Every year, the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit chapter hosts the SPJ Awards. The awards recognize journalistic excellence in a variety of categories, such as community reporting, sports reporting, feature reporting and more, while also highlighting impressive photojournalism. Since 2021, student-produced stories and photos featured in annual editions of Perspectives Magazine have won awards in several categories, and this year was no different.

High school students who participated in 2023 journalism and photography camps with Coaching Detroit Forward and The Detroit Writing took top spots in several categories, surpassing some of Metro Detroit’s most accomplished journalists.

Students took first place in five categories: community reporting, health reporting, portrait photography, feature photography and magazine cover.

Among the winners was Communication & Media Arts High School senior Ma’Naida Gonzalez, who won in three categories, including first place for capturing the cover of the 2023 Perspectives Magazine.

Ma’Naida, who was inducted into the National Honor Society the night of the SPJ ceremony, found out the next day she had won.

“When I got the email that I won the awards, I was so happy and honored that I placed in the top three in more than one category. A sense of accomplishment really came into play,” she said. Since participating in CDF’s Beginner and Advanced Photography Camps, Ma’Naida’s career has taken off. She launched her own photography company, MG Photography, capturing events and people around the city of Detroit.

Students Alan Greason, Libby Townsel and their families celebrate their SPJ Detroit Awards at a ceremony in Troy, Michigan in May 2024. Photo by Stephanie Steinberg

The Society of Professional Journalists is an organization dedicated to preserving and defending the freedom of the press. Incepted in 1909, SPJ supports journalists through advocacy, training and networking opportunities.

When inner-city youth compete in the SPJ Awards alongside professional Metro Detroit journalists, they gain invaluable exposure to the field and insight into industry practices.

Allowing students to compete within the space ultimately nurtures their talent and motivates Coaching Detroit Forward youth to pursue career goals within the media industry. The experience also bridges the divide between aspiring young journalists and established professionals — as the room is filled with some of the most talented names in Metro Detroit journalism.

Journalism Camp 2023 students Libby Townsel and Alan Greason attended the ceremony with their proud families. Townsel, in attendance with her mother, took home a third place feature reporting certificate for her article “Memories Burned into Firefighters.” The piece was inspired by her father Lateef Townsel, a fire inspector for the city of Southfield, Michigan.

Libby, a sophomore at Mercy High School, described the SPJ Awards as a “life-changing experience, being able to meet so many journalists and hear about the impact they had.” Libby added she’s excited to see what journalism has in store for her in the future.

Coaches Stephanie Steinberg and Michelle Sheridan accept the magazine cover design award.

The 2023 Journalism and Photography Camps were free for Detroit high school students thanks to Coaching Detroit Forward sponsors and grant partners, including the Fisher Foundation, Dow Jones News Fund, University of Michigan Wallace House Center for Journalists, Corewell Health, Individual Communicators Network and SPJ Detroit.

In 2023, over 25 professional journalists and a dozen photographers coached students through daily writing and photography lessons, activities and one-on-one mentorship.

“Every year I’m amazed by the sheer talent of our students,” said Coaching Detroit Forward Executive Director Stephanie Steinberg. “One student even beat a coach in the portrait photography category, and we love when that happens. It shows that the students truly grasp the fundamentals we teach them, but put their own creative spin on their photography and writing.”