Elon’s student news organization won several organizational and individual honors at a national college media conference held in Louisville, Kentucky.
Elon News Network won both a national Newspaper Pacemaker and 4-Year TV Station Pinnacle Award at the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association National College Media Convention Oct. 25-28 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Pacemaker entries are judged based on their coverage and content, the quality of writing and reporting, the leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, layout and design, and photography, art and graphics.
Editions submitted for consideration were:
- Sept. 20, 2017 (Edition includes stories about Elon’s presidential search, a reinvigorated football program and newly elected first-year SGA officers.)
- Nov. 1, 2017 (Edition includes stories about the local race for Burlington mayor, Paul Parsons retirement as Communications dean and Elon’s production of “Hello, Dolly.”)
- Feb. 7, 2018 (Edition includes a 12-page section about black culture at Elon and other stories about the flu and Smith Hall.)
- March 7, 2018 (Edition includes stories about homelessness in Alamance County, school shootings and Elon Living Learning Communities.)
- March 14, 2018 (Edition includes stories about the women’s basketball team’s second consecutive CAA conference tournament title, Elon Day and a possible Amazon headquarters in the Triangle.)
This is the second time The Pendulum has won a Pacemaker, with the first award coming in 2009.
“Winning a Pacemaker for the work we did for The Pendulum last year was an incredible accomplishment and I can’t be prouder of the team whose countless hours of effort led to it,” said junior Anton Delgado, the managing editor of The Pendulum. “But while we celebrate the successes of last year, I want our organization to use this experience and strive for better this year. I’m consistently inspired by my fellow students and that’s how I know we are going to do even greater things.”
“Elon Local News,” the broadcast arm of ENN, finished first in CMA’s Four-Year TV Station of the Year Pinnacle Awards competition. Judges in the competition evaluated shows based on their depth and creativity of content, high level of production and community value. The Oct. 2, 2017, show was one of the entries submitted to judges.
“These awards show us that our dedication and hard work can pay off,” said Maya Eaglin ’19, ENN news director. “These shows are a team effort, and the hours of work that go into just one is incredible.”
Additionally, alumna Stephanie Hays ’18 placed second nationally in ACP’s Newspaper Page One design contest.
“It shouldn’t go unnoticed that within only two years of operating as a converged news organization, ENN is already being recognized at the highest level for producing news in print, in broadcast and online,” said Kelly Furnas, an ENN faculty mentor and lecturer in the School of Communications. “Our students have quickly begun thinking critically about how news is best presented for particular media, and it’s being noticed both locally and nationally.”
ACP also awarded Best of Show honors across several categories, and ENN and Phi Psi Cli, Elon’s yearbook, were recognized. Here are the results:
- Anton Delgado ’20 placed first for Multimedia Package for his story about Hurricane Michael’s impact on Elon’s campus.
- The Pendulum placed second for Four-Year Weekly Newspaper for its edition that covered the upcoming inauguration of Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book.
- The Pendulum placed second for Special Edition Newspaper.
- Phi Psi Cli placed seventh for Yearbook 299 Pages or Less for its 2017-18 book “Leave Your Mark.”