April 4, 2014
CSUN Journalism's student-run media outlets Valley View News, KCSN and the Daily Sundial recently won awards at the Society of Professional Journalist’s Region 11 Mark of Excellence Awards in Honolulu.
“I'm thrilled by this latest round of awards for our student journalists – particularly because they recognize the breadth and successes of our student media programs,” said Linda Bowen, chair of the Journalism Department. “These awards from SPJ honoring the best of collegiate journalism in our region acknowledge individual and group achievement in television, radio, online and visual journalism. This is quite a distinction for our student journalists and adds to our growing reputation for producing award-winning journalism on multiple platforms.”
Valley View News won the best all-around television newscast award and KCSN took home two awards for radio sports reporting.
“The Valley View students can be proud of winning this top award in the vigorous SPJ competition,” said professor James Hill, the faculty adviser for Valley View News. “It says so much about their hard work and the progress they've made as student journalists in our department.”
Stephanie Marroquin’s story “Football Concussions” for KCSN took home the first place award and Adam Schumes’ story “Paying College Athletes” was a finalist.
“This award truly means a lot to me, especially at this point in my life where I’m finishing college and entering the professional world,” Marroquin said. “My heart is fully set on becoming a sports reporter, and so seeing my work being recognized really resonates with my passion.”
KCSN’s “The Evening Update” was a finalist for the best all-around radio newscast.
The Daily Sundial was a finalist for best all-around daily student newspaper.
Editor Loren Townsley’s “Addicted to energy drinks” photo illustration for the Daily Sundial was also a finalist for photo illustration.
Shira Moskowitz was a finalist for general news reporting for her “Commencement chaos” story for the Daily Sundial.
Schools from across SPJ’s Region 11, which comprises Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada, competed in the 2013 Mark of Excellence Awards.
First place winners in Region 11 will go on to face winners from the 12 SPJ regions in the national Mark of Excellence competition held in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 4 to 6, according to a press release.
The CSUN Journalism Department’s student media outlets also won 15 awards at this year’s California College Media Association awards in March.