Eastfield EtCetera staff members celebrate their awards.
Media Contact: Debra Dennis;
DDennis@DallasCollege.edu
For immediate release — Nov. 21, 2023
(DALLAS) — The Eastfield EtCetera, a college media outlet that has long enjoyed a legacy of empowering student journalists, gained major recognition this month with its induction into the Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame. Dubbed the “Pulitzer Prizes of Collegiate Journalism,” these awards pay homage to newspaper storytelling as well as communication through audio, video, social media and email newsletters.
The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) established the Hall of Fame in 1987 to honor student publications. The ACP Hall of Fame induction is a nod to the student publication’s standing among its peers. It was awarded to EtCetera editors-in-chief Carmen Guzman-Contreras and Moira McIntee as well as longtime former advisers Lori Dann and Natalie Webster, along with Beth Langton, a volunteer adviser.
The Hall of Fame distinction, presented during ACP’s national convention in Atlanta, acknowledges years of exceptional journalism and commitment to excellence, said Dallas College Eastfield Campus faculty adviser James Lehaman. The newspaper earned this distinction because of its history of outstanding work that includes:
Newspaper Pacemaker Winner, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020;
Online Pacemaker Winner, 2018, 2019, 2020;
Newspaper Pacemaker Finalist,1999, 2000, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023; and
Online Pacemaker Finalist in 2021.
Lehaman, in his first year as the adviser, said he inherited a promising group of journalists along with the newspaper’s storied history of award-winning journalism.
“I know that this Hall of Fame honor means a great deal,” said Lehaman, who guides the students through digital storytelling, basic reporting, graphics and other aspects of journalism. ”The students here expressed so much passion and love for this achievement. They do the work. They are dedicated to this career.”
The EtCetera, he said, is known for its outstanding coverage of the Eastfield Campus and the city of Mesquite, where Eastfield is located. Lehaman is adding a podcast to the traditional multimedia offerings at Eastfield in hopes of keeping his students current and competitive.
“Whatever your skill is, hone it. Content creation, video editing — there is no one size fits all. They have a foundation in communication that makes them marketable. Learn algorithms and learn everything. Love what you do,” said Lehaman, who accompanied eight Eastfield students to the convention.
Guzman-Contreras, who has been on the EtCetera staff for two years, credits the college with helping the news staff create engaging and professional content. Eastfield also won several honorable mentions, including for editorials, and Guzman-Contreras received an individual honorable mention for “reporter of the year” for a two-year school. She also received a first-place honor for best profile.
“The EtCetera is now immortalized with other incredible newspapers. It means we’re doing something right,” said Guzman-Contreras, who is among a small staff that covers breaking news, features and editorials. “In journalism, you think on your feet. It’s sink or swim, and I always choose to swim.”
Mattheau Faught, the news outlet’s presentation editor, won several individual awards. He said the instruction he received at the EtCetera is priceless.
“There is value in what we get here when we go out to start looking for real jobs,” said Faught, who graduated last year from Eastfield but returned for additional courses to improve his skills and marketability in digital journalism. Faught garnered several awards for graphics and storytelling, including an honorable mention for front-page design illustration.
“The paper is pretty well received according to the students we talk to,” said Faught, who is considering a career in web design. “Working for an award-winning news organization sells itself.”
Dallas College’s other student publications, the Brookhaven Courier, North Lake News-Register and the Richland Student Media, also received awards from the ACP for excellence. For a list of all awards, please visit:
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