Juan Gonzales, City College of San Francisco journalism professor and longtime JACC member, was honored with this year’s Society of Professional Journalists’ 2025 Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award. See SPJ’s press release below.
             “The Distinguished Teaching Award is presented annually to a collegiate journalism educator who demonstrates exceptional teaching ability, contributes meaningfully to journalism and journalism education and upholds the highest standards of the profession.
This year’s recipient, Juan Gonzales, is recognized for his long-standing commitment to mentoring students and advancing journalism education through both classroom excellence and professional leadership.
Gonzales has spent 40 years as chair of the Department of Journalism at the City College of San Francisco where he has taught mass communications, news writing, feature writing, public relations and newspaper production. He also advises The Guardsman, the college’s award-winning newspaper. He founded El Tecolote, a biweekly bilingual newspaper that has served San Francisco’s Mission District since 1970.
             ‘For four decades Juan has elevated its campus newspaper, The Guardsman, to one that can compete with any newspaper out of California’s more than 100 community colleges. Its reporters aren’t just students, they are journalists. They cover violent crime, embezzlement and frequently pull scores of documents through Public Records Act requests,’ said SPJ Northern California Pro Chapter President Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez.
Gonzales has mentored a generation of journalists now working across major news outlets, including NPR affiliate KQED, Bloomberg, San Francisco Chronicle, Hawaii Public Radio, San Francisco Standard and San Francisco Business Times.
             ‘I’m also a former CCSF student and proud protege of Professor Gonzales. He taught me to talk to everyone – janitors, secretaries, families – not just those in power,’ said Fitzgerald Rodriguez. ‘More than a decade and five journalism jobs later, I still remember how he taught me to always center community, to center people, in my coverage. And to doggedly chase scoops on their behalf…San Francisco’s journalism community cares more for the people who live here because of Professor Gonzales. His impact will reverberate immeasurably decades after he retires, which hopefully isn’t soon.’Â
Gonzales is a founding member of several Hispanic media organizations, including the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and co-founded the El Encuentro de Canto Popular festival. He founded Acción Latina, serving as its board president, and directs the Voices for Justice Project documenting Latino press history. He also created the Mission Legacy Project to honor community activists and preserve the San Francisco Mission District’s history.
He was inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame in 2009.
SPJ champions journalists by recognizing outstanding achievement, fighting to protect press freedom, promoting high ethical standards and educating new generations of emerging professionals. “