The Eastfield Et Cetera team includes the TIPA Journalist of the Year (James Hartley, center of photo with plaque).
Contact: Debra Dennis
ddennis@dcccd.edu or 214-378-1851
For immediate release — April 24, 2018
(DALLAS) — During a time when some colleges risk losing their journalism programs, the future of print, digital and other media appears to be in good hands with the award-winning work done by communicators enrolled in four Dallas County Community College District journalism programs.
Student journalists with the Brookhaven Courier, Eastfield Et Cetera, North Lake News-Register and Richland Chronicle were cited for excellence in communication, news writing, photography, advertising, public relations and broadcasting during last month’s Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention. All four staffs competed with more than 40 other two- and four-year college and university journalism students from Texas.
Established in 1909, TIPA is the oldest state collegiate press association. The group held its annual convention last month at the Crowne Plaza in Dallas.
Brookhaven Courier
Editors and staff members at the Brookhaven Courier broke their previous awards record, earning a staggering 66 awards for a variety of categories including newspaper, literary magazine, photography and multimedia projects. Last year, the Brookhaven Courier earned 36 TIPA awards; in 2016, they earned 31.
“We have a remarkable editorial staff and continue to be one of the top award-winning, student-run newspapers in the state,” said Daniel Rodrigue, the student publications advisor. “I am truly proud of our students’ work. We have a remarkable editorial staff.”
The Courier has been publishing for 40 years and is among the oldest college journalism groups in the U.S. The Brookhaven Courier’s print edition is published six times during the fall and spring semesters.
Eastfield Et Cetera
Eastfield’s student media counted 10 first place awards out of the 50 they brought home. James Hartley, editor-in-chief of the Et Cetera, was named “Journalist of the Year.” His award includes a 10-week paid internship at the Tyler Morning Telegraph. Et Cetera staffers also took home first place in Best in Show and Overall Excellence for its website. David Silva, digital managing editor, was awarded a $400 scholarship. The Et Cetera also won first place for Best in Show for its March 7 edition and Overall Excellence for its website.
"Working for student media is a huge responsibility, and our students take it seriously. They dedicate hundreds of hours each semester with little or no pay and few rewards. While they don't do it for the awards, the recognition is a well-deserved and is a boost to their confidence and an affirmation of their dedication." said Elizabeth Langton, the newspaper’s advisor.
Langton added, “James Hartley, our TIPA journalist of the year, has dedicated himself to journalism since his first visit to the newsroom. His work on the Et Cetera staff, in class and on his own earned him this award. The internship that comes with it is a rare opportunity for a community college student to spend a summer in a professional newsroom, honing his craft. I have no doubt that he will embrace the challenge."
As the newspaper of record for Eastfield College, The Et Cetera publishes 12 print editions each academic year and has an online new site.
North Lake News-Register
North Lake’s literary magazine, Duck Soup, plus the North Lake News-Register and Blazer Magazine consistently rack up awards. News-Register staff members received 20 TIPA awards; first-place winners included these categories: Editorial Cartoon, Sports Game Story, Sports Feature Photo, Op/Ed Page Design and Ad Design. The News-Register staff also received a second-place honor for website (Overall Excellence). The school was lauded for its entries in Critical Review, Photograph and Op/Ed Design.
Kathleen Stockmier, the News-Register’s advisor, said, “We love it when the TIPA convention is in our backyard. That always means more students will want to attend. Hearing the excitement in students’ voices while commenting on the workshops made battling Central Expressway every day bearable! And coming home with 20 awards was the icing on the cake!”
The News-Register is printed at least four times each semester and also is posted online.
Richland College
Multiple honors also went to Richland College’s student media team. First place honors went to a number of Chronicle staffers, including: J.R. Azucena, Multimedia Feature; Mike Sokolski, In-Depth Reporting; Aly Rodrigues, Short Feature Story; Quan Tran for Editorial Cartoon; Miranda Jack, TV News Writing (Live); and the Richland Philosophy Club for In-Depth Multimedia Story.
“They did very well,” said Erica Edwards, lead faculty and coordinator of the journalism program and student media at Richland. “The hard work, dedication to excellence and continued, consistent successes of our Richland College student journalists give me a tremendous amount of pride. I can’t help but think, both as a college and as a district, that we’re doing something right.”
Richland students publish the Chronicle campus newspaper daily online and weekly in print.
For more information, contact Debra Dennis in the DCCCD office of public and governmental affairs at
ddennis@dcccd.edu or 214-378-1851.
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