SMC's Student-Run Media Outlet The Corsair Wins multiple statewide JACC Awards

The Santa Monica College (SMC) student-run media outlet The Corsair has brought home several statewide JACC (Journalism Association of Community Colleges) SoCal Publication Awards. The awards were announced at JACC's SoCal conference held at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, where winners for the mail-in entries as well as "on-the-spot" competition were recognized.

The complete list of JACC awards for The Corsair follows:

• General Excellence Print: Corsair Staff

• General Excellence Online: Corsair Staff

• First Place, Feature Photo (On-The-Spot): Caylo Seals

• First Place, Environmental Portrait: Ee Lin Tsen

• Second Place, Environmental Portrait: Nicholas McCall

• Second Place, Sports Feature Photo: Caylo Seals

• Second Place, Online Photo Story/Essay: Caylo Seals

• Third Place, News Photo: Caylo Seals

• Third Place, Sports Action: Nicholas McCall

• Third Place, Social Media: Akemi Rico, Presley Alexander

• Third Place, Photo Story Essay: Ee Lin Tsen, Caylo Seals

• Fourth Place, Feature Photo: Caylo Seals

• Honorable Mention, On-The-Spot Feature Photo: Nicholas McCall

• Honorable Mention, Sports Action Photo: Caylo Seals

"Year after year we see our student journalists at The Corsair consistently producing quality content on a myriad of platforms," said Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, SMC journalism professor and Corsair faculty adviser. "These latest accolades from the Journalism Association of Community Colleges further illustrate the strength of SMC's journalism program and the faculty that work tirelessly to prepare students to be impactful journalists. The future of the journalism industry is clearly in good hands thanks to our amazing students."

Photojournalism professor and Corsair faculty adviser Gerard Burkhart further stated, "This recent generation of staff photographers and writers continues the long history of the Corsair stepping up to big issues and providing professional reportage. Awards like these are the confirmation of that talent and zeal for great journalism."

The Corsair advising team includes professors Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, Gerard Burkhart, Sharyn Obsatz, and Samantha Nuñez.

Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The Corsair staff produces a bi-weekly newspaper in the spring and fall semesters, currently available on issuu.com/corsair.website, online at thecorsaironline.com. Follow The Corsair on Instagram @corsairnews.

Founded in 1955, JACC is a nonprofit on the cutting edge of journalism education, bridging the gaps between students, educators, and publications by providing networking and educational events aimed at inspiring members at each stage of their journalism career. To learn more about the JACC visit jacconline.org.

Image Captions:

JACC_First-place-environmental-portrait-Ee-Lin-Tsen.jpg: Model Kyra Stewart waits before walking for Filipino fashion designer, Francis Libran, at the Los Angeles Fashion Week, Oct.7, 2022. This photo by Corsair staffer Ee Lin Tsen won first place in the environmental portrait category during the JACC SoCal Publication Awards.

McCall_environmental-portrait_second-place: Nicholas McCall won second place in the environmental portrait category for this photograph of the first-ever SMC Women's State Swim Champs. Santa Monica College Corsairs' California Community College Athletic Association 2023 Women's Swim & Dive Champions (standing) Ema Klimauskas, Wilma Henriksson, Reva Reignier, Emily Lester, Valerie Burchard, and (being carried) Risa Akatsu at the Santa Monica Swim Center on Tuesday, May, 16, 2023, in Santa Monica, Calif.

First-place-feature-photo-caylo-seals-jpg: Megan Sanders, sports editor for SACMedia, listening to California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Professor Elizabeth Blakey give a talk about journalism and artificial intelligence ethics. This photo by Caylo Seals won first place in the feature photo "on-the-spot" category.