The Torch Wins Three Journalism Awards

The only news the Lane student newspaper The Torch doesn’t know is the idea that print journalism is dead. The talented students, overseen by Humanities instructor Camilla Mortensen, successfully revived the paper after its COVID reductions and a later hiatus. This included a joyful retrieval of their newspaper boxes which had been donated to Bring, which you can now see around campus.

In recognition of their hard work the students won several awards from the Pacific Northwest Association of Professional Journalism Educators for the 2024-2025 school year.

Editor-in-Chief, Kat Tabor, won first place for “Best Portrait” for her photograph of Pat Blue Heron, a volunteer whale watcher, in a feature story. 

Managing Editor, River Shepherd, won first place for “Personality Profile” for his story on Lane Director of Marketing and Strategic Communication, Rebecca Long.

Both Tabor and Shepherd received an honorable mention in the category of Comprehensive Coverage for their ongoing reporting on the Lane Board of Education last year.

“Kat and River started as reporters and editors with little to no experience in journalism,” Mortensen explained, “They, together with the rest of The Torch team, jumped in to write stories, take photos and put together a newspaper from start to finish — including returning to print after being digital for about five years.”

We can’t wait to see what The Torch and their students accomplish this year. Be sure to pick up a paper or check out their news at LCCTorch.com

Photo credit: Robin Tabor