Editor’s Pick

SPJ honors The Citizen with Excellence in Journalism award

The Citizen’s third nod from the big dogs

Tamara Copes, Staff Writer

November 1, 2025

Illustration by Eliot Faine

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Northern California chapter honored The Citizen among the winners of their 40th annual Excellence in Journalism awards on Thursday.

This marks the second year the publication has received this honor, having also been a recipient in 2022. The Citizen also received the organization’s James Madison Freedom of Information award in 2022.

The staff at Peralta Community College District’s only student-run news publication received the Excellence in Journalism award in the student journalism category.

The SPJ recognizes journalists each year who exhibit “exemplary published reporting, writing, and/or photography produced by all forms of student media, including special projects that report local or campus news and by student publications,” according to the organization’s official website.

The qualifying region of eligibility for Northern California spanned from Santa Barbara County to the Oregon border. Eligible submissions must have been published between July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

Five awards were given in the student journalism category, with The Citizen being recognized among fellow student publications Voices of Monterey Bay and Las Positas College’s The Express, as well as students Arundathi Nair and Audreyanah McAfee.

The Citizen submitted three projects for consideration:

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna’s investigations into Peralta’s international education contracts and district official’s international travel.
Eliot Faine and Romi Bales’ investigation into Title IX allegations in the athletics department at The Citizen’s home campus, Laney College.
Ivan Saravia’s breaking news on Peralta Community College District Chancellor’s look to the future of Merritt College and Laney College.

This accolade comes on the heels of The Citizen bringing home seven awards at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) NorCal Fall Regional Conference, including an award in General Excellence.

In a comment to The Citizen, Peralta Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson remarked, “I just feel really proud of all of you [The Citizen staff] and the work that you’re doing, setting the standard for excellence in journalism.”

About the Contributor

Tamara Copes, Columnist

Tamara Copes is a California native with a nomadic spirit and curious mind. Deep family roots in Oakland brought her back here to live as an adult and since then she has involved herself in numerous and varied community projects; determined to spread correct information and create lasting joy. When not working, you may find her dancing to House, Salsa and Hip Hop music or rolling around town running errands and rhythm skating. Tamara most enjoys creative forms of storytelling. She is on the hunt to find her place in the literary world and has returned to a Journalism major after 20 years of pursuing other interests.