Anthony Beron, editor of macksmack, accepting one of 6 journalism prizes
by Janaya Andrews
Winning 1st place award in environmental reporting, macksmack journalists swept a total of 10 awards in the California Press Women high school journalism contest.
“What an awesome win,” said Pamela Tapia, one of the blog’s advisors and a McClymonds graduate.
“We were competing against the wealthiest, best-funded, most tech-savvy suburban, private and parochial high schools in California,” she added.
First place in environmental writing went to Sana Saeed, a 2013 graduate, who tackled the toxins in lipstick in her piece “Is My Lipstick A Lethal Weapon?” Her story was also entered in the National Federation of Press Women high school contest.
Two seniors won top photo awards, Jonae Scott with a 2nd place in sports photography and Luckie Lovette with 3rd place in feature photography for a photo essay on tattoos.
“We pulled it off with the least expensive cameras — sometimes borrowed — and without high tech devices, lighting equipment or digital enhancements,” said Tapia.
Senior Lee Benson won 3rd place in environmental writing for writing “Eco-cool”, which discussed a rising trend in students bicycling to school.
Macksmack editor Anthony Beron racked up six awards, including 3rd place in news writing for a piece on the murder of classmate Denzel Jones in February. He won 2nd and 3rd places in environmental reporting, 3rd place in sports for a piece on the lone male cheerleader at McClymonds and 2nd place in opinion writing for a piece on vegetarians eating in the school cafeteria-
He also won an honorable mention in feature writing for a piece on the digital divide hurting student grades.
The awards ceremony took place at UC Berkeley’s School of Journalism on March 12.
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