The Richland Chronicle made its mark on the national stage this month at MediaFest25 in Washington, D.C.
The Chronicle staff brought home a record number 17 awards across writing, illustration, design and editorial categories.
The conference, hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) and College Media Association (CMA), drew hundreds of student journalists from across the country to celebrate excellence in college media and participate in workshops and panels.
This year, the Chronicle staff earned more Pinnacle Awards than ever before, including honors for illustration, design, photo and editorial writing. Among the winners were Second Place Column for Malak Elkady, Third Place Special Section Cover for Elkady and Mohammed Khan, Honorable Mention Newspaper Front Page for Bao Duong and Third Place Special Section for the Richland Chronicle staff.
For Editor-in-Chief Mohammed Khan, this year’s success reflected not just the team’s talent but their commitment to growth. “I did not expect to get so many awards, but it was really reassuring to see that all the work we put in last year really came to fruition,” Khan said.
Khan, who previously attended ACP’s New Orleans convention as a staff writer, said returning to D.C. as editor-in-chief brought a new perspective. “When I was a staff writer in New Orleans, I really only attended workshops that I could use myself,” he said. “Going as an editor, I attended a lot more workshops that I could bring back to the newsroom.”
The Chronicle team spent the weekend attending sessions led by journalists and editors from national outlets that explored topics ranging from investigative storytelling to visual media and digital engagement.
For Jillian Hunter, the Chronicle’s social media manager, MediaFest was both a learning experience and a creative spark.
“It was my first convention with media, actually,” she said. “I was really excited. A little nervous about going to D.C., but I knew I was going with my best friends.”
Hunter attended several workshops focused on digital storytelling and engagement, including a session that reshaped her approach to managing the Chronicle’s online presence.
“There was a workshop run by Emily Bloch and she gave so much good advice,” Hunter said. “That’s what inspired me to change the way I handle our social media.”
Bloch is Society of Professional Journalists’ 108th outgoing president. SPJ partnered with ACP and CMA this year.
Beyond technique, Hunter said the conference reminded her of the importance of creative risk-taking.
“I just went to all the social media ones I could, and then others that interested me,” she said. “I knew I’d take something from each one. I made sure to get as much content as I could.”
