UNCP Students Win First Place in Regional Journalism Competition

Two UNC Pembroke student journalists are earning regional recognition for their storytelling and commitment to the craft, proving that impactful journalism can thrive even in the smallest of newsrooms.

Sean Hancock and Michela Gritti, editors of the student newspaper The Pine Needle, recently captured first-place honors at the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Region 2 Competition, competing against institutions across North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware and Maryland.

Both Hancock and Gritti were also recognized as Outstanding Pine Needle Editors during the Department of Mass Communication's annual end-of-the-year awards luncheon, further highlighting their leadership and impact within the student newsroom.

Hancock, a junior journalism major, won the Breaking News Reporting category for his piece, “Opposition Dubbed Casino Cartel,” which explored the complexities surrounding Lumbee federal recognition. Gritti, a senior journalism major, earned top honors in Feature Writing for her story, “A Journey of Hope: Abdullah's Story from Gaza to Pembroke.”

Both will advance to the national SPJ competition in Columbus, Ohio, this fall. At the same time, The Pine Needle was also named a finalist for the prestigious Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper.

For Hancock, the award-winning piece stemmed from a desire to inform the campus and local community about an issue deeply rooted in the region.

“As a Native American-serving institution, Lumbee recognition is something that affects our readers directly,” Hancock said. “My goal was to give both sides of the story and present the facts so readers could make their own decisions.”

Covering a politically sensitive topic came with its challenges, particularly in maintaining accuracy and balance.

“I didn't want it to be overly sensationalized,” Hancock said. “I wanted to go deep into the research, present multiple perspectives and make sure we got it right.”

The recognition, his first journalism award, has strengthened his resolve.

“It was a shock, but also a huge confidence boost,” Hancock said. “It's pushed me to go even harder and continue pursuing hard news reporting.”

Gritti's feature took a different approach — focusing on the personal journey of a UNCP student who fled Gaza and found hope in Pembroke.

“His positivity inspired me despite everything he had been through,” Gritti said. “I wanted to tell his story not just as someone from a war zone, but as a person who found opportunity and community here.”

Telling such a sensitive story required trust and careful judgment.

“Some of what he shared was very fragile,” she said. “I had to balance what could be reported while making sure his voice was heard in an authentic way.”

Despite limited resources, The Pine Needle continues to make its mark.

“We're a small staff, but we're close-knit,” Hancock said. “We support each other and want to produce the best stories possible.”

Gritti echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the role of faculty and community support.

“It shows that even at a smaller university, with the right support system, you can achieve big things,” she said.

Dr. Darlene Natale, associate professor of mass communication and faculty adviser for The Pine Needle, said the students' success reflects both their dedication and a deeper commitment to journalism's role in society.

“Michela, Sean and the entire Pine Needle staff have done amazing work,” Natale said. “Their success is a testament to their perception of the value of a free press.”

Natale noted that today's student journalists are entering the field in a different media climate.

“They don't grow up hearing about Woodward and Bernstein,” she said, referring to the 1970s Watergate scandal. “They hear criticism of the press. Rather, they hear the drumbeat of the press as fake news and an enemy of the people. I am grateful that we have these kinds of students, who, after classes, are willing to put in the extra hours, forgo warm dinners for cold pizza, who want to inform the campus community.”

The awards are not just personal achievements for Hancock and Gritti — they represent UNCP on a regional and now national stage.

“At these competitions, you're going up against much larger schools,” Hancock said. “To represent UNCP and show the quality of our work — that means a lot.”