Cal State Fullerton’s student-run media outlets Daily Titan and Tusk Magazine received multiple national awards this year, showcasing excellence in journalism, design, advertising and multimedia storytelling across several prestigious college media competitions.
At the Associated Collegiate Press and California College Media Association National College Media Conference held in Long Beach in March, the Daily Titan earned high recognition, including being named a finalist for the ACP Online Pacemaker Award, one of the highest honors in collegiate journalism.
The Daily Titan also excelled in the ACP Best of Show Awards, including:
- First place for Advertising Media Kit
- Fourth place for Newspaper/Newsmagazine
- Fifth place for Broadcast Sports Story: Sergio Gonzalez and Justin Rosette
- Sixth place for Website
- Sixth place for Digital Newsletter
- Eighth place for Advertisement: Kristen Portillo
In the ACP Advertising and Business Awards, the team earned honorable mentions for both their media kit and social media campaign, underscoring the strength of student-led marketing and design work.
The Daily Titan also brought home several CCMA Awards:
- Third place for Best Election Issue
- Third place for Best News Photograph: Bryan Jimenez
- Third place for Best Photo Series: Gerardo Chagolla
- Third place for Best Newspaper Inside Page/Spread Design: Jesse Lopez, Dominic Samaniego, Alexcia Negrete and Gerardo Chagolla
In a separate national competition, Tusk Magazine and the Daily Titan won five additional awards at the ProCon 2025 Spring National College Media Convention, hosted by the College Media Association in February in New York City.
Tusk Magazine received top honors with:
- First place for Best Magazine Cover
- Second place for Best Feature Website
The Daily Titan earned:
- First place for Best Newsletter
- Second place for Best Single-Media Advertisement
- Third place for Best Podcast
Special congratulations also go to Sara Leon, who earned multiple honors from both the Journalism Association of Community Colleges and CCMA for her exceptional work at Fullerton College before transferring to CSUF.
In fall 2024, the Daily Titan earned national recognition at the Associated Collegiate Press National College Media Convention in New Orleans, taking home several awards in the ACP Best of Show competition.
The Daily Titan won seventh place in the Newspaper/Newsmagazine category (four-year campus, more than 15,000 students) for its Oct. 28 Voter Guide print issue, a collaborative effort involving both the newsroom and advertising and marketing teams. That same issue also earned third place in the Society of Professional Journalists 2024 Liberty Awards, which honored the best collegiate election print editions.
Other ACP Best of Show honors included:
- 10th place for the Daily Titan’s Advertising Media Kit
- Second place in Advertisement (Print, Online, Video, or Audio): Kristen Portillo
- Ninth place in News Reporting: Isaiah Mallari
In addition, Leon, assistant lifestyle editor, was awarded fifth place in ACP’s Two-Year College Reporter of the Year competition for her previous work at The Hornet at Fullerton College.
“These awards are especially satisfying because they reflect the outstanding group work and collaboration across our editorial, advertising and multimedia teams,” said Jason Shepard, dean of the College of Communications. “Our students continue to produce meaningful, high-quality journalism and storytelling that serve both the campus and broader community.”
With accolades from coast to coast, CSUF student media continues to lead the way in shaping the future of journalism and communications.
To learn more about the Daily Titan or Tusk Magazine, or to support student media at Cal State Fullerton, visit the Daily Titan website and view editions of Tusk Magazine online.