Riverside City College’s Viewpoints Staff Earns Statewide Recognition at JACC Awards

Riverside City College’s student-run newspaper, Viewpoints, brought home multiple awards at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) state conference, held March 6-8 in Long Beach, California.

Representing RCC at the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) 2025 Spring National College Media Conference were Viewpoints Editor-in-Chief Eric Pacheco, Managing Editor Natalie Strain, Life Editor Marissa Perez, and Sports Editor Sergio Contreras. The conference featured workshops and panels led by esteemed journalists from publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Long Beach Post, USA Today, and inewsource.org. Students gained hands-on experience reporting on deadline and had the opportunity to network with peers and advisers from two-year and four-year institutions across the country.

Among the top honors, Viewpoints was one of just six California community college student-run publications to receive a Meritorious Award for Newspaper General Excellence. In addition, the team earned several individual accolades for outstanding journalism completed during the 2024 calendar year:

• Editorial – Honorable Mention

• Profile Feature Story – Honorable Mention: Eric Pacheco

• Sports Game Story – Honorable Mention: Eric Pacheco

• Sports Action Photo – Second Place: Sergio Contreras

• Sports Action Photo – Honorable Mention: Maddie Nelson

Viewpoints continues to serve as a vital voice for RCC students, publishing three issues each fall and spring semester. Its content can be accessed at Viewpointsonline.org and Issuu. Story ideas and inquiries can be submitted via email at Viewpoints@rcc.edu.