The staff of The Commuter, LBCC’s award-winning news publication and website, earned 19 awards – including 10 first-place honors – in this year’s Oregon collegiate journalism competition.
The awards were presented April 19 during the annual Collegiate Day journalism workshop and awards program, sponsored by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. The event was held at the Boulder Falls Inn Event Center in Lebanon.
ONPA is an association of newspapers across the state founded in 1957. The organization currently has 61 newspaper members and 17 collegiate members, including The Commuter. ONPA hosts a variety of events that feature the work of newspapers and support journalism.
Their goals are “to represent the common interests of Oregon newspapers, to promote the value of newspaper advertising, and to further the public’s understanding that strong newspapers are the cornerstone of a democratic society.”
At Collegiate Day members of The Commuter staff had the opportunity to meet with and learn from reporters, editors and publishers from news organizations from around the state of Oregon, as well as network with their peers from a variety of universities and community colleges.
“This was a great opportunity for LBCC students to gain insights into the current state of newspapers and journalism in Oregon, as well as learn about work in the industry,” said The Commuter’s advisor, Rob Priewe.
“It was also a celebration and recognition of their outstanding work in The Commuter over the past year,” he said.
These are the awards earned by The Commuter staff:
First Place:
Best Section – Staff for the September edition’s campus section.
Best Writing – Kacey Montgomery for her news and feature reporting and writing.
Best Series – Kacey Montgomery for her series on LBCC’s budget cuts.
Best Sports Story – Josh Cande for an interview with LB volleyball coach Jayme Frazier.
Best Review – Mason Wills for his review of “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Best Columnist – Brenda Autry for her feature writing.
Best Spot News Story – Sarah Rose Larson for her coverage of LBCC’s Welcome Day.
Best Sports Photo – Sarah Rose Larson for an LBCC volleyball photo.
Best Photography – Brenda Autry for her feature photography.
Best Design – Kailyn McQuisten for her work designing The Commuter’s monthly magazine.
Second Place:
General Excellence – Staff for overall work in The Commuter.
Best Review – Steven Pryor for his “Oppeheimer” review.
Best Spot News Story – Sarah Rose Larson for her photos of an LBCC Board of Education meeting.
Best Photography – Sarah Rose Larson for her news and feature photography.
Best Graphic – Ryan Sparks for a magazine illustration.
Best House Ad – Kailyn McQuisten for a promotional ad for The Commuter.
Third Place:
Best Special Section – Staff for its “Meet the Team” section.
Best Sports Story – Ryland Bickley for his LBCC basketball preview.
Best Sports Photo – Sarah Rose Larson for an LB baseball photo.
