August 21, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS — The Associated Collegiate Press announces finalists in its 2026 Broadcast Story of the Year competition.

The winners will be announced at the ACP Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the National College Media Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

After the winners are announced on Nov. 7, a gallery of the winners and honorable mentions will be shared on this website allowing student journalists and advisers to see all of the entries recognized in the competition.

Congratulations to the finalists in the following Broadcast Story of the Year contests —

Individual Award finalists

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

---

Please join us at the National College Media Convention Nov. 4-7 in Kansas City, Mo.

Broadcast News Story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Broadcast Feature Story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Broadcast Sports Story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Broadcast Commentary

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

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