Western Kentucky University’s School of Journalism and Broadcasting finished fifth overall in the 50th annual Hearst Journalism Awards Program and WKU student Scott McIntyre of Louisville won the National Photojournalism Championship.

WKU has ranked among the top eight schools nationally for 17 consecutive years in the Hearst program, often called the “Pulitzers of College Journalism.” WKU won the overall championship in 2000, 2001 and 2005.

McIntyre’s first-place finish was the 10th individual photojournalism championship for a WKU student with other titles in 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

The Hearst program holds yearlong competitions in writing, photojournalism, broadcast news and multimedia offering more than $550,000 in scholarships, matching grants and stipends. Points earned in the multimedia, writing, photo and broadcast news competitions determine the Overall Intercollegiate winner.

Earlier this year, WKU won the Hearst Intercollegiate Photojournalism Championship for the 18th time in 21 years and finished fifth in the program’s third annual multimedia competition.

The top 10 schools in the 2010 overall competition were: North Carolina, Arizona State, Penn State, Missouri, WKU, Northwestern, Florida, Ohio, Indiana and Montana.

In the photojournalism championship, WKU had three of the six finalists who competed in New York City in June. McIntyre received a $5,000 award for winning the title and received a $1,000 award for Best Single Photograph. WKU’s Tyler Cacek of Columbia, Mo., finished third and received a $3,000 award. WKU’s Cody Duty of Decatur, Texas, received a $1,500 award.

For more on the Hearst championships, visit http://www.hearstfdn.org/hearst_journalism/press_release.php?id=83