Christopher Columbus High School
Each year, the National Scholastic Press Association recognizes excellence in student media with scholastic journalism’s preeminent award, the Pacemaker. Pacemakers are awarded in each category of publication — online, newspaper, yearbook, magazine and broadcast.
Teams of media professionals judge entries based on the following criteria: coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership, design, photography and graphics.
NSPA contacted David Perez and Phillip Bootsma, two staff members of 2015 Daily Broadcast Pacemaker recipient CCNN Live for a Q&A. CCNN Live is the student-run video broadcast program of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida.
Judges praised CCNN for its interesting stories and engaging hosts. One judge wrote: Daily broadcasts should be more than glorified announcements and the finalist did just that. The program had a very professional look and great anchors.
NSPA: What were the goals going into last year and how did you ensure those goals were met?
David Perez, President/Sports Anchor: My goals going into the year were to get our show at a nationally competitive level. Last year we won the broadcast Pacemaker award, and this year I was looking to help defend it. I helped ensure these goals were met by working hard to make our show the best it could possibly be.
Phillip Bootsma, Executive Board Member: We wanted to win a broadcast Pacemaker for the second year in a row. I ensured our goals were met by striving for perfection for every morning show this year.
NSPA: What was the toughest moment you faced last year?
DP: There isn’t one tough moment that stands out, but rather the entire year. In order to be the best, we had to work very hard, which can be tough. There were a lot of social events we had to miss, but in the end it was all worth it.
PB: The toughest moment was balancing my studies and my work for CCNN.
NSPA: What does the Pacemaker mean to you?
DP: To me the Pacmaker means all my hard work has come to fruition. It means that I was recognized for my hard work throughout the year, and that’s a feeling you can’t imagine.
PB: The Pacemaker means that my hard work and dedication were both worth it. It’s also an acknowledgment that my work is among the best.