City Times, San Diego City College’s student newspaper, took top awards in two competitions during the summer.
The paper won Best of Show in the San Diego County Fair’s Student Showcase college newspaper division, and second place Best College Newspaper from the Society of Professional Journalists’ San Diego Pro Chapter. City Times also won first-place and Best in Class ribbons at the fair for Focus on School and Editorial.
“These awards are really significant for us because we beat larger, more prominent college journalism programs,” said faculty adviser Roman S. Koenig, who won an honorable mention from SPJ for his freelance writing work covering education for the Carmel Valley News/Del Mar Village Voice. “This recognition is great encouragement for my students in a small program like City’s. Their work really shines.”
The SPJ awards were handed out July 16 during a banquet at the Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island. The event included a speech by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, author of the book “The Soloist,” which will be released in November as a major motion picture starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.
Several former City Times student staff members won awards from SPJ, as well.
— Lauren Ciallella, First Place review/criticism: ‘Tango’ steps on your toes
— Luis Bahena, Second Place regular column: Live and Learn
— Lauren Ciallella, Second Place feature story: Halley’s Comet’s got nothing on Bauer’s asteroid
— Katie Dunn, Second Place arts/entertainment story: Art on track
— Scott Landheer, Second Place layout and design: Hi-tech, vo-tech
— Rosemarie Davis, Honorable Mention regular column: Sports on the Edge
— Rebecca Saffran, Honorable Mention photography: An evening of dance
— Alissa Wisniewski, Honorable Mention review/criticism: ‘Beowulf’ is a step back for digitally animated films
Judges had specific praise for Ciallella’s first-place review: “Excellent job of selling the experience – from high expectations to getting the bum’s rush. Makes us want to check it out.”
Spring 2008 arts editor David McAtee won first-place and Best in Class ribbons for his two-page design highlighting City’s Language Day, and a second-place ribbon for his two-page design covering the renovation of the college’s L building.
City College’s journalism program offers courses in beginning newswriting, newspaper production and mass communication, and often works in conjunction with the college’s radio/television, photography, graphic design and English programs.
The program is scheduled to host a California Newspaper Publishers Association high school journalism day Sept. 20.
