Is LBCC Viking News an Official Publication of Long Beach City College?

Updated

No. LBCC Viking News describes itself as "the student run news organization of Long Beach City College," which distinguishes it from the college's official communications office. It is student journalism, not an official mouthpiece of the institution.

What the site says about itself

The publication's own tagline is the clearest evidence of its status:

  • Source title: "LBCC Viking News | The student run news organization of Long Beach City College"
  • Page heading: "The Viking News The student run news publication of Long Beach City College."

Both statements identify the outlet by its relationship to the college and by who produces it — students. Neither claims to speak for the college administration.

Why the distinction matters

Dimension Student-run outlet (LBCC Viking News) Official college communications
Who produces it Students College staff/administration
Purpose Report campus and community news Represent the institution's positions
Editorial independence Student editorial decisions Institutional messaging
How to read it As student journalism As official statements

If you need an authoritative statement from Long Beach City College — policy, enrollment, official announcements — treat LBCC Viking News as a secondary source and confirm with the college directly. If you want campus coverage, student perspectives, and community reporting, it is a legitimate outlet for that.

What it covers

The site organizes content into sections including News, Sports, Lifestyle, a podcast ("Small Sounds"), and Opinion, plus About and Contact pages. Recent coverage shown on the homepage includes campus and local stories such as a student struck by a car at the Liberal Arts Campus, a Special Olympics Plane Pull fundraiser, the Belmont Shore Car Show, and LBCC men's soccer results.

That mix — campus safety, athletics, local events, student life — is consistent with a student newsroom covering both the college and its surrounding community.

How to use it appropriately

  • For campus news and student perspective: a reasonable source, written by people close to the campus.
  • For official college information: go to the college itself; this site is not presented as its communications arm.
  • For citation: attribute it as student journalism from LBCC Viking News, not as an official college statement.

The site includes Log In and Search functions and links to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube, so you can follow or verify coverage across platforms.