Webb Canyon Chronicle Receives Prestigious Crown Award

Webb’s student publication, the Webb Canyon Chronicle, has been named a recipient of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s prestigious Crown Award in recognition of its overall excellence.

The award is the international organization’s highest honor for student media. The review examined every element of Webb’s digital publication in 2021, from editorials to graphics, articles to images, podcasts to video.

“We worked really, really hard for this award, and it feels great to get it,” WCC Public Editor Bianca Arteaga ’22 said.

Arteaga said WCC editors reviewed feedback from previous submissions, including calls for more editorials and increased news coverage. Student editors intensified training of the staff and revamped all elements of the digital publication.

“We did a lot of research, took inspiration from the New York Times and made a lot of changes,” she said. “It takes a lot of time to put out each issue, but it’s a really fun job and we all love it.”

This year, the Chronicle has covered issues ranging from COVID-19 to Webb’s Unbounded Days program, from school debates to diversity conferences. Editorials address such issues as school shootings, ethnic studies and the SAT, among many other topics. The site includes videos and a podcast.

Webb’s journalism program, which is led by teacher Mark Dzula, now includes teacher Maureen O’Brien, who joined Webb’s faculty in fall 2021. More than 30 students are engaged in creating each issue, which they work on as part of an afternoon activity as well as through academic courses.

In addition to Arteaga, the publication’s staff is led by Editor-in-Chief Cathy Wang ’22, Editor-in-Chief Sunny Yu ’22 and Chief Copy Editor Leann Shu ’22. 

“I couldn’t be prouder of these students and all they’ve accomplished,” Dzula said. “This award represents a very significant achievement for a student media organization, and they’ve more than earned the accolade.”

The press association will present the Crown Award at its 98th annual Scholastic Convention on March 18.

Details
January 11, 2022

8:00 AM PST