chances to hone my skills in journalism, from interviewing to reporting, writing, and copy editing. After four years here, I really feel like I could do well in the field of journalism.”

Brown is on schedule to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and minors in advertising/public relations and psychology.

Deborah Huff, advisor to the Champion, was not surprised that Brown won the award.

“In my 20 years of professional experience, (Emily Brown) has been one of the best copy editors with whom I have worked,” Huff said. “She ranks among the best students we have had in (an editor) position.”

The Champion is a weekly publication with a circulation of more than 15,000. Its staff also recently garnered three awards from the Virginia Press Association. It received a first and second place award for Informational Graphics and third place for Best Website in the VPA’s collegiate competition.