Mykel Hilliard
Contact: Debra Dennis;
ddennis@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — May 25, 2021
(DALLAS) — Their content is read, shared, digested and celebrated. These student journalists defy “fake news” labels in pursuit of the truth — conveying news and content that is fair, thorough and objective. Their work proves that news is not only vital but enduring.
Journalism instructors and their students at Dallas College are now sharing stories about the challenges of chronicling traditional news, web-based content and digital media.
Mykel Hilliard said he was uneasy about taking a writing class. He enrolled at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, but the reporting course he signed up for seemed daunting and far beyond what he thought he could do — write.
That was two years ago.
Hilliard is now the editor-in-chief of the Brookhaven Courier and is the first Black student in the publication’s 42-year history to hold that position. He wears a lot of hats at the Brookhaven Courier including reporting, editing, commentary, photography, illustrations and graphics.
“I never imagined working my way through the ranks to become editor-in-chief,” Hilliard said. “I hope that I blaze a path for the storytellers and creatives who come after me. I love to connect to people. I can always find a silver lining, and that’s why I thrive in this. I love storytelling.”
Earlier this year, Hilliard landed the coveted “Journalist of the Year” award presented by the Texas Community College Journalism Association (TCCJA). He shares that honor alongside Harriet Ramos, editor of another Dallas College publication — the EtCetera at Eastfield.
“To know that I’m in the same conversation with her is an honor,” Hilliard said. “Dallas College has a lot of talented journalists at all of its [campuses].”
Hilliard has accepted a summer internship at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. He was also awarded the $400 Mike Warms Scholarship, which is designated specifically for community college student journalists.
Although some newsrooms are trying to correct past injustices in hiring and promoting, Hilliard has been honored for his professionalism and passion, said Courier advisor and lead journalism faculty member Daniel Rodrigue.
“His story helps other young people. They could look at what happened to him, what he’s doing and realize they can do that,” Rodrigue said.
Harriet Ramos
In addition to being named Journalist of the Year, Ramos won the Editor of the Year award — also presented by TCCJA. And she won the Jeff Henderson Memorial Scholarship for Journalistic Excellence, which comes with a $1,000 prize.
“My desire to be a journalist came out of a lifelong love for reading, writing and sharing information with other people,” said Ramos, who has chronicled changes at Dallas College including last year’s merger of all seven campuses.
Ramos not only managed her staff during the pandemic, she was also instrumental in writing pieces about COVID-19 and the impact the shift to virtual classes had on students, teachers and administrators. She is planning to study journalism at the University of Texas at Arlington.
In addition to Ramos’ awards, the EtCetera came home with 38 awards from this year’s contests. These include citations for overall newspaper design, website design and website excellence, said Sarah Sheldon, student media manager at Eastfield. The journalism staff was lauded for breaking news photography.
Students at Dallas College Richland Campus also hauled in noteworthy achievements. Richland students publish the Richland Chronicle student newspaper daily online and weekly in print.
The campus won for editorial cartoon, environmental portrait, general news and headline writing.
Barbara Gandica Martinez
Design Editor Barbara Gandica Martinez won in several categories.
“Barbara is a quadruple threat,” said Erica A. Edwards, lead faculty and coordinator of journalism and student media for Richland Student Media. “Bilingual, and stand-out skills in design, writing, illustration. Plus, [she’s] one of the sweetest, kindest, most dedicated people you will ever meet.”
Martinez’s first-place honors from TIPA include Cover Design for “Coronavirus Hits the White House” and for Critical Review for her podcast.
Richland students are following a long tradition of Chronicle staffers who have won or placed in writing, photography, design and advertising awards at the college level. Many have gone on to work for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Dallas Morning News and the Plano Star Courier, among other publications.