*this article was adapted from a media alert that first appeared on the Coast Report website
Orange Coast College's student-run newspaper, Coast Report, was honored during the Fall National College Media Convention in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 27-30.
MediaFest 2022 brought together three major journalism organizations – the Society of Professional Journalists, College Media Association and the Associated Collegiate Press – for a multi-day conference that featured keynote presentations from well-known journalists and sessions designed to help students learn the craft.
A convention highlight was the keynote address by legendary Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who broke the “Watergate” story that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation.
Coast Report was recognized with second-place honors in the CMA Pinnacle Awards in both the Media Outlet of the Year and Website of the Year among two-year colleges. The awards were given for work done during the 2021-2022 academic year. The Pinnacle Awards received more than 2,900 entries from two- and four-year colleges and universities across the country.
“We are so proud of our student journalists for this recognition of their hard work and professionalism as they report on campus and local news,” says OCC President Angelica Suarez. “OCC has one of the top journalism programs among two-year colleges in the state, with hundreds of students receiving mentoring and gaining hands-on experience throughout the Coast Report’s 74-year history.”
On Sunday, Oct. 30, Coast Report took ninth place in the Two-Year College Website category for the ACP Best of Show Awards. These awards honor current work at institutions who attend the convention.
Coast Report staff members Kate Bent, Kate Meyers and Khalid Alsadek attended the conference. OCC journalism instructor and Coast Report faculty advisor Jeremy Shermak presented on Coast Report's recent town halls to inform student reporters and advisors on how to replicate the events at their institutions.
Orange Coast College recently constructed a new student newsroom, located on the first floor of the College’s Literature & Languages, Social & Behavioral Sciences building, which opened in Fall 2021. The newsroom is home to Coast Report, which is staffed by students enrolled in Journalism 115 and publishes articles to a news website throughout the academic school year.
“The construction of a new state-of-the-art newsroom at a time when the industry is under attack sends the message to our students that we are committed to the field of journalism,” says Dean of Literature and Languages Michael Mandelkern. “This most recent recognition highlights the bright future ahead for Coast Report.”
Coast Report has been the "student voice of Orange Coast College" since 1948.