ACP names top student collegiate magazines

Pacemaker competition recognizes 31 finalists

Sept. 18, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS — The Associated College Press recognized 31 top collegiate student magazines as finalists in its prestigious Pacemaker competition. 

Pacemaker winners will be announced at the Fall National College Media Convention at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Sheraton New Orleans.

“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” executive director Laura Widmer said. “ACP is honored to recognize the best of the best.”

The 31 magazines named as finalists represent 15 states. California and Oregon set the pace with five finalists followed by Florida with four.

From the 31 finalists, 17 will earn Pacemakers. Magazines competed in feature/general audience and literary arts divisions. Magazines produced at four-year and two year institutions competed in separate categories.

In the feature/general audience magazine category, there are 17 finalists — four from two-year and 13 from four-year institutions. Of these 17 finalists, eight will earn Pacemakers.

In the literary arts magazine category, there are 14 finalists — five from two-year and nine from four-year institutions. Of these 14 finalists, six will earn Pacemakers.

Three judges, with extensive magazine-editing and advising experience, studied each entry discussing and analyzing its strengths and weaknesses.

Gary Lundgren, ACP associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, noted the quality of the winning student magazines rivals those produced by professionals.

“The verbal and visual storytelling in the winning magazines is incredible and robust long-form stories combined with shorter quick-reads to pace the reader through the pages of the feature magazines,” Lundgren said.

“And the creativity displayed in the literary arts magazines is incredible — the unique formats and creative designs make the magazines themselves a work of art,” he said.

Please join us at the National College Media Convention in New Orleans Oct. 30 – Nov. 2. Register online.

This convention provides a unique opportunity to network with industry professionals, learn from seasoned journalists, and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of media and journalism.

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Fall Pacemaker finalists

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine
Multiplatform
Newspaper/Newsmagazine

2024 Feature/General Audience Magazine Pacemaker finalists

2024 Literary Arts Magazine Pacemaker finalists