The Columbia Chronicle, the student-run media outlet of Columbia College Chicago, was recognized on Mar. 13 with four Apple Awards at the Spring 2026 National College Media Convention hosted by the College Media Association in New York.
These awards highlight the achievements of student journalists and underscore the importance of collegiate journalism programs in preparing students for professional careers. The recognition follows a record-breaking number of awards for The Columbia Chronicle at this year’s Illinois College Press Association Awards.
The Apple Awards are given to recognize “best in show” work in collegiate journalism and media production. Winners are selected by a panel of experienced media professors and educators. This year, The Columbia Chronicle staff received first place for Best News Website and third place for Best Newspaper. Sofía Oyarzún, La Crónica editor, won first place for Best News Photography, while Michael Cortez, video journalist, earned second place for Best Multimedia Package.
Jackie Spinner, faculty advisor for The Columbia Chronicle and professor in the School of Communication and Culture, said: “The wins are meaningful for the students because working at the ‘Chronicle’ is one of the hardest jobs on campus. 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.”
Spinner also said: “We have been nimble and have adapted to the changes in the industry, and our student media reflect this. 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.”
