For the second year in a row, The Los Angeles Loyolan is a finalist for one of collegiate media’s top honors — the Gold Crown Award. It is the first time in the publication’s history to receive the honor in consecutive years.
The Crown Awards are the highest recognition given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) to a student print or digital medium for overall excellence. On October 5, CSPA announced the finalists for the 2017 Gold Crown Awards, which will be presented next March. In November, The Tower yearbook was also named a finalist for the Gold Crown Award.
Loyola Marymount University’s student news outlet The Los Angeles Loyolan is one of 10 college newspapers named in the College Hybrid News category for media that use both print and digital platforms. Crown Finalists are winners, not nominees, according to CSPA, as some will be announced as Gold Crowns and the rest as Silver.
“The students at the Loyolan have created an ethos where the accuracy, relevance and responsibility is the journalistic goal and a culture that values the best interest of the Loyolan above their own individual self-interest,” says Tom Nelson, director of Student Media at LMU. “The result is a student organization where the whole of the sum is truly great than its parts and sustained excellence becoming the norm. I could not be prouder to work with these students, and I am so excited for them to be able to enjoy this type of recognition.”
Last March, the Loyolan was one of three recipients of the 2016 Gold Crown Award in the Hybrid category. Though the Loyolan received a Gold Crown in 2012 and Silver Crown in 2010, it has never won two years in a row until now.
“It’s amazing to know that our work is being noticed and recognized,” says Gracie McManus, editor-in-chief of the Loyolan. “I’m incredibly proud of our staff for standing out at a national level. The caliber of our work is only increasing, so I’m excited to see what more we can accomplish this year.”
McManus credits her staff’s willingness to pursue difficult stories and not shy away from controversial subjects as they reason for its national recognition.
“We push the limits with our writing and it pays off,” adds McManus, a junior marketing major from Portland, Oregon. “We also have a diverse staff with many talents and interests, so we’re never at a shortage of ideas and perspectives. We also wouldn’t be where we are without our amazing executive board and our advisor, Tom Nelson.”
Tower Yearbook Also Named Gold Crown Finalist for Second Consecutive Year
UPDATE 2 ― Nov. 7: It was announced in November that The Tower, LMU’s student-run yearbook, has also been named a CSPA Gold Crown finalist for the second consecutive year.
The Tower is one of five college yearbook finalists chosen by CSPA, which selects finalists based on overall excellence in head-to-head comparison. The Tower won Gold Crown Awards for its 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2015 books; it was awarded the Silver Crown in 2010.
Loyola Marymount University was the only university in the nation to have both its yearbook and newspaper win Gold Crowns last year.