From Headlines to Heart: Dallas College Journalists Reflect on their Wins from MediaFest25
Nov. 18, 2025
“Journalism matters now more than ever.”
That’s not just a slogan on Journalism Professor and Advisor Erica Edwards’ sweatshirt — it’s a rallying cry for the student journalists of Dallas College, who recently proved just how powerful their voices can be.
Edwards picked up the sweatshirt at MediaFest25, the nation’s largest media convention for professionals and college students, hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) and College Media Association (CMA).
But for her and other journalism advisors across Dallas College, it’s more than a phrase — it’s a mission they live and teach every day.
Award-Winning Student Publications
Dallas College is home to four campus newspapers: the Brookhaven Courier, the Et Cetera, the North Lake News-Register and the Richland Chronicle. These papers publish on varying cadences throughout the semester, highlighting news from national and local updates to sports and entertainment on campus.
Their boots-on-the-ground reporting mentality paid off in a big way, as the four teams returned from MediaFest25 with an impressive haul of 45 awards.
Among the standout wins:
- North Lake News-Register earned first place nationally among two-year colleges for Feature and Feature Multimedia Package.
- Richland Chronicle placed second in the nation for Editorial Cartoon of the Year, competing against both two- and four-year institutions.
The student publications were honored and championed at the Dallas College Board of Trustees meeting in November, highlighting how their awards reflect not only journalistic skill but also the passion and dedication of student media.
Students walked away from the conference with pride, feeling grateful for their acquired knowledge and collaboration with other student journalists from around the world, including a university from the Philippines.
“For me, the best thing was getting outside perspective — helping us realize things we wouldn’t have through our normal critique process,” said Corey Lyons, editor-in-chief of the Brookhaven Courier. “It’s better when you have someone outside looking in rather than someone who’s been in the same system a long time.”
Lyons’ insight reflects a broader theme from the conference: the value of outside perspectives in shaping stronger, more inclusive journalism.
The Importance of Journalism in Today’s Landscape
Beyond the awards and the celebratory environment at MediaFest25, journalists are grappling with the evolving perception of the craft in today’s society.
“I would argue journalism has always been — not a dangerous profession — but you kind of go into it knowing there’s always a risk,” North Lake News-Register Editor in Chief Katelyn Steffen said. “Whereas now, it almost feels as if — I wouldn’t even know if I’d say it feels — but the press is under attack a lot in this country.”
So, if the press is under attack and the profession is risky, why are students still pursuing journalism? If you ask Lyons, it’s a mix of rebellious spirit and civic duty.
“I think part of me is that punk kid that never grew up,” he said. “I’ve never really been one to do things that people want me to do. […] I feel like it’s almost my civic duty to tell these stories. I have some privilege other people don’t. I’m never going to try and speak for these people, but if I can use that privilege to get their story out there, that to me feels like I’ve done something worthwhile.”
Steffen agrees. She also believes student journalism is essential to keeping institutions accountable.
“Students aren’t going to sugarcoat and censor things like administration would,” she said. “You get a different perspective when it’s from your peers rather than someone who’s above you. […] Colleges are little communities, and community newspapers are so important because they make sure systems are held accountable.”
She saw this firsthand during her time at a small Irving newspaper, where she was reminded that local journalism plays a vital role in keeping even the local government transparent and responsive.
“The same thing applies to North Lake and a community college. It makes sure that people on the board or in positions of leadership aren’t abusing their power or pulling one over on students,” she said.
Both editors emphasized that student media is a home for everyone, even if you think your talent couldn’t be utilized there yet. For Lyon’s newsroom, one day a student walked in and asked if they could do multimedia — and boom, they began to run multimedia stories for the first time.
“Student media is special,” he said. “Whether you’re an older student or a new student who doesn’t even know they’re interested, it’s a cool avenue. There’s such diversity in what you can do. You never know what you’re going to get into, especially in student media.”
Whether you're a writer, photographer, designer or just curious, student media has a place for you. Explore the stories, meet the teams and discover how your voice can make a difference — because journalism is more than just the headlines. It’s about the heart behind the stories and the duty to the community.
- Campus News
