The DVC student newspaper, The Inquirer, won a General Excellence award for its print edition at the state convention of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges, in Burbank. The Contra Costa College Advocate also won General Excellence and Pacesetter awards.
The General Excellence award was given for issues printed during the fall 2011 term. DVC students who won individual awards for their work during fall term were Mike Alfieri, Danielle Barcena, Lisa Diaz, John Kesler, Theresa Marie and Julius Rea. Inquirer spring editor-in-chief Brian Donovan and Mike Alfieri won awards in the on-the-spot competitions. Donovan also won first place in opinion writing, and Mike Alfieri won an honorable mention in sports game photography.
The convention’s keynote speech was given by Ruben Vives and Jeff Gottlieb, the Los Angeles Times reporters who broke the City of Bell salary scandal and won a Pulitzer Prize for their efforts. More than 500 delegates from 45 community colleges attended the conference.
In addition to Donovan and Alfieri, DVC students Danielle Barcena, Christa Balingit and Alex Brendel attended.
“It was a great convention and a wonderful showing, especially in competition with the larger Southern California programs,” said program adviser Mary Mazzocco. “I’m very proud of our students, who worked hard for the General Excellence award.”