Journalism students sat at the edge of their seats waiting for the Zoom call to begin.
They were meeting San Fernando Valley’s Congressional Representative Tony Cárdenas who congratulated the publication on Thursday, Nov. 4 for being named the Best High School Newspaper in Southern California by the Los Angeles Press Club during the 63rd annual SoCal Journalism Awards.
The congressman also commended 2021 alumni Ivan Delgado for winning Best Feature Photo in the same competition.
“Congratulations on all of your amazing work and for being named the best-of-the-best,” Congressman Cárdenas said.
He emphasized the importance of journalism in modern society for combatting the spread of misinformation.
“It’s an honorable profession,” he said. “Please understand how many of us appreciate and respect the press. President John F. Kennedy said ‘without the press, our democracy would not survive’ so thank you so much for being part of keeping the world honest and recording the truth to allow other people to decipher for themselves what they believe or not.”
Students had the opportunity to ask the congressman questions for the rest of the period about his office’s policies and the current political climate.
Congressman Cárdenas discussed homelessness, the juvenile prison system, political engagement and his life leading up to a political career.
