2016 Broadcast Pacemaker Finalists announced

Congratulations to all Broadcast Pacemaker finalists!

Judging took place over July 25 and 26, with three professional and experienced broadcast journalists serving as judges. NSPA Contest and Critique Coordinator Mariah Keith moderated the process. During the span of judging, the four met in person in Minneapolis to review the initial 60 entries.

“I was very gratified to see the kind of work that students are doing—the curiosity and, really, the very high production values,” one judge said. “I think that students are paying close attention to what professionals are doing, and with a lot of determination and hard work and the kind of equipment people have access to, they can turn out a really professional product.”

After the first day, 23 entrants moved on to the next round of judging. The second day consisted of choosing 12 finalists from the remaining entries, and six of those were named Pacemaker winners.

“I think the process was terrific,” said a second judge. “We saw a lot of great work; it was tough making some of the finalist and winner decisions because there’s a lot of good work being done out there.”

All judge comments were recorded for the 12 finalists and will be made available to them after winners are announced at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Indianapolis, Nov. 10-13.

The Nighthawk Update
Rocky Heights Middle School, Highlands Ranch, Colorado