Riverside City College Celebrates Viewpoints Students for Wins at JACC Fall '24 Conference

Oct 29, 2024
The Viewpoints team, from left, includes: Qiesa Taylor, Izabella De La Rosa, Editor-in-Chief Eric Pacheco, Caitlyn Nelson and Natalie Strain.

Riverside City College's student-run newspaper, Viewpoints, made an impressive showing at the Journalism Association for Community Colleges (JACC) SoCal Regional Conference on Oct. 19, 2024. Several staff members earned recognition for their hard work and dedication to journalism, both during the conference and for their 2023-2024 publications.

Current Viewpoints staff members Qiesa Taylor, Izabella De La Rosa, Editor-in-Chief Eric Pacheco, Caitlyn Nelson, and Natalie Strain collaborated to secure an honorable mention in the on-the-spot competition for a social media post that showcased the energy of the conference at California State University, Northridge (CSUN).

In addition to the team’s success at the event, the following former and current staff members received individual and group awards for their published work:

  • Column Writing, Third Place – Karly Ortiz
  • Front Page Layout, First Place – Viewpoints Staff
  • Inside Page Layout, Fourth Place – Viewpoints Staff
  • Photo Story/Essay, Honorable Mention – Keith Fernandez
  • Profile Feature Story, Fourth Place – Eric Pacheco
  • Sports Feature Photo, First Place – Stephen Day
  • Sports Feature Photo, Third Place – Cesareo Arreola Saldana

Held annually, the JACC conference provides students the opportunity to learn from professional journalists representing leading news organizations, including the LA Times, LAist/KPCC, NBC News, SoCal News, and USA Today. This year’s attendees participated in hands-on workshops, networked with peers and four-year universities, and explored CSUN’s student-run media, gaining insights into opportunities that will aid in their academic and professional growth.

“The recognition these students received is a testament to their talent, dedication, and hard work," said Dr. Claire Oliveros, President of Riverside City College. "Their success exemplifies the high standards of RCC’s journalism program and the bright future that awaits them.”

The Viewpoints team’s achievements at the JACC conference highlight the importance of student journalism and demonstrate RCC's commitment to fostering critical thinking, creativity, and storytelling.

To learn more about Viewpoints, visit their website.