ACP honors 7 outstanding broadcast news programs

Pacemaker competition expands to recognize broadcast journalism

Oct. 7, 2020

MINNEAPOLIS — Seven outstanding collegiate broadcast news programs have been honored by the Associated College Press in the inaugural year of its Broadcast Pacemaker competition.

Pacemaker finalists will be recognized and the Pacemaker winners announced virtually at 6 p.m. Eastern Thursday, Oct. 22, during the Fall National College Media Convention.

“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” executive director Laura Widmer said. “ACP is excited to now honor broadcast news programs.”

The prestigious Pacemaker recognizes overall excellence and distinguishes the top student media produced during a particular school year. The award started shortly after the association was founded in 1921 and is often regarded as the most-competitive, most-honored award in collegiate journalism.

Over the decades, Pacemakers have been awarded to online, newspaper, magazine and yearbook. Three additional Pacemaker competitions were added in 2020.

In addition to the new broadcast recognition, competitions were also added for innovation and business.

“The new competitions reflect the changing media landscape,”  associate director Gary Lundgren said. “As digital platforms expand, a growing number of student media operations are producing outstanding broadcast news programs.”

Four student-produced news programs from the 2019-20 school year were submitted. The programs competed directly against each other and three award-winning broadcast educators selected the winners.

News programs produced by two-year and four-year schools competed in separate categories. Frequency, school enrollment and whether the program was live or recorded were factors taken into consideration.

Several news programs have been named the first Broadcast Pacemaker finalists. Two of the finalists are from two-year colleges. Three of the seven finalists will be named Pacemaker winners.

Finalists are alphabetical by state.

2020 Pacemaker finalists

Broadcast • Business • Innovation
Magazine • Newspaper • Online • 2019 Yearbook

2020 Individual Award Finalists

Advertisement • Cartoon • Design
Multimedia • Reporter • Photo • Story
Best Use of Social Media • COVID-19 Coverage

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Two-year schools

Newscene
San Diego City College
San Diego, California
Editors: Staff
Advisers: Chris Acedo, Nicole Vargas

The Drumbeat
Tyler Junior College
Tyler, Texas
Editor: Alyssa Waite
Adviser: Rachel Jennische

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Four-year schools

Al Dia
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, California
Editors: Rita La Vau, Vania Patino
Adviser: Jesus Ayala

NewsWaves 32
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California
Editors: Brianna Willis, Kayiu Wong
Adviser: Theresa de los Santos

PRN: Panther Report News
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia
Editors: Kevin Sanchez, Alexandria White
Adviser: Bryce McNeil

TV2 News
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio
Editors: Jenna Borthwick, Mitch Myers, Clayton O’Neal, Erin Simonek
Adviser: Susan Zake

SGTV News 4
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Editors: Spencer Buckler, Ward Jolles, Chris Terry
Advisers: Britt Hogg, Sydney Patterson, Sarah Scarborough