While gaining a better grasp of their future careers, journalism students cleaned house this weekend, coming away from the Journalism Association of Community Colleges convention at Cal State Fullerton with 20 awards.
“I think we re-established our grip as being an elite force to be reckoned with,” Tim Lee, features editor, said. “Even with our small staff, I think we made a killing.”
Keeping true to its reputation as an award-winning publication, the Union staff of the fall 2007 and spring 2008 semesters, as well as the Warrior Life magazine staff of the fall 2007 and spring 2008 semesters, won General Excellence awards.
“I think our college did pretty well. We usually do really well,” Filip Jerzycke, co-photo editor, said. “We’re recognized as being one of the top community college (journalism) programs in California.”
Jerzycke won third place in an on-the-spot competition for his sports photo.
On-the-spot competitions usually entail one or more members of a college competing in either a writing competition, a copy editing competition, feature writing competition or photo competition.
Mail-in competitions are based on any stories, advertisements or photos the staff has sent to JACC to be judged.
Pearl Sheets, editor-in-chief, and Andrea Mena, one of last semester’s staff writers, received a meritorious enterprise story/series award, while Sheets received third place for her broadsheet layout and an honorable mention for her magazine feature on mixed martial arts.
Fred Kim, last semester’s cartoonist received first place in magazine line illustration for a cartoon he drew in Warrior Life, as well as third place for line illustration for a cartoon he drew for the Union.
“We did really well. I thought we did better than in previous semesters,” Nick Ingram, sports editor, said.
Ingram placed second for sports game story, Matt Lopez, last semester’s editor-in-chief, and Alma Padilla, last semester’s features editor, placed fourth for inside page layout, Janette Fletcher, a staff writer from last semester, won third place for magazine opinion story and Jesus Arroyo, a photographer from last semester received an honorable mention for sports action photo.
These students did more than simply win awards; they attended workshop led by professionals where they learned multimedia skills necessary to propel them into their careers as well as interviewing tips and techniques to assist in obtaining hard news stories.
“I think the workshops really helped us out. It’s kind of what has given us that last-minute boost,” Megan Taros, news editor, said. “Getting information from professionals really helped us out. We were reassured and we learned new things, too.”
Putting their skills to the test, several students competed in on-the-spot competitions, where many excelled.
Miyu Kataoka, managing editor, received an honorable mention for editorial cartoon and won first place for feature story, as well as fourth place for bring-in ad. Suzy Brown, arts editor, received an honorable mention for opinion writing and Aaron Dobruck, Warrior Life editor, won third place for broadcast news writing.
“I really learned how far I have to go. I have to think of what I have to focus on,” Brown said. ” After I came back (from Fullerton) I felt energized and I had more drive.”
The remaining awards went to Taros, who placed third in broadsheet layout, while Sheets received an honorable mention in the same competition.
Sheets also received an honorable mention for copy editing.
“I feel like we became more cohesive as a group. We are going to do really well next semester,” Brown said.