NSPA Awards Week Day 3: Newspaper and Broadcast Pacemaker

NSPA is pleased to announce the finalists in the 2012 Newspaper Pacemaker and Broadcast Pacemaker contests. 12 of the 55 finalists appear on the Pacemaker list for the first time this year.

The NSPA Newspaper Pacemaker contest has awarded general excellence in scholastic newspapers for 85 years. The 2012 Newspaper Pacemaker contest was possible because of a generous donation of time and expertise by the staff of The Sacramento Bee, who judged this year’s entries. The contest yielded a total of 322 entries and categories included: Newspaper Broadsheet eight or fewer pages, Newspaper Broadsheet 9-16 pages, Newspaper Broadsheet 17+ pages, Newspaper Tabloid, Newsmagazines and Jr. High/Middle School Newspapers. 12 of the 55 finalists appear on the Pacemaker list for the first time this year.

View the list of Newspaper Pacemaker finalists

Entries were judged based on the following criteria:

  • Coverage and content: Were all aspects of student life covered (academics/sports/clubs/local news, etc.)? Was the use of wire/syndicated copy limited (especially on pg. 1)? Was there evidence of sound news judgment?
  • Quality of writing and reporting: Was the writing concise and the reporting thorough? Was writing free of opinion (with the exception of editorials or columns)? Was the copy edited for consistent style?
  • Leadership on the opinion page: Did staff editorials, cartoons and letters supplement personal columns? Did the staff demonstrate sensitivity to controversial topics? Was the content of the editorial page consequential?
  • Evidence of in-depth reporting: Did major stories show evidence of multiple sources? Are series or depth pieces prominent in entered issues?
  • Layout and design: Was the look of the paper clean and contemporary? Was a consistent modular page makeup used throughout the publication? Did designers establish a clear visual hierarchy for readers?
  • Photography, art and graphics: Did visuals enhance the verbal content and draw the reader in? Did visuals improve the reader’s understanding of the accompanying story? Were photos properly credited? Was the quality of photos and art technically excellent?

The Broadcast Pacemaker contest is co-sponsored by SchoolTube.com and the Radio Television Digital News Foundation. Entries consisted of an entire broadcast news program no longer than 20 minutes, and categories included Daily programs, Weekly/Biweekly programs and Monthly or less programs. Four of the 11 finalists appear on the Pacemaker list for the first time this year.

View the list of Broadcast Pacemaker finalists

Entries were judged based on the following criteria:

  • Content/Coverage
  • Relevancy to audience, significance of subjects covered
  • Writing and editing of the script
  • Language appropriate to audience, smooth transitions
  • Recording and editing of the show
  • Good connections between segments
  • Interviewing skills
  • Interviews were conversational
  • Technical quality
  • Lighting, framing, audio
  • Journalistic integrity, courage and ambition
  • Overall impact, professionalism, sensitivity to subjects

Winners will be announced at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention on Nov. 17 in San Antonio.

Comments from all judging teams will be published on the NSPA website after the winners have been announced. Please contact Grace Christiansen, NSPA Contest and Critique Coordinator, with questions at contests@studentpress.org.