Southwestern Prof Max Branscomb to receive lifetime achievement award


CCNMA will honor Max G. Branscomb, a local professional journalist and educator, at this year's La Pluma with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Branscomb's experience and dedication to furthering journalism education among youth are among the many reasons why he was chosen to be this year's recipient.

CCNMA is proud to honor Max Branscomb for his many years of service to not only student journalists at Southwestern College but to CCNMA’s programs and purpose, said Janine Zuniga, president of CCNMA-San Diego.

“Max and CCNMA have had a long mutually beneficial relationship over the years. We are proud to honor him with our lifetime achievement award,” Zuniga said. “He has touched so many young people’s lives during his career. We as journalists are grateful for his dedication and involvement.”

A graduate of Bonita Vista High School in Chula Vista, Branscomb went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University in 1980 and a master’s degree in mass communication from SDSU in 1982.

He has worked professionally as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer, radio newscaster, television producer and educator. He’s also worked in the public relations field, and is a successful playwright, director and actor.

He has dedicated his experience to teaching future journalists at Southwestern College in Chula Vista where he is the adviser of the Southwestern Sun, the student school newspaper. The Sun is a three-time winner of the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award, the Pulitzer Prize of college media and named five times the National College Newspaper of the year. He was also honored with Southwestern's Teaching Excellence Award in 2006.

Branscomb encourages his students to compete in CCNMA’s annual Journalism Awards contest for professional and student journalists. They are consistently honored for their work.

This year's La Pluma awards and Lifetime Achievement Award will be made in San Diego at The San Diego Union-Tribune headquarters in Mission Valley. The event will be 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 26. There will be a no-host bar and complimentary parking. For tickets, call 619-823-5729 or email e.melendez@att.net.

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