Lauren Haley Morris, KLN ’26, has made Temple University history.
The recent Klein College of Media and Communication graduate and former Temple Update anchor has become Temple University’s first-ever national champion in the prestigious Hearst Journalism Awards Program, capturing First Place in the National Television Championship at the 2026 Hearst Journalism Awards.
Often referred to as the “Pulitzers of College Journalism,” the Hearst Awards represent the highest level of recognition for student journalists in the United States. Morris earned the championship’s top prize of $10,000 following a week-long national competition in San Francisco that brought together the nation’s best collegiate journalists. As part of the award, Temple University will also receive a matching grant from the Hearst Foundations in recognition of her achievement.
The 66th annual Hearst National Championships brought together 29 of the best student journalists from colleges and universities across the country. Finalists earned their places through a series of highly competitive monthly contests, competing with over 1,350 entries during the academic year. During the championship competition, students completed demanding spot assignments under deadline pressure while their work was evaluated by some of the nation’s most respected journalism professionals.
For those who worked alongside Morris at Temple Update and TUTV, her recognition comes as no surprise.
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Morris immersed herself in student media from the moment she arrived at Temple. In March 2023, she became an anchor for Update Now, Temple Update’s 90-second news brief program. By September 2024, she had earned a position as an anchor for the flagship Temple Update newscast, quickly establishing herself as one of the station’s most talented and recognizable student journalists.
Her dedication to storytelling, strong reporting skills and professionalism on-air helped distinguish her throughout her college career. Morris consistently sought opportunities to challenge herself, studying abroad and taking on ambitious reporting assignments in New Hampshire during the presidential primary season.
In addition to her Hearst success, Morris earned numerous honors during her time at Temple. She received a National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Student Production Award for Best Talent – News, Sports, Performer and was awarded the prestigious Trudy Haynes Scholarship from CBS Philadelphia, recognizing students pursuing careers in journalism and communications.
Despite the accolades, Morris has always maintained that journalism is about serving audiences rather than collecting awards.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about the awards—it’s about the kind of work we are doing on campus,” Morris said during an interview prior to graduation.
Her impact as a student extended beyond the newsroom. In May, Morris was selected as the student speaker for Klein College’s commencement ceremony, where she reflected on her Temple experience and encouraged fellow graduates to embrace opportunities, overcome challenges and remain resilient in pursuit of their goals.
Morris’s Hearst victory marks a significant milestone for Temple University and Klein College. While Temple students have previously earned recognition in Hearst monthly competitions, Morris is the first student in university history to win a Hearst National Championship, placing her among an elite group of emerging journalists recognized at the highest level of collegiate journalism.
The achievement also underscores the value of Temple’s hands-on approach to journalism education. Through organizations such as Temple Update and TUTV, students gain real-world experience covering news, producing content under professional deadlines and developing the skills necessary to succeed in today’s competitive media landscape.
Just days after graduating from Temple, Morris began her professional career as a multimedia journalist at 13News Now in Norfolk, Virginia. The position marks the next step in what has already become an impressive journalism journey. Morris has expressed long-term aspirations of pursuing investigative and consumer reporting, with hopes of one day working for a national news organization such as Good Morning America.
As Morris launches her professional career, her success serves as an inspiration for current and future Temple students and a reminder of what is possible when talent, hard work, mentorship, and opportunity come together.
Congratulations to Lauren Haley Morris on this remarkable achievement and on representing Temple University with distinction as its first-ever Hearst National Champion.