Awards archive
Pacemakers
The Pacemakers, ACP’s top publications prizes, are presented at the ACP/CMA Fall National College Media Convention.
Pacemakers by convention/conference
Spring 2026/ San Francisco
Spring 2025 / Long Beach
Fall 2024 / New Orleans
Spring 2024 / La Jolla, California
Fall 2023 / Atlanta
Spring 2023 / San Francisco
Fall 2022 / Washington, D.C.
Spring 2022 / Long Beach
Fall 2021 / virtual
Broadcast Pacemakers
Presented each fall for the preceding year.
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020
Student Media Business Pacemakers
Presented in the spring for the current school year.
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2021 • 2020
Innovation Pacemakers
By publication year, presented the following fall.
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020
Magazine Pacemakers
Presented each fall for the preceding year.
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013
Multiplatform Pacemakers
By publication year, presented the following fall.
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022
Newspaper Pacemakers / Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemakers
By publication year, presented the following fall.
The category includes newspapers and newsmagazines as of 2023.
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1998 • 1997 • 1996 • 1995 • 1994 • 1993
Online Pacemakers
Presented each fall for the preceding year.
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 •
2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000
Yearbook Pacemakers
Starting in spring 2022, presented each spring for the preceding year.
Through 2021, presented each fall for the preceding year.
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1998 • 1997 • 1996 • 1995 • 1994 • 1993
KEY LINKS
Contest rules, deadlines & submission
ACP videos on Vimeo,
including awards presentations during the pandemic
Individual Awards
ACP Individual Awards are presented at the ACP/CMA Fall National College Media Convention.
Story of the Year
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013
Reporter of the Year
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013
Multimedia Story of the Year
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013
Design of the Year
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013
Photo of the Year
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014
Cartoon of the Year
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013
Broadcast Story of the Year
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021
Advertisement of the Year
2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013
Advertising & Business
Best Use of Social Media
2022 • 2021 • 2020
Individual Award finalists
2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021
Best of Show
Best of Show is an on-site convention competition that recognizes outstanding work among publications whose staffs attend the ACP convention and enter the contest.
Fall National College Media Convention
ACP Spring National College Media Conference
2026 San Francisco • 2025 Long Beach • 2024 La Jolla • 2023 San Francisco • 2022 Long Beach
Spring National College Media Convention
presented with College Media Association,
College Media and Business Managers,
the Journalism Association of Community Colleges and California College Media Association
Best of the Midwest College Journalism Convention, Minneapolis
2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013
ACP/CMBAM College Journalism Convention
presented with College Media Business and Advertising Managers
Midwinter National College Journalism Convention
Summer workshops
Clips & Clicks Contest
Clips & Clicks, ACP’s open competition, launched in fall 2020 and honors current work.
Open to all ACP members, Clips & Clicks offers multiple categories for student and publication achievement, and each contest segment encompasses one semester of work.
The fall and spring competitions culminate with a Sweepstakes Trophy for the annual winner.
Spring 2026 & Sweepstakes • Fall 2025
Spring 2025 & Sweepstakes • Fall 2024
Spring 2024 & Sweepstakes • Fall 2023
Spring 2023 & Sweepstakes • Fall 2022
CCC: Recognition for Collegiate Coronavirus Coverage
ACP, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Society for News Design and College Broadcasters Inc. were sponsors in recognizing outstanding COVID-19 coverage by collegiate media. Print, online and broadcast submissions were included within weekly deadlines from March 30 to May 12, 2020.
Reveille Seven College Press Freedom Award
ACP and the Student Press Law Center sponsor the Reveille Seven College Press Freedom Award with the Louisiana State University Manship School of Communication.
Additional information, including a list of past winners of this award, is available at the SPLC site.
Other awards
These awards have been discontinued or replaced by another award.
Best of the Net
Replaced by the Online Pacemaker
1999 • 1998 • 1997 • 1996 • 1995
Yearbook CD-ROM Pacemaker
1999-2000
RFK Memorial Journalism Awards
Co-sponsored by NSPA/ACP, 2002-09.