Isaac Gleitz, seated second from left, sits with friends outside the Pulliam School of Journalism at Franklin College in this 2022 file photo.
Colleen Steffen | TheStatehouseFile.com
State fairs and summer politics distracted us from sharing some good news TheStatehouseFile.com received this summer, but we hope it’s not too late to brag on a deserving student journalist.
Former TSF reporter and 2023 Franklin College graduate Isaac Gleitz was named a national finalist in the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards honoring the best in U.S. student journalism.
His senior project examining public transit in Marion and Johnson counties previously won first place in the region, competing against colleges and universities in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. After that, he advanced to the national contest, where he was one of just two national finalists for in-depth reporting in the small-school (less than 10,000 students) division. The national winner in that category came from Elon University.
“In Marion and Johnson counties, different approaches to the common problem of public transit” took Gleitz on an overnight odyssey through the public bus system, where he filled his story with the sensory details and memorable characters his writing became known for while at TSF. He examined why two systems so close together would differ so widely and asked what impact that has on ordinary Hoosiers’ lives. The final product claimed top prize for best 2023 senior project within FC’s Pulliam School of Journalism before going on to its SPJ accolades.
The Statehouse File and Franklin College has had good luck in the prestigious national competition of late.
In 2023, in the regional contest, TSF reporters Jack Sells and Ashlyn Myers claimed both places in the breaking news category; The Statehouse File staff was named a finalist in general news reporting; and Sydney Byerly, now regional editor of The Corydon Democrat & Clarion News, won for best use of multimedia.
In 2022, Gleitz, Byerly and Alexa Shrake, now a reporter for Indiana Lawyer, won the national SPJ MOE Award for general news while Taylor Wooten, now a reporter for Indianapolis Business Journal, also won a national SPJ MOE for breaking news.
Gleitz led an eventful career at FC, serving as co-editor of campus newspaper The Franklin and named best feature writer in the state at the 2022 Thomas R. Keating Competition. After graduating in 2023, the free spirit and avid outdoorsman hit the open road before moving to New Mexico, where last word had him working on a crew building hiking trails.
In related news, The Statehouse File also competes in the Society of Professional Journalists’ annual competition hosted by the Indiana Pro Chapter, and this spring Publisher John Krull won first place in column writing for publications with circulations above 10,000. The judge commented, “John Krull’s strong writing draws the reader in as he offers honest and instructive insight.”
More good news we have been remiss in not sharing.
The Statehouse File is a flagship immersive-learning program sending journalism majors to the Indiana Statehouse to cover state politics and culture and publish their work with professional media partners around the state. The year-round online news outlet, one of just 20 such programs in the nation, is about to start its 20th legislative session.
TheStatehouseFile.com is a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
