ACP names top student news publications

Prestigious competition recognizes 21 Pacemakers

Nov. 2, 2024

NEW ORLEANS — Honoring the nation’s best, the Associated College Press named 21 student news publications as winners of its prestigious Pacemaker during an awards ceremony at the the Fall National College Media Convention, in 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 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.

In September, 43 newspapers/newsmagazines were named Pacemaker finalists. The finalists represented 20 states. California set the pace with nine finalists followed by Texas with five.

Three print issues produced during the 2023-24 school year were submitted for consideration. Two teams of three judges studied every entry, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses. At least two of the three judges agreed on whether a newspaper was eliminated or would be named a finalist or winner.

Newspapers/newsmagazines from four-year schools competed against schools with similar enrollment. Newspapers/newsmagazines from two-year schools, of all enrollments, competed in a separate category.

“It is exciting to see how these colleges and universities are refining their print products in today’s college media ecosystem,” associate director Gary Lundgren said. “It is definitely a transitional time for the college student newspaper.”

In all, 88 newspapers/newsmagazines entered the Pacemaker competition compared to 90 the previous year.

In addition to demonstrating excellence in key areas including coverage, writing, editing, design and photography, the winning newspapers took risks and served as a strong voice for the student audience.

In this competition, only the print product was judged. Online sites compete in a separate Pacemaker competition.

2024 Fall Convention Awards

Fall 2024 Pacemakers

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine
Multiplatform
Newspaper/Newsmagazine

2024 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

New Orleans Best of Show

Individual Recognition
Staff Recognition

2024 Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemakers

listed by state

Daily Forty-Niner
California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Editors-in-chief: Christal Gaines-Emory, Mary Catipay
Advisers: Barbara Kingsley-Wilson, Gary Metzker

el Don
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, California
Editors-in-chief: Lizeth Martinez
Advisers: Sarah Bennett, Ajay Orona, Jacqueline Schlossman

The Southwestern College Sun
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, California
Editors-in-chief: Emily Ingco, Alexa Lima
Advisers: Max Branscomb, Kenneth Pagano

The Red & Black
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Editor-in-chief: Liz Rymarev
Adviser: Kayla Renie

F Newsmagazine
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Editor-in-chief: Ankit Khadgi
Advisers: Sophie Lucido Johnson, Rochell Sleets

Ball State Daily News
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
Editors-in-chief: Grayson Joslin, Daniel Kehn
Advisers: Lisa Renze-Rhodes, Terry Heifetz

Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
Editors-in-chief: Natalie Fitzgibbons, Nic Napier, Salomé Cloteaux
Advisers: Jim Rodenbush, Ruth Witmer

The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Editor-in-chief: Sabine Martin
Adviser: Jason Brummond

The Sunflower
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas
Editor-in-chief: Mia Hennen
Advisers: Amy DeVault

College Heights Herald
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Editor-in-chief: Alexandria Anderson
Advisers: Chuck Clark, Carrie Pratt

The Maroon
Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Editors-in-chief: Maleigh Crespo, Patrick Hamilton, Sophia Maxim
Adviser: Michael Giusti

The Harvard Crimson
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Editors-in-chief: Miles Herszenhorn, Sellers Hill

The State News
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Editor-in-chief: Morgan Womack
Advisers: Madison Echlin, Wesley Herold, Kim Margolis, Griffin Wiles

The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Editors-in-chief: Dana Elobaid, Samantha Rich, Shannon Stocking, Kate Weiland

The Pendulum
Elon University
Elon, North Carolina
Editors-in-chief: Abigail Hobbs, Avery Sloan
Adviser: Kelly Furnas

Technician
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
Editors-in-chief: Ethan Bakogiannis, Jameson Wolf
Adviser: Ben McNeely

The Daily Tar Heel
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Editor-in-chief: Emmy Martin
Adviser: Courtney Mitchell

Portland State Vanguard
Portland State University
Portland, Oregon
Editors-in-chief: Kat Leon, Isaiah Burns
Adviser: Reaz Mahmood

The Daily Pennsylvanian
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Editors-in-chief: Jared Mitovich, Imran Siddiqui
Adviser: Katherine Ross

The Collegian
Tarrant County College
Hurst, Texas
Editor-in-chief: Hope Smith
Advisers: Lori Dann, Stacy Luecker, Chris Whitley

The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, Texas
Editor-in-chief: Mandy Huynh
Adviser: Laurie Fox