From the Nominator

On Aug. 28, 2023, the Carolina Alumni Review’s editorial team was making final edits to the September/October issue, which was due at the printer the next day. Our work was interrupted by the wail of emergency sirens and a University of North Carolina (UNC) police alert buzzing on our phones, warning of an armed and dangerous person on campus. Students were told to shelter in place immediately. Some streamed into the alumni association’s building, looking for a hiding place and comfort. That afternoon, we learned a graduate student had shot and killed a science professor in his lab. We knew we had to collect ourselves and begin to remake a large portion of the magazine. We removed some of the articles and added 16 pages to make room for a package of stories on the shooting. Our printer graciously extended our deadline by two days. We began reporting and covering the ensuing events: the investigation, anti-gun violence rallies, a candlelight vigil, and an impromptu memorial setup at Carolina’s iconic Bell Tower. Two of our student interns, who had just begun working that week, wrote gut-wrenching personal accounts of what happened to them that day. If quickly reporting an ever-changing story while dealing with trauma wasn’t hard enough, the Review’s art director was forced to design and lay out the package while battling COVID at home. The result was a powerful compilation of stories and images that told our alumni about one of the most tragic days on campus.

From the Judges

Covering an unbelievably difficult topic, this team clearly responded quickly and carefully to ensure it was included in a planned publication. This entry represents an exemplar in how to capture unplanned content and diffcult subject matter. Also of likely significant interest to alumni.