'The Columbia Chronicle' Wins College Media Association Awards
Kate Julianne Larroder, a member of the “The Columbia Chronicle” staff, was in New York to receive awards from the College Media Association on behalf of the student-run media outlet. “The Columbia Chronicle,” the student-run media outlet of Columbia College Chicago, has once again been honored for outstanding student journalism, winning four Apple Awards at the Spring 2026 National College Media Convention hosted by the College Media Association (CMA) in New York. This recognition follows on the heels of the “Chronicle’s” record-breaking number of awards at this year’s Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) Awards.
The Apple Awards recognize the “best in show” work in collegiate journalism and media production. A panel of experienced media professors and educators selected the winners.
“The wins are meaningful for the students because working at the ‘Chronicle’ is one of the hardest jobs on campus,” says Jackie Spinner, faculty advisor for the 'Chronicle' and a professor in the School of Communication and Culture. “It’s a job with a very small margin of error, and yet these wins reflect that they can cover some of the hardest stories like professionals, even while managing classes and other jobs. That is a lot of pressure, and the stakes could not be higher.”
About the Awards
This year, the CMA gave awards to “Chronicle” staff in four categories in Division II, which includes institutions nationwide with enrollments between 3,000 and 9,999 students.
The awards were as follows:
First Place, Best News Website — “The Columbia Chronicle” staff
First Place, Best News Photography — Sofía Oyarzún, La Crónica editor
Second Place, Best Multimedia Package — Michael Cortez, video journalist
Third Place, Best Newspaper — The “Columbia Chronicle” staff
Success in Journalism
Success for the “Chronicle” staff often extends beyond collegiate awards and graduation, with many staffers building careers in journalism based on their experiences at Columbia. Spinner credits the “Chronicle’s” agility and focus on adaptability as playing a role in its recent achievements as well as for preparing students for the professional world.
“We have been nimble and have adapted to the changes in the industry, and our student media reflect this,” she says. “Columbia has always provided a strong foundation in journalism, but in recent years, we’ve moved to give our students more cross-discipline experience so that they are competitive for jobs after graduation.”
Congratulations to the staff of the "Chronicle"! Columbia can’t wait to see what you do next!
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