Phoebe Gulsen, a student representing Syracuse University, has been awarded first place in the 2025-2026 Hearst Journalism Awards Program’s Podcast competition, it was announced recently. This significant achievement not only grants Gulsen a substantial prize but also qualifies her for the prestigious National Championships scheduled for June 2026 in San Francisco.
The annual competition, a cornerstone of collegiate journalism, attracted a strong field of 61 entries from 41 universities across the nation. Gulsen's winning entry stood out amongst the competitive submissions, earning her a $3,000 prize in addition to the top honor.
Syracuse University demonstrated a strong performance in the overall program, also securing the title in the Intercollegiate Broadcast Competition, underscoring the institution's commitment to excellence in journalism education. The announcement of the podcast competition winners occurred during the 2025-2026 academic year's final competition phase.
Alongside Gulsen's first-place finish, the competition recognized several other talented finalists. These top contenders included Gowri Abhinanda, Shane Darling, Rachel Moody, and Bayliss Flynn, all of whom demonstrated exceptional skill in podcast production and storytelling.
Gulsen's upcoming participation in the National Championships in June 2026 will see her compete against other top collegiate journalists, further showcasing her abilities on a national stage following her win in the Hearst Podcast Competition.