STAFF EDITORIAL: Journalism is About Integrity and Camaraderie, Not the Awards

The Illinois College Press Association (ICPA) 2023 conference was held between Feb. 17 and 18, featuring keynote speakers, mingling between journalists and an award ceremony.

The awards are granted based on a series of qualifications but are chosen based on what we, as a staff, decided to submit. The Phoenix received 11 awards for stories, page design, investigative reporting, photography and a staff editorial. 

While it’s an honor and privilege to hear our names called at the ICPAs, that has never been our top priority when writing a story or designing a page.

Ethicality, transparency and impartiality are among our main objectives when writing and editing stories. Being a voice for our university and community holds more weight than an award.

Whether we started writing for The Phoenix as a stepping stone for our journalistic careers or just for fun, all of us have grown to see the importance of every story, every interview and every photo. Our work here has instilled in us the vitality of producing informative and powerful stories. We see the tremendous value in truthful and thorough communication. By informing our communities, we strive to create a more just world.

It is rewarding to be acknowledged for the work we do and our commitment to journalism. But plaques and certificates with our names printed across them are the last reason we dedicate so much of our time and energy to this craft.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the ICPAs was being able to congregate in a room with like-minded student journalists and their advisors. 

Spending hours and hours every Tuesday in the windowless basement newsroom of the School of Communication can feel like a bit of an isolating experience for our staff. But when we’re in the bright, spacious basement of the DoubleTree at a table next to The Depaulia, The Daily Northwestern and other Illinois news organizations, there’s a sense of camaraderie alongside the friendly competition.

While we are grateful for the awards, the greatest motivator for our work is to produce stories that honestly and impactfully reflect Loyola and our community, and being able to celebrate and learn from other publications who share in the dedication to truth.

Featured image by Austin Hojdar | The Phoenix