Journalism Students Win 26 College Media Awards

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Several students holding their awards up with excitment
Cal Poly Humboldt students from The Lumberjack newspaper, El Leñador bilingual newspaper and Osprey magazine won 22 CCMA awards and four ACP awards on March 8 in Long Beach.
Cal Poly Humboldt Journalism & Mass Communication students took home 26 awards after a journalism conference and award ceremonies in Long Beach on March 8, including seven first-place state awards with the California College Media Association (CCMA) and four national awards with the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP). 

“Our student media teams work hard every week to bring campus news and information to students,” said Journalism Professor Deidre Pike, adviser to the student-run weekly newspaper, The Lumberjack. “It's rewarding to see their hard work honored with a stunning number of awards. Go, team!" 

Student reporters from The Lumberjack placed first in the state for Best News Photograph, Best Illustration, Best Editorial Cartoon, Best Social Justice Coverage, and Best Sports Photograph. El Leñador won first for Best Spanish-Language Coverage and Best Photo Series. 

In the ACP Best of Show national competition, El Leñador placed fifth for website and fifth for newspaper. Osprey, the University's student-run magazine, took fifth for feature magazine, and The Lumberjack placed eighth for newspaper. 

“It was heartwarming to see all of our hours of work being recognized on a state and national level. Even though we’re a small college with a small journalism department, we have so many talented writers, photographers, graphic designers, and editors,” said Griffin Mancuso, managing editor of The Lumberjack and first-place recipient of the CCMA Best Illustration and Best Editorial Cartoon awards. “I’m excited to see where they go and what they accomplish in the future.” 

“I am so proud of our staff for continuing to make El Leñador a reliable bilingual news source,” said Maryanne Casas-Perez, editor in chief of El Leñador, which received a first-place CCMA award for best Spanish-language coverage. “The award for the best Spanish news coverage at the CCMA awards has made me proud to be part of this publication.” 

Osprey also won two CCMA awards and one national ACP award.

"I'm grateful for the CCMA award,” said Maranda Vargas, a graduating senior who won awards for photography and video. “Working on The Lumberjack and Osprey have been enriching experiences. Congratulations to my fellow journalism mates and Osprey for placing fifth.” 

Kirby Moss, chair of the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, said, "We are a small department in a small community but with a big impact. So it's a joy to see that impact recognized statewide at the CCMAs." 

 

Complete list of awards: 

Associated Collegiate Press Spring National College Media Conference

Best of Show (for four-year colleges with fewer than 15k students) 

  • El Leñador Fifth Place Website 

  • El Leñador Fifth Place Newspaper 

  • Osprey Fifth Place Feature Magazine 

  • The Lumberjack Eighth Place Newspaper 

California Collegiate Media Association Awards 


El Leñador

First Place 

  • Best Spanish-Language Coverage—Staff 

  • Best Photo Series—Ben Hernandez, Peyton Leone, Jacqueline V. Espinoza Second Place 

  • Best Newspaper Front Page Design—Maryanne Casas-Perez 

  • Best Headline Portfolio—Ben Hernandez 

Third Place 

  • Best Newspaper—Staff 

  • Best Special Issue/Section—Staff 

  • Best Multimedia Package—Lila Salinas 

Osprey 

Third Place

  • Best Photo Series—Maranda Vargas 

  • Best Magazine Photo—Maranda Vargas 

The Lumberjack 

First Place 

  • Best Social Justice Reporting—Jasmin Shirazian and Eli Farrington 

  • Best Sports Photograph—Alex Anderson 

  • Best News Photograph—Savana Robinson 

  • Best Editorial Cartoon—Griffin Mancuso 

  • Best Illustration—Griffin Mancuso 

Second Place 

  • Best Newspaper—Alana Hackman, Dezmond Remington, Griffin Mancuso, Savana Robinson, Gabriel Zucker, Jasmin Shirazian 

  • Best News Series—Brad Butterfield 

  • Best Arts & Entertainment Story—Jasmin Shirazian 

  • Best Overall Newspaper Design—Alana Hackman, Dezmond Remington, Griffin Mancuso, Savana Robinson, Carlina Grillo, Jasmin Shirazian 

  • Best Social Media Reporting—Alana Hackman, Dezmond Remington, Griffin Mancuso, Savana Robinson, Brad Butterfield, Jasmin Shirazian 

Third Place 

  • Best Feature Story—Mia Costales 

  • Best News or Feature Video—Maranda Vargas 

  • Best Photo Illustration—Griffin Mancuso, Gabriel Zucker