SF State’s three publications recently received several awards for writing and photography featured in the Golden Gate [X]press, [X]press Online and [X]press Magazine.

The six awards and one honorable mention were given by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) to honor the work done during the past two semesters. SF State’s publications land in SPJ’s Region 11, competing with student publications in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

SF State’s Golden Gate [X]press received first place as the Best All-around Non-daily Newspaper. The judges recognized the importance of diversity in the paper and on campus. Both photography and writing weighed heavily in the judges decisions.

“Diversity is the paper’s edge,” judges commented. “In reading this newspaper, you learn about many different cultures – all through elegant writing, bolstered with research. The best thing that the [X]press does is that it tells stories.”

[X]press Magazine also brought home a high honor winning Best All-around Magazine published more than once a year. The judges seemed to enjoy the Fear and Comfort theme of the December 2003 issue. They noted how all the stories seemed to flow together and how entertaining a read the magazine was.

“This magazine was by far the best of the bunch,” noted one judge. “I forgot that I was reading the magazine as a judge – I kept turning the pages because I was interested and enjoying the publication.”

The [X]press Online staff received first place in the Online General News Reporting category, for covering the San Francisco mayoral race. Featured online was a profile and picture essay of each candidate including audio comments from the runners as well as their supporters.

Photographers received several awards for their work in this competition.

Photographer Zachary Kaufman took home third place in the Best General News Photography category, which covers a news event not on a deadline. He won for his photo “Leaning on God.”

Two places were taken in the Spot News Photography category. Jack Bland won first place for his photograph “Spraying the Cameraman,” a photo taken during last years anti-war protests in San Francisco. Judges said the photo was strong and was “getting close to what the action is all about.”

Jorgen Gulliksen receive third place in the same category for his photo “Whose Streets.”

An honorable mention was made for Nathaneil Tishman in the Online Spot News Reporting category. He was recognized for his work on an article titled “Student struggles with tragedy in So. Cal. Wildfires."