UM Senior Wins Top College Journalism Honors

A University of Mississippi senior, who is spending his summer reporting for News 21 – an award-winning investigative reporting project from the Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University – recently won two top awards in the college division of the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters and Media Editors competition.

Matthew Hendley, of Madison, won first place in the TV Reporter category, and his television reporting work was named Best in Show.

The two-state competition, which received more than 1,200 entries, is sponsored by the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University. The AP is a not-for-profit news cooperative representing thousands of U.S. media organizations.

“I believe it was for my 2019 reporting reel, in which I covered the pro-Confederate marches, the Associated Student Body resolution to move the Confederate statue and several feature stories, including one on Ole Miss’ male cheerleaders and another on student firefighters at Ole Miss,” said Hendley, who is happy to be recognized for stories he was interested in telling.

“The awards have been fantastic and very affirming. But the last few years have taught me that the real reward in journalism is knowing that you’ve done a public service, that your work has made a positive impact and has instituted real change.

“That’s why I’m pursuing a career in this field. I hope to be able to say that is what my work has accomplished at the end of my career. The stories are what matter, not the awards.”

Each year, partner universities nominate top students to participate in the News 21 spring seminar and summer project that investigates a relevant topic. Brittany Brown, also a graduate of the UM School of Journalism and New Media, participated in News 21 in 2018, exploring the topic “Hate in America.”

“This summer, our project is ‘Kids Imprisoned,'” Hendley said. “We’re investigating the ins and outs of the juvenile justice system, from the school-to-prison pipeline to the across-the-board disparities that minority youth face.”

Hendley is focusing on two main storylines this summer: first, an investigation into gang-affiliated youth and their involvement in the juvenile justice system; and second, an examination of what juvenile justice looks like for Native American youth.

“It has really been a blessing because last fall, I got to witness and be a part of such thorough research and storytelling at ’60 Minutes,'” he said. “A few months later, I joined this project and started filling research binders and developing source contacts for News 21.

“I’m quite literally using every skill I learned both at ’60 Minutes’ and at Ole Miss. It’s been a very fulfilling project so far.”

Hendley said he’s part of an excellent News 21 team this year.

“Most of our reporting is being done virtually from an Airbnb in Phoenix because of COVID-19,” he said. “But our editors are allowing us to use this opportunity to tell these stories in an unconventional way rather than letting the virus limit what we can do.”

Terry Cassreino, a 1985 UM graduate with a degree in print journalism and radio and TV, worked more than 24 years in Mississippi newspapers before becoming communications director and journalism teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison. He taught Hendley before he enrolled at Ole Miss.

“Matthew had the ‘it’ factor, the intangible quality that made him strong in front of the camera,” Cassreino said. “He also did some news reporting and put together some strong features. But his strength was anchoring the newscasts; he became our regular weekly anchor with other co-anchors rotating every week.”

Hendley also produced the Coach’s Pre-Game show, a weekly 10-minute radio show that preceded the student-produced live coverage of St. Joe varsity football that streamed live over Bruin Sports Radio and aired live over WJXC Jackson, Mississippi Catholic Radio.

Cassreino said he has kept in touch with Hendley as much as possible and has followed his UM career.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of his accomplishments,” he said. “I told him that if he was interested in broadcast journalism that he would enter Ole Miss with a distinct advantage over other freshmen because he took my class.”

With his “60 Minutes” internship and his work with News 21, Hendley is positioning himself to have an incredibly successful career as a broadcast journalist, Cassreino said.

“He can do anything he wants,” he said. “Matthew can write his own ticket. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him anchor a major network nightly newscast – he is that talented and determined.

“He is hard-working, talented, determined and honest. He gets journalism. He understands the importance of solid journalism.”

Dean Debora Wenger said nothing Hendley achieves surprises her.

“He is just one of those students who is always willing to work harder and grab more opportunities to grow as a journalist,” she said. “We look forward to the day when Matthew is an investigative reporter for a major national news outlet and comes back to campus to help the next crop of students on their way.”

Right now, the senior plans to return to campus this fall.

“I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t love having my face on TV and feeling that what I’m saying matters to people,” Hendley said. “I think that comes from fighting for attention as the youngest child. Being on-air is very stimulating.

“Ideally, though, I’d like to take the anchor chair on a network newscast – after earning my stripes reporting in the field, of course.”

To learn more about the News 21 project, visit the website here. The project launches at the end of July. 

A number of Ole Miss students won awards in the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters and Media Editors competition. For a list of all winners, visit this website.

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By LaReeca Rucker