Student Journalism Recognized: Viewpoints Wins Big in JACC 2023 State Publications Contest

Viewpoints, the student newspaper of Riverside City College, recently received numerous several awards at the JACC 2023 state publications contest. The event, held on March 9-11 as part of the National College Media Conference in San Francisco, recognized the best college publications and student journalists in California.

Despite being unable to attend the event in person, Viewpoints and its students earned several accolades for work completed during the fall ’22 semester. These awards demonstrate the quality and dedication of the Viewpoints team and students’ commitment to producing exceptional journalism.

One of the biggest achievements for Viewpoints was winning the General Excellence award for print. This marks the 43rd time that the publication has earned this honor since 1996. This award recognizes Viewpoints as one of the best college newspapers in California and a leader in the field of student journalism.

In addition to the General Excellence award, Viewpoints also received recognition for individual projects and contributions. The California Humanities Emerging Journalist Fellowship project, Fentanyl Empire, took first place in the Podcast/Audio News category. This project, which focuses on the opioid crisis, also won a regional award last year. It is a testament to the students’ commitment to covering important and pressing issues in their community.

Several students were also recognized for their outstanding work. Stephen Day, the photography editor, received honorable mention for his editorial, first place for his sports action photographs, as well as second and third place for his environment portrait. Peter Gibbs, the sports editor, received an honorable mention for his work in the Podcast/Audio News category. Jennipher Vasquez, the editor-in-chief, earned third place in the Front-Page Layout category.

These awards highlight the talent and hard work of RCC’s Viewpoints' student journalists. Despite the challenges of the past year, they continued to produce excellent work and demonstrate their commitment to the craft of journalism. Viewpoints' success in the JACC 2023 state publications contest is a well-deserved recognition of their achievements and dedication.

The Viewpoints team's winning entries can be viewed in a student-produced presentation available here.

Assistant Professor of Journalism Angela Burrell shared,

“We are extremely proud of our journalism students. We congratulate them on their success and look forward to seeing their continued contributions to the field of journalism.