Campus Times earns SPJ awards

by Jaclyn Roco
Editor in Chief

The Campus Times was honored Saturday as the second best college newspaper and best college news Web site, based on the Times' overall content and production quality, by the Society of Professional Journalists' Inland Pro chapter, at its annual awards banquet in Ontario.

SPJ tallied the points accumulated by five competing college newspapers, among them: UC Riverside's Highlander and California Baptist University's Banner.

The Best College Newspaper award went to the Highlander, which won the most first place awards in categories honoring excellent writing, photography and production.

"I think it's great that we won second overall," said Elizabeth Zwerling, Campus Times adviser and assistant professor of journalism. "The staff has worked really hard, and they're being rewarded. Next year I hope and expect to take first place for best newspaper."

Additionally, the Campus Times staff won numerous individual awards, including first place plaques for Best News Column (Amanda Stutevoss, "U.S. needs to keep Megan's Law"), Best Sports Column (Christian Lopez, "Football hard to understand by outsiders") and Best Off-Campus Coverage (Tim Tevault and Stutevoss, "Fire rages through Angeles Forest").

In other categories:

For Best News Story, Stutevoss and Matt Paulson took second place ("Dykstra remains in critical condition"), and Tim Tevault won third place ("ULV officials hope to reduce SCE fine").

For Best Feature Story , Melissa Lau was awarded second place ("La Verne Hardware shuts its doors.")

For Best Sports Story, Paulson won an honorable mention for ("ULV breaks the Beavers' dam open.")

The Campus Times also was honored for its photography:

Jennifer Contreras won second place in the Best Feature Photo category ("La Verne Hardware shuts its doors") and honorable mentions in the Best News Photo category ("Taco Bell Protest") and the Best Sports Photo category ("Men's soccer vs. Occidental").

Tom Galaraga received an honorable mention in the Best News Photo category ("Local house fire") and in the Best Feature Photo category for ("AASA fashion show").

"It's always nice to be recognized for the work you do, especially when you work so hard and spend so much time," Stutevoss said. "(Winning is) a reassuring feeling."