April 29, 2008

The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism's NYCity News Service took first-place honors for Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication in the Society of Professional Journalists' Region 1 Mark of Excellence awards.

The News Service and other honorees were awarded certificates on April 26 during the SPJ's Region 1 Spring Conference at the University of Maine in Portland.

Region 1 covers all or part of nine northeastern states, and is one of 12 SPJ regions nationally. The News Service now advances to the national round of judging. National winners will be announced in mid May.

The NYCity News Service is a Web-based multi-media site that debuted Feb. 12, 2007 and feeds student-reported neighborhood news to various media. News Service work has been picked up by outlets ranging from WNYC Radio to the New York Daily News to such community papers as the Norwood News and the Queens Courier. The News Service also features a podcast, NYPulse.

"This award is a well-deserved tribute to the hard work of our reporters and the dedication of our faculty," said News Service Director Jere Hester. "The News Service has come a very long way in a very short time – and it's only going to get better as we forge ahead."