Third annual local journalism awards set for Thursday

Event at Valencia High School to recognize journalistic excellence in various categories

Talented high school- and junior high school-level writers will be honored at the third annual Journalism Awards ceremony, an event hosted by the Santa Clarita Valley Signal that highlights future award-winning journalists in the area.

Dozens of students, teachers and parents from the Santa Clarita Valley are expected to gather at the Valencia High School Theater from 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Signal will recognize journalistic excellence and compelling works in the areas of news, sports, opinion, photography, video, design, website and social media.

“These awards are important because in today’s world there are plenty of places to get fake news,” said Russ Briley, the founder of the awards show and The Signal’s executive vice president of community affairs.

Briley, who chose to start the awards after coming to The Signal from Ventura, said “It’s important that we retain our journalistic integrity and inspire people who want to do the right thing and help journalism remain a staple in our nation.”

“Being a good journalist starts early, and these students continue to show that they get better and better at an earlier age each year,” Signal Editor Jason Schaff said.

“Every year, I am blown away by the skill we see coming out of high school,” Briley

said. “In fact, the paper has hired a lot of local talent as interns in recent years. I wouldn’t be surprised if we found another one soon.”

Residents looking for more information on the awards ceremony

are encouraged to contact The Signal or Valencia High School for more information. The full list of last year’s winners can be found online.

bdixson @signalscv.com

Being a good journalist starts early, and these students continue to show that they get better and better at an earlier age each year.”

Jason Schaff,

Editor of The Signal