The Journalism – Mass Media program was a big winner at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s (OCNA) Better Newspapers Competition on April 14.

The event, which was held virtually, recognized the best in community journalism over the last year. The Durham College (DC) Chronicle took home top honours in ‘General Excellence’ among college and university newspapers for the third consecutive year. While all the students and faculty members who contributed to the Chronicle during the 2021-22 academic year share in that award, two members of the 2022 graduating class received special recognition.

Joey Cole won first in ‘Student News Writing’ for a piece on the local community’s support for Ukraine. In ‘Student Photography’, Corrado Distefano earned second place for an action shot of the Ontario Tech University men’s hockey team.

For Cole, covering such a sensitive and emotional topic was a challenging but memorable experience. In April of 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was just beginning, and the young journalist was tasked with interviewing a number of people who had very personal ties to the conflict.

“Talking to people who had fled their homes, when I’m coming from college and I have my whole life here, and they had to give all that up, it was surreal and daunting,” she said.

For Distefano, who spent a lot of time covering the Ridgebacks hockey team, snapping an award-winning photo was all about being in the right place at the right time.

“When you’re taking photos in environments like that, it’s about finding the right areas of the rink, and having the best spot. I was just lucky that I had a good spot, and something eventful happened in front of me,” he said.

The recognition from the OCNA proves that DC is leading the way in preparing students for the challenging world of modern journalism, according to co-program coordinators Danielle Harder and Teresa Goff.

“It speaks to the value they get from the experiential learning model we work under. They don’t just go to class. They go out and cover stories,” explained Harder, who emphasized the program’s commitment to getting out into the community – safely – during the waning days of the pandemic. “A lot of students and campuses were still doing journalism exclusively online, and our students weren’t. We had a lot of students who went into the community to do interviews, and I think that was reflected in how we placed.”

What sets the Chronicle apart, according to Goff, is how the students work as a team. Before submitting their stories and photos to their professors, students will consult each other and share support and advice as they strive to produce the best product they can.

“They created a working newsroom in which they all worked together, and that really increases the impact of the work they do. There’s a lot of sharing of knowledge within the classroom, and that adds value because the editors and teachers aren’t the only part of the process,” Goff said.

Since graduating, both students have benefitted from the lessons they learned at DC. Cole has discovered a surprising talent for video editing, which she puts to good use at the Oshawa Public Library. Distefano is continuing his education at Ontario Tech in Communication and Digital Media Studies, with an eye toward working in public relations for a sports team.

Wherever their careers take them, their time at the Chronicle has prepared them to meet any challenge.

“One day we’d be doing radio writing, then we’re print writing, and then we’re video editing. It really gets you ready for switching mediums. You can jump anywhere out of this program,” said Cole.

“It’s a jack-of-all-trades program,” added Distefano. “You can take pieces out of everything that you learn.”

If future Journalism students do the same, the awards will continue to roll in.

Two second-year PR and Strategic Communications students made Durham College (DC) proud at Craft Public Relations’ Creative for a Cause event in March.

The pair of Gaia Ninzatti and Sameeksha Dandriyal was one of only six teams to qualify for the competition, where they utilized the skills and knowledge they had gained in the classroom. With only 24 hours to work with, they were tasked with designing and pitching a communications plan for First Book Canada, a non-profit organization that supplies books and educational resources to children in need. Limited to a budget of $25,000, the objective of the plan was to increase First Book’s profile and encourage more donations, while also having the potential to be implemented across Canada.

The team from DC met the challenge head-on and crafted a plan that would meet all of First Book’s criteria while incorporating accessibility and fostering a love of reading in students and adults alike.

“My biggest fear was to have our idea be the same as someone else’s, but that didn’t happen. We had a completely different and unique angle, which we’re really proud of,” said Gaia.

They proposed an event that could be held at any school board across the country. On a given day, every student would be invited to dress up as their favorite character from the first book they remember. Teachers could get in on the fun, and everyone could compare costumes and share passages from their favorite books. To promote it nationally, they’d use the social media hashtag “first book memory,” and authors could share their own costumes, favorite passages and reading memories.

A key element of their plan was accessibility. A partnership with CNIB Beyond Print would allow a child with a learning disability to submit their favorite book for free conversion into braille, large text or another accessible format.

They also prioritized diversity by proposing a website where supporters who donate could select a cause they identify with so First Book’s educators could select a book from that community and make it available.

After working through the night, they presented their plan to Craft and First Book. Their proposal and presentation received rave reviews, and though it wasn’t ultimately chosen as the winner, they made the most of their opportunity.

“It really boosted our confidence and made us feel like we’re ready to enter the PR world right now,” said Sameeksha.

In fact, they’re about to do just that. With the winter semester winding down, the friends and collaborators will both complete their field placement at Global Public Affairs in Toronto.

They’ve been working together closely since the start of their program two years ago. Bonded by their shared status as international students, they’ve pushed and supported each other throughout their time at DC.

“We’ve stuck together as a team,” said Sameeksha. “We understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses pretty well. Both of us have very different interests when it comes to PR and our working styles are also different.”

“That’s why we work so great together,” added Gaia. “What she doesn’t like, I like, and what I don’t like she likes.”

With their passion and talent, this pair of soon-to-be DC graduates will lead the way in the PR world for years to come.

Durham College (DC) is helping Durham Region and Ontario prepare for the $10-a-day child care boom with a new program that allows Early Childhood Educators (ECE) to complete their education without leaving the workforce.

DC is launching a new stream of the Early Childhood Education program (ECE-E) designed for ECE assistants who are working in a child care program and early years environment. All classes, both on campus and online, will be held between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., allowing students who work in before- and after-school programs to complete their studies in between their daily shifts.

“We are proud to offer this program, which allows child care professionals to enhance their careers while also helping to bolster the provincial workforce,” explained Joanne Spicer, associate dean, Faculty of Social and Community Services at DC. “With this innovative stream of our popular ECE program, Durham College is providing valuable solutions not only to students, but to the families who count on child care programs in Durham Region and across Ontario.”

Students in the ECE-E program will have the unique option of applying for an Ontario ECE Grant, which will cover tuition fees. The eligibility requirements for the grant are identical to those for the ECE-E program. For more information and to apply, visit the Ontario ECE Grant website.

“This Durham College program is a great opportunity for those working in child care and early learning programs to earn their diploma and work towards becoming a Registered Early Childhood Educator,” said Lisa McIntosh, director of children’s services for Durham Region. “The child care system is growing and needs a growing skilled workforce, which is why professional development in this field is so important.”

With this new stream of the ECE program, DC is leading the way in building workforce capacity in the critically important child care space.