3 Missouri School of Journalism students take Top 10 Hearst placements
By Emily Early
COLUMBIA, Mo. (May 28, 2026) — Three students placed first, third and seventh across recent Hearst competitions, spotlighting undergraduate community reporting from the Missouri School of Journalism in the national awards program.
With the monthly competitions now complete, the School of Journalism finished in second place in the Intercollegiate Broadcast Competition and third place in the Intercollegiate Photojournalism Competition.
Annie George, who graduated in May with her bachelor’s degree, won first place in Hearst’s Photojournalism Picture Story/Series Competition. She was awarded $3,000, and Hearst will award a matching grant of $3,000 to the School of Journalism.
George’s winning project, “Warrior,” documented the last months of 12-year-old Drew Patchin, who died of brain cancer in January. George grew close with the family, documenting time at home, during holidays and in the hospital.
“It was honestly the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done – simultaneously, the most rewarding and heartbreaking, gut wrenching, devastating experience of my entire life,” George said.
She produced the photo story through her capstone class, Picture Story and Photographic Essay, taught by Professor Jackie Bell. She has continued to photograph the family since completing the version she submitted to Hearst to further document their lives.
“People are gonna see Drew’s story, and it’s getting recognized. That’s all I want. That was so rewarding and made me so happy,” George said. “Then to get to see Brian be so proud, and get to tell Jackie that the story that we worked on together for so long … I’m so passionate about this, and I put my heart and soul into this, and it feels really good to have it recognized.”
Brian Kratzer, Professor and Director of Photography for the Columbia Missourian, worked with George to create her submission. Kratzer noted George’s philosophical and people-first approach to photography, both as a staff photographer and editor at the Missourian’s Photo Desk.
“The visuals team is constantly seeking meaning in the stories we do,” Kratzer said. “Annie is at the forefront, challenging the direction of story pitches from all areas of the newsroom. Seeing her achieve this honor reaffirms our mission that meaningful work will rise above the chatter.”
George qualifies for the National Photojournalism Championship in June, where she will work with a team of students to create a photo story from start to finish in three days. In addition, she’s accepted a photo editing internship this summer at National Geographic Magazine.
“I’m so proud of Annie and her accomplishments, including this Hearst win and her upcoming internship at National Geographic Magazine,” Bell said. “Her talents can take her in multiple directions, as a visual storyteller or a visual editor. I feel lucky to have played a part in her education and look forward to following her career in the future.”
Additionally, fellow May graduates Ellie Compton and Abigail Klinkerman respectively placed third and seventh in Hearst’s Television News Competition. Both worked with Elizabeth Frogge, Professor and Assistant News Director at KOMU-TV, to create their Hearst submissions. Frogge also taught the two students in TV News Reporting 2.
“The more our students see these big wins, the more they want to do well and be considered for the competition,” Frogge said. “It’s a privilege to be chosen as a Hearst contender, and it’s exciting year-after-year to work with students on producing the very best stories. Unlike many of the other universities competing for these same awards, our students’ work airs on an NBC-affiliated commercial television station. So they’re not just doing work for class or a contest; they’re reporting on real stories that matter to the many communities we serve.”
Compton’s winning entry includes two packages for KOMU, the School of Journalism’s NBC-affiliate TV station. The first piece is a follow-up investigation into a carbon monoxide leak at Stephens College in January. The second story, which was completed on a 10-hour deadline, covered the demolition of Jefferson City’s abandoned Truman Hotel in August 2025. She is awarded $1,500, and a matching $1,500 will be granted to the School of Journalism.
Compton has worked for KOMU for over two years as a production assistant, digital producer and news anchor. She also worked for CBS News as a national desk intern in the summer of 2025.
“Thank you to all the Missouri School of Journalism faculty who gave me guidance while working on these stories,” Compton wrote in a celebratory LinkedIn post. “I’m extremely grateful for the support and look forward to continuing to tell stories that matter.”
Klinkerman put together three stories for her Hearst submission, ranging from a variety of topics. She covered the Central Missouri Humane Society’s budget concerns with Boone County Animal Care, worked with a family speaking out about their son who died in a road-rage incident and reported on different levels of tariffs and their impact on firework prices.
Because Klinkerman also took second place in Hearst’s Television I – Features competition in January, she now qualifies for the National Broadcast Championship in June, where she will join School of Journalism senior and Hearst winner Charlotte Cicero — making it three School of Journalism students in the national championships with George’s berth in the National Photojournalism Championship.
Klinkerman has worked at KOMU for four years in roles from production assistant to producing, reporting and serving as the weekday morning anchor. She was also a summer welcome leader, a member of Mizzou’s Tour Team for four years, vice president of membership development for Alpha Delta Pi and the director of Mizzou Greek Week last year.
“The J-School holds so many opportunities for those who want to take advantage of it,” Klinkerman said. “My biggest piece of advice for people maybe just getting involved or just starting out is step up to the plate. Be the one who stays a little late during holidays or comes back early because that’s when you’re going to get your opportunities and prove that you have what it takes to do it.”
The 2025-26 Hearst season will conclude this summer with the national championships.
Updated: May 29, 2026