Former editor recognized

Former Indiana Daily Student Editor-in-Chief Michael Auslen has been awarded the Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award. The award honors a student Society of Professional Journalists member “who has demonstrated outstanding service to the first amendment through the field of journalism,” according to a press release.

During his time as editor-in-chief, Auslen established an investigations team and demonstrated his commitment to educating fellow student journalists about the importance of First Amendment rights, according to the release.

“The great value of SPJ for student journalists is that it provides a forum for us to learn what we aren’t being taught in the classroom,” Auslen wrote in his application essay. “I hope to seek out those skill sets that are missing from my toolbox, hopefully expanding at the same time my chops in investigative and political reporting.”

In August, Auslen will be recognized at the Student Union held during the 2013 Excellence in Journalism Conference in Southern California.