Keystone staff attends national conference, snags award

By Emily Leayman

Pat Zazzarino, assistant copy editor of The Keystone, approached the microphone to ask Margaret Sullivan, public editor of The New York Times, a question after she had finished speaking.

Sullivan, a keynote speaker, and students interacting with her were just one part of the National College Journalism Convention hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press.

Zazzarino asked how to abide by but not abuse the honor code of telling the truth she mentioned at the end of her speech.

“I was a little intimidated because there were many people in the room, and she was looking at me,” Zazzarino said. “She has a strong presence in the journalism community. It felt great when she answered my question.”

There were six members of The Keystone staff that attended the ACP National College Journalism Convention from Feb. 27 to Mar. 3 at the Catamaran Resort in San Diego.

Attending members included Haley Bianco, Steve Maugeri, Pat Zazzarino, Kim Marandola, Pat Dietrich and Emily Leayman.

The staff won sixth place in the Best of Show award for Four-Year Less Than Weekly.

“It feels great. We [the newspaper staff] feel very accomplished,” said Zazzarino.

The conference included various sessions run by professionals or student panels, newspaper critiques and keynote speakers. The staff members went to different sessions depending on their interests, expertise and staff positions. The Keystone staff attended two keynote speakers: Margaret Sullivan, public editor of the New York Times, and Nicholas Whitaker, Media Outreach Lead for Google.

ACP, along with the College Media Association, will host the National College Media Convention at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. The next National College Journalism Convention will be at the Sheraton Universal in Los Angeles from Feb. 26 to March 1, 2015.