{"id":603679,"date":"2020-11-02T15:58:16","date_gmt":"2020-11-02T21:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/?p=603679"},"modified":"2020-11-13T16:20:48","modified_gmt":"2020-11-13T22:20:48","slug":"2020-finalists-for-nspa-broadcast-pacemaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/2020-finalists-for-nspa-broadcast-pacemaker\/","title":{"rendered":"2020 finalists for NSPA Broadcast Pacemaker"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Top scholastic broadcasts announced<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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NSPA Pacemaker competition names 15 finalists as \u2018the best of the best\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nov. 5, 2020<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 The nation\u2019s top scholastic broadcast news programs were recognized today by the National Scholastic Press Association, which announced the 15 finalists in its annual Pacemaker competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NSPA Pacemaker finalists will be recognized and the Pacemaker winners announced for the first time at the NSPA Awards Ceremony online at 1 p.m. Central Saturday, Nov. 21, as part of the JEA\/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention,<\/a><\/strong> presented virtually Nov. 19-21. Convention registration is required to attend the online ceremony. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Pacemaker is the association\u2019s preeminent award,\u201d Executive Director Laura Widmer said. \u201cNSPA is honored to recognize the best of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NSPA Pacemaker award has a rich tradition and started just a few years after the organization was founded in 1921. The Pacemaker was added for broadcasting in 1996 to reflect its growing importance at the high school level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each school entered three programs from the 2019-2020 school year. A team of three judges, all award-winning collegiate broadcast professors and advisers, viewed each entry discussing and analyzing its strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The winning entries stood out for not just their technical quality, but in the stories being covered,” Gary Lundgren, associate director and contest coordinator, said. “The writing, editing, hosting and the willingness to tackle relevant topics make these exceptional newscasts from start to finish.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For judging, shows were divided into live and pre-recorded categories. The frequency of the broadcast was also considered with daily shows competing in a separate category with weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or less-frequently in another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 15 Pacemaker finalists included schools representing six states. Texas led with four broadcast programs named as finalists. Florida and Missouri each have three finalists. Overall, five of the finalists produced live broadcasts, and seven aired daily shows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the 15 Pacemaker finalists, five will be named Pacemaker winners. There were approximately 50 entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the pandemic closing schools across the country, many of the broadcasts submitted for the competition were produced with student journalists working from their homes,\u201d Lundgren said.  \u201cThe high-quality journalism these news shows provided, against all odds, is remarkable.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insights and observations from the judges about the Pacemaker winning broadcasts along with professional bios of the judges will be shared after the winners are announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finalists are alphabetical by state.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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WATCH<\/a><\/strong>
the finalists announcement, on Nov. 5, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacemaker Award finalists for this fall<\/strong>
<\/strong>Broadcast<\/a> \u2022 <\/strong>Newspaper\/Newsmagazine\/Specialty Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual Award finalists<\/strong>
Broadcast<\/a>\u00a0\u2022 Cartoon<\/a> \u2022\u00a0Design<\/a>
Digital Story<\/a>\u00a0\u2022\u00a0Photo<\/a>\u00a0\u2022\u00a0Portfolio<\/a>\u00a0\u2022\u00a0Story<\/a>
Social Justice Reporting<\/a>\u00a0\u2022\u00a0Local Climate Change Reporting<\/a>
Best Use of Social Media<\/a> \u2022\u00a0COVID-19 Coverage<\/a>
Middle School<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NSPA Awards page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NSPA Awards archive<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Middle School\/Junior High<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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