March 4, 2009

Fresno State’s student-run newspaper won 18 awards — including five first-place state honors and two national honors — at this past weekend’s Associated Collegiate Press national convention.

The Collegian earned the second-highest number of awards in the state, as announced at the ACP National College Journalism Convention in San Diego. The Collegian’s 18 total awards were second only to UC Berkeley. Fresno State brought home more awards than many of the state’s other top journalism programs, including San Francisco State, UCLA, UC San Diego and San Diego State.

The Collegian won 16 state awards from the California College Media Association. They are:

• First Place, Best News Series. Awarded to The Collegian staff, California election previews.

• First Place, Best Infographic. Awarded to The Collegian staff, “Take your seats.”

• First Place, Best Headline Portfolio. Awarded to Mathew Gomes.

• First Place, Best Personal Opinion. Awarded to Sarah A. Peterson, “Marked by desire.”

• First Place, Best Feature Page Design. Awarded to Megan Reilly, “The campus lens.”

• Second Place, Best Online Interactivity. Awarded to The Collegian Online staff.

• Second Place, Best Feature Photo. Awarded to Joseph Edgecomb, “Kiss an iPod.”

• Second Place, Best Sports Column. Awarded to Kyle Lazarus, “Bracketbusters.”

• Second Place, Best Sports Story. Awarded to Kelly Lucus, “Keeping it Melloh.”

• Second Place, Best Color Advertisement. Awarded to Brandon Ocegueda, Chicago Connection Pizza.

• Third Place, Best Online Multimedia. Awarded to The Collegian Online staff.

• Third Place, Best Special Section. Awarded to The Collegian staff, “Guide to your fun.”

• Third Place, Best Headline Portfolio. Awarded to Jimmy Graben.

• Third Place, Best News Feature. Awarded to Heather Halsey, “Stolen symbol.”

• Third Place, Best Sports Story. Awarded to Dillon Savory, “The factory.”

• Honorable Mention, Best Arts & Entertainment Column. Awarded to Valerie Nevens, “Idolizing the idols.”

The Collegian also won two national honors during ACP’s on-site Best in Show competition.

• Third Place, Best Interactive Element. Awarded to The Collegian Online staff.

• Sixth Place, Best Newspaper Web site. Awarded to The Collegian Online staff.

Two Fresno State students presented their work on panels during the conference. Heather Billings, The Collegian’s multimedia editor, spoke on “How to manage a multimedia Web site.” Brandon Santiago, The Collegian’s editor in chief, spoke on “How to cover investigative stories.”