The Brookhaven Courier brought back eleven CMA Pinnacle Awards from various categories, such as design, sports, reporting and organizational at the ACP/CMA Fall National College Media Convention in New Orleans.

The conference consisted of workshops, keynote speeches and critiques on student media outlets. The event was sponsored by the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association that lasted from Oct. 31 and ended on Nov. 2. 

Erin Dion, The Courier’s copy editor, said, “It was a great learning experience. I made great contacts and it was nice being around like-minded people and being around other journalism students from other Dallas College campuses.” 

The convention’s workshops also supplied its student journalists with newfound passion and tips on the journalism world. Mason Foster, The courier’s multimedia manager, said “The most memorable part of the trip was being able to see people who worked with big companies like Lionsgate… to know that these successful people came from such relatable back grounds really brought out the hope in me for a better future in the world of media.”

There was a wide range of workshops for attendees to choose from including learning more about page layout to marketing studio media. “The most important thing I learned is that as journalists we must essentially stick to our core, which is not to be a newspaper, but to be a news outlet,” Briana Jenkins, The Courier’s layout editor, said. “We must get the news out to the people by any and every medium possible.”

Colleges were also able to sign up for a critique on their student publications. “Constructive criticism allows us as a paper to grow and develop,” Isabel Velazquez, The Courier’s art director, said. “Without critique, you’re unable to have any real or substantial introspection to further progress.” The Courier took advantage of the opportunity and received additional critiques from San Francisco Chronicle’s creative director Alex Fong and former Los Angeles Times member Gary Metzker. 

Velazquez said that the opportunity to network with other student journalists and panelists provided valuable insight. “I’m grateful working for [a] paper that provides us with the opportunities to attend events like this.”