City College’s journalism students captured 18 honors in the 44th Annual San Francisco Press Club’s Greater Bay Area Awards night. 

The honors include eight first-place winners. Two of the first place winners are Emily Trinh and Chiara Di Martino who reside in the Sunset neighborhood. 

Etc. Magazine won first place for best college magazine, and The Guardsman won first place for best college newspaper. The awards follow a pattern of City College students cleaning up at awards ceremonies, underscoring a tradition of excellence in the journalism department. 

Chiara Di Martino, who won first place for feature layout, said her journalism education at City College was essential for setting her on the path she’s on today. She met the Editor-in-Chief of El Tecolote, Alexis Terrazas, while studying at City College and now she works part-time for the publication as an advertising manager. The newspaper is a bilingual, biweekly publication serving San Francisco’s Mission District.

Di Martino also freelances throughout the Bay Area, with her latest images celebrating the 50th anniversary of El Tecolote appearing on MUNI buses throughout  the city. 

Multiple award winner Emily Trinh, who is finishing up her photography degree at City College, said she “learned a ton” while working on The Guardsman and Etc. Magazine. “They gave me a very practical look at what a real newsroom might look like.” 

Trinh said she felt “honored and encouraged” by the awards, and that they are “great motivations” for her to keep pursuing her dreams. 

Matheus Maynard, who captured first place for best college media column, wrote on a variety of topics in 2020, including coronavirus, Donald Trump, and the wildfires. Maynard loved writing opinion pieces in particular because of the “freedom” he had to organize his thoughts. 

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“Journalism is such a rewarding experience because you learn how to deal with people, facts, language — you learn how to mediate everything,” Maynard said.  

Maynard cited the mentorship of Journalism Department Chair Juan Gonzales as essential to his growth as a journalist. “Juan is amazing. He is one of the best journalists in California, if not the country.” 

Maynard is now studying international relations at San Francisco State University.  

Annette Mullaney, news editor of The Guardsman, won second place for her news story about drastic cuts across City College. “I’m super honored to be one of The Guardsman writers recognized. This is a great program that produces a ton of quality reporting,” Mullaney said. 

“I continue to be impressed by our students as they succeed in competitions, vying for awards in everything from writing to design and photography,” Gonzales said. “It’s a tribute to their passion and their striving for excellence. I’m just so proud of them.”

Other first place winners included Tyler Breisacher for breaking news, Caoilinn Goss for general news, Melvin Wong for feature photography, Bo Lenschau for photo series in Etc. Magazine, Dimas for editorial cartoon, and Emily Trinh and Jasmine Castillo for their feature layout “Sustainably Stylish” in Etc. Magazine. 

Others honored included: Tobin Jones, third place in general news; Tyler Breisacher, third place in investigative reporting; Burcu Ozdemir, second place for editorial cartoon; Nazil Kandur, third place for front page design; Jennifer Yin, Bobby Ramirez and Jasmine Castillo, second place for cover design for Etc. Magazine; Abraham Davis, second place for photography series for Etc. Magazine; Claudia Drdul and Tyler Breisacher, third place for headline; and Emily Trinh, second place for both feature photography and news photography. 

For more information, contact Julie Zigoris: jule.zigoris@gmail.com or 412-303-5915.