Western Kentucky University’s School of Journalism & Broadcasting placed third overall in the 2010-11 Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

With this year’s finish, WKU has ranked among the top eight nationally for 18 consecutive years in the Hearst overall intercollegiate competition. University of North Carolina won the intercollegiate championship followed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln, WKU, Indiana University, Arizona State University, University of Florida, University of Missouri, University of Montana, Syracuse University and Pennsylvania State University.

WKU junior Leslye Davis of Greensburg was second in the National Multimedia Championships last week in San Francisco and received a $4,000 award. Junior Tyler Cacek of Columbia, Mo., and senior Bryan Anselm of Carmel, Ind., were among six finalists in the National Photojournalism Championships and received $1,500 awards. Cacek also received a $1,000 award for best portfolio.

Often called the “Pulitzers of College Journalism,” the Hearst program, now in its 51st year, holds yearlong competitions in writing, photojournalism, broadcast and multimedia offering more than $550,000 in scholarships, matching grants and stipends. Points from each competition are calculated to determine the Overall Intercollegiate winners.

Earlier this spring, WKU won the Hearst Intercollegiate Photojournalism Championship for the third consecutive year and 19th time in the past 22 years.