Seth Nelson
- Campus Editor and Reporter, Purdue Exponent
- Student Journalist, Wisconsin State Journal
Awards
First Place in Student Non-Deadline News
2024 - Investigative Reporting
I was awarded with first place in the Student Non-Deadline News category by the Indiana Society of Professional Journalists for my part in the investivation into a Purdue professor and landlord who was accused of mistreating his tenants.
Best Continuous Coverage of a Single Story Online
2024 - Serial investigative reporting
Won first place in the ICPA's Continuous Coverage of a Single Story Online for my role in the investigation into a local landlord who was being accused by his tenants of verbally, physically and emotionally abusing them.
Best Newspaper Feature Story
2024 - Feature reporting
Won first place in the ICPA's Newspaper Feature Story category for my piece looking at the Hans Lab, a Purdue research site that was leading studies on how insects can be used by forensic experts and police to solve death investigations.
Best Special Presentation
2024 - Serial investigative reporting
Placed second place in the Special Presentation category of the annual ICPA awards for my part in an investigation into a Purdue professor who was operating over 80 properties as a landlord in the surrounding city.
Best Newspaper News Story
2024 - Investigative Reporting
Placed second in the ICPA's Newspaper News Story category for my investigative piece on Ascension St. Vincent, a national hospital chain that had made financial deals with Purdue but was facing national controversy over its apparent role in stripping rural areas of access to healthcare.
Best Online Breaking News Reporting
2024 - Breaking news reporting
Placed second for my role in the on-scene reporting of a double suicide just south of Purdue's campus.
Best Online News Story
2024 - Online reporting
Placed second in the ICPA's Best Online News Story category for my piece looking into the life and controversy surrounding Ji Min Sha, a Purdue student accused of killing his roommate, up until his eventual arrest.
Best Newspaper In-Depth Story
2024 - Investigative Reporting
Placed third place in the Newspaper In-Depth Story category in the ICPA's annual awards for my part in an investigation into a local landlord's use of unskilled maintenance men to keep costs low.
Best Online News Story
2024 - Feature reporting
Placed third in the ICPA's Best Online News Story category for my piece investigating a new street drug that officials say was replacing fentanyl as the largest danger to impoverished communities in Lafayette.
Story of the Year 2023
2023 - Investigative Reporting
My first ever investigative piece "Big Chance on a Micro Hospital," which looked at the questionable dealings of a new hospital company on Purdue's campus, was recognized as the best story published in the newspaper for the academic year of 2022-2023
Story of the Year 2024
2024 - Feature reporting
My story, which looked into a deadly new drug that health officials said was posing a threat to Lafayette's homeless population, was recognized by the Exponent administrative staff as the best story published by a staff member that year.