City College Journalism Students Win Big at the 2026 JACC NorCal Conference

City College of San Francisco students demonstrated remarkable dedication, teamwork, and commitment to exceptional journalism at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges NorCal Regional Conference on Saturday.

Eighteen The Guardsman staff joined 142 peers from 13 colleges across the region at San Francisco State University for media industry-focused workshops and lectures, info sessions on four-year universities, and reporting competitions.

Department of Journalism students won a total of 23 awards, 18 mail-in awards and five on-the-spot awards.

“JACC is a great way to gain journalism knowledge and network with people in all ranks of the profession,” The Guardsman Editor-in-Chief Henry Crowell said.

The Guardsman reporter Bryné Hadnott said one message from the conference became a mantra: Student journalists are journalists.

“Spending a day at SF State surrounded by other journalism students from around Northern California reaffirmed my passion for and commitment to local journalism,” Hadnott said. “I had the opportunity to attend workshops on data journalism, the California Local News Fellowship, and former community college student Andrea Baltodano's advice on landing a newsroom job.”

Diana Chuong, a journalist and illustrator on The Guardsman staff, relished her time at the conference and the opportunities it provided.

“Each of the seminars I attended was hosted by knowledgeable professors and journalists in the field,” Chuong said. “I wouldn't have been able to network with them, nor would I have been able to meet fellow journalism students if it weren't for the help from the department.”

Alex Mullaney, chair of the Department of Journalism, gave his profuse thanks to JACC’s volunteers for organizing the conference and called the conference vital for journalism industry and the good health of democracy.

"Our students, and all community college journalism students, need more hands on experience," Mullaney said. "The value our students get from the conference every year demonstrates that."

Mail-In Awards

First Place Awards

1. Editorial Cartoon – First Place | Cindy Chan
2. News Photo – First Place | Karim Farahat
3. Inside Page Layout (both broadsheet and tabloid) – First Place | Tiffany Lam

Second Place Awards

1. News Story – Second Place | Abby Sigler
2. Illustration – Second Place | Cindy Chan
3. Opinion Story – Second Place | Patricia Baldwin
4. Photo Story-Essay – Second Place | Teresa Madrigal
5. Feature Story (non profile) – Second Place | Lev Farris Goldenberg

Third Place Awards

1. Column Writing – Third Place | John R. Adkins, Lev Farris Goldenberg
2. Environmental Portrait – Third Place | Kyra Young
3. News Photo – Third Place | Karim Farahat
4. Sports Game Story – Third Place | Abby Sigler

Fourth Place Awards

1. Critical Review – Fourth Place | Abby Sigler
2. Feature Photo – Fourth Place | Abby Sigler

Honorable Mentions

1. Editorial Cartoon – Honorable Mention | Cindy Chan
2. Sports Feature Photo – Honorable Mention | Karim Farahat
3. Feature Story (non profile) – Honorable Mention | Abby Sigler
4. Feature Photo – Honorable Mention | Karim Farahat

On-The-Spot Awards

First Place Awards

1. News Writing – First Place | Kalyxa Roman

Second Place Awards

1. Social Media – Second Place | Karla Lopes, Taylor Hannon, Kiyoka Valdes, Diana Chuong, Franchon Smith

Fourth Place Awards

1. Opinion Writing – Fourth Place | Bryne Hadnott
2. Feature Photo – Fourth Place | Fran Smith

Honorable Mention

1. Feature Photo – Honorable Mention | Joan Walsh