Students take home multiple awards at national journalism convention in San Francisco
April 17, 2018
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Twenty-two students from The Pearl Post, Prestige Yearbook and Pearl Net News attended the national high school journalism convention in San Francisco from April 12-14.
On the first day, students attended a variety of hands-on workshops that were geared toward improving their writing skills, covering controversial topics, videography, photography and gaining insight on better page designs.
“I learned a lot on how to improve our publication and how to produce better stories,” Prestige Yearbook Design Editor Michael Chidbachian said.
Later, the opening ceremony commenced with keynote speakers San Francisco Chronicle Reporter Kevin Fagan and photojournalist Brant Ward discussing various stories they produced about the homelessness in the San Francisco area.
Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s Aerie Yearbook Staff were also awarded the 2018 Impact Award Special Recognition from the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and the Courage and Commitment Award from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) on their coverage following the Parkland shooting. Students from Pittsburg High School’s Booster Redux were presented with JEA’s Student Journalist Impact Award for their work on uncovering discrepancies within their administrator’s credentials.
“(The convention has) shown me how other publications create their newspapers and has inspired me on how to improve ours,” Staff Writer Rudraj Koppikar said. “We need to focus on students a lot more and how global issues affect (them), which is what I want to do for next year.”
The next day, students attended various break-out sessions in the morning and participated in write-offs in the afternoon.
“One of my favorite sessions that I attended was from the journalism advisor at Parkland, I found her to be so inspirational,” Staff Writer David Eskichyan said.
On Saturday more break-out sessions were held in the morning before the awards ceremony.
Overall, The Pearl Post received three newspaper awards with first time competitors Eskichyan receiving Honorable Mention in Sports Writing, Koppikar receiving Honorable Mention in News Writing and returning competitor Michelle Kaganovsky receiving Honorable Mention in Feature Writing. The Prestige Yearbook staff also took home three awards with Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Zachary Gephart-Canada being presented with Honorable Mention in Yearbook Theme Pages, Design Editors Alice Curran receiving Excellent in Yearbook Copy/Caption: Academics and Eva Kaganovsky receiving Excellent in Yearbook Copy/Caption: Student Life.
The Pearl Net News Staff also acquired two broadcast awards with Associate Producer Amanda Jimenez and Camera Operator Judith Ntere receiving Honorable Mention in Short Documentary. In addition, Features Executive Producer Nikita Opel and Entertainment Anchor Sandra Ortega received Excellent in Broadcast Commercial/PSA.
“I learned a lot at the convention and it was so fun getting to meet journalists just like me from around the country,” Eskichyan said.
Kirsten Cintigo is the Print Editor-in-Chief for this year's Pearl Post Print Publication. This is Cintigo’s third year on staff. She enjoys watching...
Julissa Rangel is The Pearl Post’s Entertainment Editor for the 2018-19 school year. This is her second consecutive year on staff. Outside of school,...
Zachary Gephart-Canada is a Copy Editor for The Pearl Post and the Editor-in-Chief of the The Prestige Yearbook. Zach is a senior and is currently serving...
Jade Campbell is a Photo Editor for The Pearl Post. This is her second year on staff. She enjoys watching "Grey’s Anatomy" and "The Walking Dead." In...
Angel Rivera is a Design Editor for The Prestige Yearbook and a Copy Editor for The Pearl Post. Being a part of the media staff throughout her junior and...
Michael Chidbachian is the Online Editor-in-Chief of The Pearl Post. This is Michael’s third and final year on staff. Alongside The Pearl Post, Michael...
Alice Curran is a Copy Editor for The Pearl Post and Design Editor of Prestige Yearbook. Alice is in her senior year and this is her second year on staff....
Angel Van Horn is the Opinion Editor for The Pearl Post. This will be her second year on staff. Angel has been interested in writing for the school newspaper...
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Amazing coverage of such a unique, enriching experience. Really good job guys!! Hope you all had a great time and learned a lot <333