AMES, Iowa — The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University is preparing to award the first Kappa Tau Alpha Diversity and Inclusion Awards April 19 in room 172 of Hamilton Hall at 1 p.m. as part of the school’s 15th-annual First Amendment celebration.
“We were looking for ways that we could reward what we saw as positive work in this area,” said Tracy Lucht, Greenlee Diversity committee chair. “A lot of times, discussions of diversity in the media can be very negative because there are a lot of negative representations that perpetuate stereotypes and serve as examples of what not to do.”
Des Moines Register feature reporter Courtney Crowder (top right) and student-media reporter Jaden Urbi (bottom right) are being recognized for their excellence in journalism and promoting a just and inclusive society through ethical storytelling that broadens people’s understanding of diverse lives and communities. Crowder is being honored for her [in-depth reporting on transgender Iowans](http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2016/06/09/transgender-iowans-trans-iowa/85496126/). Urbi wrote about Black Lives Matter and social justice for the Iowa State Daily and ethos magazine.
“We were looking for a way to recognize good work that would show people what good journalism can do in terms of representing diverse communities and increasing understanding among diverse people,” Lucht said.
First Amendment Day serves as a celebration and a reminder of the five freedoms granted to American citizens in the Constitution. Students and faculty within the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, along with several other campus groups, organize the annual spring event.