Biola University student media publications The Chimes and The Point won a total of 12 awards at this year’s Associated Collegiate Press Journalism Conference (ACP), held in San Francisco Feb. 27–29. Nine students attended the three-day conference with Michael Longinow, professor of journalism in Biola’s Department of Media, Journalism and Public Relations.

The Chimes, Biola’s student-run newspaper, received nine awards. The Point, a student-run and produced magazine to encourage deep discussion about student life and faith, received three awards.

Both publications won two different types of awards: Best of Show and People’s Choice. Best of Show competitions, given at every ACP conference, award publications with representatives in attendance and are judged on overall excellence compared to other publications who entered the competition.

“For the ‘People's Choice’ awards, convention organizers put newspapers on tables in a lobby area with cups next to them,” Longinow said. “Students walked by, looked over the papers and put poker chips in the cups beside papers they liked best. And Chimes copies got lots of poker chips.”

Longinow and Biola students heard seasoned journalists speak on a variety of topics and received awards for their hard work. Longinow spoke on three panels including "No Hate Here: Journalism that Tears Down Walls and Puts Real People in Diversity News" and "Covering Trauma While Protecting Your Staff." Brittany Ung, editor-in-chief of The Chimes and Kayla Santos, editor of the arts and entertainment section of The Chimes, presented on best practices for editors who receive story pitches from writers and photographers and how to coach writers.

The conference benefits students from public and private schools alike, by teaching them about how to shoot great photos, discerning what is allowed from a media law view and journalism ethics, Longinow said.

“The Chimes has grown this year (building on last year) as one of the most ethnically diverse staffs I've ever seen at schools where I've done media advising,” Longinow said. “That means they naturally grasp the cross-cultural implications of events and stories.”

According to the conference’s website, “Through education, training and recognition programs for members, Associated Collegiate Press promotes the standards and ethics of good journalism as accepted and practiced by print, broadcast and digital media in the United States.”

See the complete list of awards both publications received. Learn more about the Department of Public Relations and Strategic Communication, soon to become the Department of Digital Journalism and Media.

Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations assistant. For more information, contact media.relations@biola.edu.