2026 Broadcast Story of the Year winners

Broadcast News Story • Broadcast Feature Story • Broadcast Sports Story • Broadcast Commentary

Nov. 7, 2026

Associated Collegiate Press salutes the winners of its 2026 Broadcast Story of the Year competition.

ACP’s Individual Awards are among the top prizes in collegiate media, and the awards are a showcase of journalistic excellence.

Winners were announced during the National College Media Convention Nov. 7 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Fall 2026 awards

Fall 2026 Pacemakers

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine
Multiplatform
Newspaper/Newsmagazine

2026 Individual Awards

Story of the Year
Reporter of the Year
Multimedia Story of the Year
Design of the Year
Photo of the Year
Cartoon of the Year
Broadcast Story of the Year

Best of Show

Individual Recognition
Staff Recognition

First Place
Gen Z and the Shift to the Right
Staff
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Second Place
Protesters Gather for the Second ‘No Kings’ Protest
Gavin Breunig
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Third Place
Hooked by the Apps
Elisa Flynn, Sean Jordan, Ryan Lima, Gabe Perrin
NCC News
Syracuse University (NY)

Fourth Place
Los Angeles Joins Global Iran Protests
Ethan Cohen
Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach

Fifth Place
No Kings Back in the Streets
Kabedi Mutamba, Kayla Smith
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Honorable Mention
There Is a ‘Demographic Cliff’ Threatening College Enrollment Numbers
Sabatino Stacchi, Coleman Standifer
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

False GameDay Reports Lead to Disappointment
Alexa Bonilla
The Breeze
James Madison University (VA)

Father Held for Deportation by ICE
James Phillips
The University Star
Texas State University

Government Shutdown
Davis Cuffe, Ivory Galloway, Emmanuel Perkins
Niner Times
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

How Cal Poly Students Are Getting Ready to Vote
Rocco Brichler
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

First Place
How One Syracuse Group Is Trying to Meet the Demands of Hunger
Reese Niccolls
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University (NY)

Second Place
Cal Poly’s Annual Celebration of Culture and Dance
Kimber Draughon, Sedona Harris
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Third Place
A Place for the Flock
Collin Snyder
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University (NY)

Fourth Place
Chili Cook-Off
Joel Solis
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Fifth Place
Mallory Quisenberry Quilts Her Legacy
Ciah Marks
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky

Honorable Mention
Emerging as a Female Comic From SEMO
Lily Niebrugge
Arrow
Southeast Missouri State University

What Does Generative AI Video Mean for Media Literacy?
Reece Cartee, Jules Kamoie, Ava Reid, Emma Russell
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Real-Life Spiderman Helps Staunton Community
Alexa Bonilla
The Breeze
James Madison University (VA)

$5 Lunches to Battle Food Insecurity
Piper Begler
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

Capturing an Artist’s Experience With Disaster
Mary Funsten, Jenna Tibby
The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)

First Place
Volunteer Guides Help Marathoners Stay on Course
Gibran Boyce
NYCity News Service
City University of New York

Second Place
Vonnahme, Graves Carry Hawkeyes to End-of-Year Win
Elise Gan
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Third Place
The Comeback of LMU Women’s Club Soccer
Hayley Harris, Megan Hastings
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Fourth Place
Tomekia Reed Era
Davis Cuffe, Ivory Galloway, Emmanuel Perkins
Niner Times
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Fifth Place
Why Cal Poly Beach Volleyball Is Training on Pismo Sand
Ava Keshtkar
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Honorable Mention
Inside LMU Women’s Beach Volleyball Team
Hayley Harris
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Nathanael Ridosko’s Gene Pool
Annie Moore
The Express
Las Positas College (CA)

Dukes Dethrone Monarchs to Secure Bowl Eligibility
Ethan DuFresne
The Breeze
James Madison University (VA)

2026 Dodgers Opening Day
Sherlyn Rodriguez
Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach

The Qatari Native Taking Over the Big West
Ava Keshtkar
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

First Place
How the Digital Age Has Transformed Dating
Reece Cartee, Hayley Harris
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Second Place
Bring Back Malls
Jaxyn Good
The Express
Las Positas College (CA)