SAN PABLO, Calif. — With another honor this year, The Advocate, Contra Costa College’s student news outlet, has extended its record as most-awarded two-year student media outlet in Associated Collegiate Press history.
The Advocate is the only two-year college program to rank among the organization’s top ten most-awarded outlets nationally.
The same month, student journalists at Contra Costa College also took home two awards from the Journalism Association of Community College. The new honors recognize The Advocate’s news website and email newsletter, with a third award going to former managing editor Arianna Caramagno for enterprise reporting.
“I am incredibly proud of The Advocate staff,” said Annie Sciacca, journalism department chair and the outlet’s adviser since 2021. “While we do not do journalism solely for the awards, I am so glad the staff has been recognized for their diligence in reporting and their commitment to providing our college community with a modern, impactful news outlet.”
Sciacca brings nearly 15 years of professional journalism experience to the role, having begun her career as a college student — including time in the very district where she now teaches. She spent a decade at Bay Area newspapers including the East Bay Times and San Jose Mercury News before transitioning to freelance work for local and national publications. She inherited a program already transformed into a national powerhouse by legendary adviser Paul DeBolt, and has continued to build on that foundation.
Under her leadership, students gain hands-on newsroom experience producing content across print, digital and multimedia platforms, preparing them for transfer and careers in media, communications and public service.
The Advocate’s continued success also reflects the broader academic momentum at Contra Costa College, a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, Black Serving Institution and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution that has served the diverse communities of West Contra Costa County for over 75 years. The college was recently named an Achieving the Dream campus, as well as NASA’s only Northern California Aerospace Scholars campus, and this year instructor Mark Wong was named one of five national finalists for Faculty Member of the Year by the Association of Community College Trustees.
Though Contra Costa College has gained increasing recognition for its STEM programs, it also continues its commitment to academic excellence in programs like journalism, where students are producing work that holds its own against the best in the country.
