{"id":29372,"date":"2026-09-03T09:28:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T14:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/?p=29372"},"modified":"2026-09-09T15:19:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T20:19:55","slug":"2026-broadcast-pacemaker-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/2026\/09\/03\/2026-broadcast-pacemaker-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Broadcast Pacemaker finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ACP names top broadcast news programs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pacemaker competition recognizes eight finalists as the \u2018best of the best\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sept. 8, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 Honoring the nation\u2019s best, the Associated College Press named eight student-produced news broadcasts as finalists in its annual prestigious Pacemaker competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacemaker winners will be announced at <\/strong>the Fall National College Media Convention<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/a>at the ACP Awards Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Pacemaker is the association\u2019s preeminent award,\u201d executive director Laura Widmer said. \u201cACP is honored to recognize the best of the best.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the decades, Pacemakers have been awarded to online, newspaper, magazine and yearbook.  The broadcast Pacemaker competition was added in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs digital platforms expand, a growing number of student media operations are producing outstanding broadcast news programs,\u201d associate director Gary Lundgren said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The news programs competed directly against each other. Award-winning broadcast educators and practising journalists selected the winners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program frequency, school enrollment and whether the program was live or recorded were factors taken into consideration during the judging process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two of the finalists were pre-recorded broadcasts and five were live representing schools from 5,000 to 45,000 students. All of the Pacemaker entries were from four-year schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three of the finalists will earn Pacemakers in Kansas City, Mo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program frequency, school enrollment and whether the program was live or recorded were factors taken into consideration during the judging process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Please join us at the National College Media Convention<\/a> in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 4-7. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fall Pacemaker finalists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine<\/a>
Multiplatform
Newspaper\/Newsmagazine<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2026 Broadcast Pacemaker finalists<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

listed by state<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MNTV
<\/strong>California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Producer\/editor: RJ Pollock
Advisers: Richard Gearhart, Thomas Morales<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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