About Us
As a financially independent student newspaper, The Diamondback reports fearlessly on the University of Maryland’s campus and the city without concern for of censorship or bias. Established in 1910, The Diamondback has been independent from the university since 1971, which means we support the important work and education of our 125 student journalists solely through the limited advertising we are able to sell and the generous charitable donations of our readers.
The Diamondback has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists as best college newspaper five times including best regional non-daily for 2017.
Annually, The Diamondback enters multiple categories in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark Of Excellence Awards. Below are several of the award-winning stories from recent years.
2019
General News Reporting (Large School Division)
Under the travel ban, some UMD students from Iran haven’t seen their families in years — Carmen Molina Acosta
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)
More than a year after Maria Fisher’s death, her loved ones still search for answers — Christine Condon
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
We placed heat sensors in every UMD dorm without A.C. Here’s what we found. — Angela Roberts, Matt McDonald and Rosa Pyo
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Feature Writing (Large School Division)
For some women at last week’s protest, removing their shirts meant taking back control — Victoria Ebner
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
General Column Writing (Large School Division)
Selected work of Max Foley-Keene
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Selected work of Zachary Jablow
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Sports Writing (Large School Division)
Nick Cross didn’t play high school until high school. Now he stars for Maryland’s secondary. — Andy Kostka
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Eli Crognale, the youngest in a soccer-filled family, has made his own name at Maryland — Eric Myers
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Editorial Cartooning
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
General News Photography (Large School Division)
United by frustration, hundreds of UMD students join global climate strike in Washington, D.C. — Julia Nikhinson
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Students gather for midnight remembrance of Richard Collins on his 26th birthday — Julia Nikhinson
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Photo Illustration (Large School Division)
A killing on campus: Following the trial for ex-UMD student accused of stabbing Richard Collins — Hannah Gaskill and Julia Nikhinson
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
We placed heat sensors in every UMD dorm without A.C. Here’s what we found. — Julia Nikhinson
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Sports Photography (Large School Division)
Hovering around .500, Maryland baseball believes it’s “really close” to a breakthrough — Joe Ryan
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Online Sports Reporting
‘Every day it’s a struggle’: One year later, Jordan McNair’s death is still raw — Andy Kostka
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Podcast
Little bus of horrors: Halloween 2019 at UMD — Staff of The Diamondback
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
2018
Breaking News Reporting (Large School Division)
DJ Durkin’s firing (Maryland fires coach DJ Durkin, one day after Board of Regents recommended he stay; “A roller-coaster”: Maryland football reacts to DJ Durkin’s return, firing; “I can’t believe it took them this long”: UMD students react to DJ Durkin’s firing) — The Diamondback staff
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
DJ Durkin’s reinstatement (UMD’s DJ Durkin, Damon Evans will keep jobs, Wallace Loh to retire in June; Jordan McNair’s parents: Keeping Durkin, Evans is like being “punched in the stomach”; “How many more kids have to die?”: UMD students react to Durkin’s return, Loh’s retirement; UMD President Wallace Loh is retiring. Here’s a look at his eight-year tenure.; DJ Durkin’s coaching potential and personal testimony won over Maryland’s Board of Regents) — The Diamondback staff
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)
Despite mounting evidence, top boosters stand by Maryland football’s DJ Durkin — Andy Kostka
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Maryland football culture report (Report finds DJ Durkin struggled to lead Maryland football, didn’t rein in abusive coach; Report finds Rick Court terrorized Maryland football players and wasn’t held accountable; Report finds Damon Evans led a chaotic athletic department, didn’t monitor football program; Report finds Kevin Anderson fostered feuds, lack of accountability in athletic department; Report finds Wallace Loh failed to control athletic department, address abuse allegations) — The Diamondback staff
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Feature Writing (Large School Division)
“Maryland has wrecked my life”: The story behind a $3 million racial discrimination lawsuit at UMD — Jillian Atelsek
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
“I feel humiliated”: UMD housekeepers say they’ve been rebuked for speaking Spanish — Angela Roberts
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Sports Writing (Large School Division)
A series of life-threatening events didn’t halt J.C. Jackson’s NFL dreams – Dan Bernstein
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
General News Reporting
At “Justice for Jordan” rally, UMD student groups clash over football support — Jillian Atelsek
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Former UMD AD Kevin Anderson intervened in sexual misconduct case involving football players — Christine Condon
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Online News Reporting
Despite heavy redaction, surveillance videos provide insight into Jordan McNair’s final workout — James Crabtree-Hannigan and Andy Kostka
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Online In-Depth Reporting
“We need this desperately”: grad teaching assistants could get collective bargaining rights — Angela Roberts
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Online Feature Reporting
College Park wants to be a top-20 college town. Here’s how close it is to getting there. — Staff of The Diamondback
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Online Sports Reporting
After Cliff Tucker died, a Maryland basketball alumni game helped his loved ones heal — Andy Kostka
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
911 records indicate medics didn’t recognize severity of Jordan McNair’s condition — James Crabtree-Hannigan
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Breaking News Photography (Large School Division)
Organizers address protestors in front of the Main Administration Building (from At “Justice for Jordan” rally, UMD student groups clash over football support) — Jon Orbach
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Sports Photography (Large School Division)
Testudo waves the Maryland flag (from: Maryland men’s basketball is 0-5 vs. the ACC since joining the Big Ten. Is the team cursed?) — Andi Wenck
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Feature Photography (Large School Division)
Michael Bell sits next to his confessional; DuRay Jones and his family gather around their counter; Jones coaches an elementary school football team; Jones helps a player fasten his helmet; the University of Maryland Service Building (from: “Maryland has wrecked my life”: The story behind a $3 million racial discrimination lawsuit at UMD) — Julia Nikhinson and Elliot Scarangello
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Amit Dadon speaks at the Vote for Change Rally (from: UMD student, Stoneman Douglas alum holds gun control rally ahead of midterms) — Julia Nikhinson
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Editorial Writing
Why did it take UMD so long to care about Jordan McNair’s death?; Firing DJ Durkin doesn’t fix the system that enabled him; UMD’s external diversity report is a sloppy, meaningless mess — The Diamondback editorial board
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
General Column Writing
UMD should cut ties with companies that help kill Yemeni children; Why has “Fearless Ideas” become a meme?; The United States needs a war on loneliness — Max Foley-Keene
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Photo Illustration
The Diamondback’s Year in Review — Staff of The Diamondback
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Editorial Cartooning
Arming teachers; Thin ice; Good cop/bad cop — Eva Shen
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
2017
Breaking News Reporting (Large School Division)
“Hatred and tragedy”: following the homicide of Richard Collins III — The Diamondback staff
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)
“It’s real”: a seven-part look at how sexual assault is handled at the University of Maryland — The Diamondback staff
National Mark of Excellence winner
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Online In-Depth Reporting
“It’s real”: a seven-part look at how sexual assault is handled at the University of Maryland — The Diamondback staff
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Feature Writing (Large School Division)
“I can never escape” — Taylor Swaak
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
“Undocumented and unafraid”: For DACA students at Maryland, studying and living requires resilience — Natalie Schwartz
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Sports Writing (Large School Division)
Back to business: Antoine Brooks defied odds to star for Maryland football – Dan Bernstein
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Playing in silence: As athletes continue protesting racism, Maryland’s remain silent. Why? – Kyle Melnick
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Best Use of Multimedia
“It’s real”: a seven-part look at how sexual assault is handled at the University of Maryland — The Diamondback staff
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
General News Reporting
UMD Trump supporters say they feel voiceless on a liberal campus — Natalie Schwartz
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Online News Reporting
“On her own” — Hallie Miller and Ellie Silverman
National Mark of Excellence finalist
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Best All-Around Radio Newscast
The Dive: “When It’s Over” — The Diamondback’s Diversions staff
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Breaking News Photography
Firefighter responds to five-alarm fire at College Park apartment complex — Tom Hausman
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Editorial Writing
In the face of hate, UMD community must not grow numb; UMD officials must acknowledge student concerns, not deflect them; Email from mock trial coaches highlights misunderstanding of diversity — The Diamondback editorial board
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Sports Column Writing
Maryland football must step up in Texas’ hostile road environment; Maryland football’s upset over Texas is one of its best wins in program history; Maryland basketball coach Mark Turgeon has his most experienced trio ever — Kyle Melnick and Dan Bernstein
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Editorial Cartooning
Midterm Week; Gun Violence; Net Neutrality — Eva Shen
National Mark of Excellence finalist
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Photo Illustration
A year in review — Evan Berkowitz and Tom Hausman
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
2016
Breaking News Photography (Large School Division)
Israel Fest protest — Josh Loock
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Editorial Cartooning
Stronger Together, DAPL, Johnny Depp — Eva Shen
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
General News Photography (Large School Division)
College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn awards local hero, Renita Smith — Tom Hausman
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Sports Photography (Large School Division)
Goalkeeper Cody Niedermeier after Maryland men’s soccer’s NCAA tournament loss — Matt Regan
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Breaking News Reporting (Large School Division)
A murder-suicide stuns College Park — Michael Brice-Saddler, Andrew Dunn, Natalie Schwartz and Mina Haq
National Mark of Excellence finalist
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
General News Reporting (Large School Division)
White nationalist posters found at the University of Maryland — Ellie Silverman and Talia Richman
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Ex-student sues UMD after expulsion for sexual assault — Ellie Silverman
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
In-Depth Reporting (Large School Division)
Police use pepper spray on graduation party of mostly black students — The Diamondback Staff
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Sports Column Writing
It’s time to listen to Melo Trimble; Tyrrell Pigrome’s first Maryland football start tempers his rookie-year hype; Maryland football would reap benefits of making freshmen available to the media — Callie Caplan and Kyle Stackpole
Region 2 Mark of Excellence winner
Best Affiliated Website
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Online Feature Reporting
ProtectUMD has 64 demands to aid vulnerable students. These are the stories behind them. — The Diamondback Staff
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Evolution of a fandom — Danielle Ohl
Region 2 Mark of Excellence finalist
Best All-Around Radio Newscast