Elon News Network collected two Pacemaker awards from the Associated Collegiate Press during the virtual national student media convention.
Elon News Network won both a Newspaper Pacemaker and an Online Pacemaker at the virtual Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association National College Media Convention that was held Oct. 14-16.
The Pacemaker award is the highest honor awarded by ACP for excellence in student journalism. The Pendulum, the newspaper of Elon News Network, was one of 18 student newspapers to win the award out of 81 total entries.
For each category of publication type – online, newspaper, magazine and yearbook – Pacemaker entries are judged based on coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership, design, photography and graphics. Additionally, the winning papers “took risks and served as a strong voice for the student audience,” according to the Associated Collegiate Press.
The newspaper editions submitted for consideration were:
- Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020 (This edition featured stories on the navigation of religious beliefs amid COVID-19 and the influence of physical distance regulations and Zoom classes.)
- Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 (This edition featured stories on the plans for graduation ceremonies for the class of 2021 and the impact of COVID-19 on the university’s budget.)
- Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021 (This edition featured stories on the importance of Black History Month in Elon and the achievements of Elon students and faculty.)
- Wednesday, March 31, 2021 (This edition featured stories on the inequality of female representation in athletics and new strategies for managing COVID-19 on campus.)
This is the fourth time The Pendulum has won a Newspaper Pacemaker (2009, 2018, 2019).
“We never do our work to win awards, but it is an honor to see that our work is award-winning,” said ENN Executive Director Kyra O’Connor ’23.
Out of 31 finalists for an Online Pacemaker, Elon News Network was one of 14 winners. It’s the third time ENN has won the award (2015, 2019).
Additionally, ENN finished second in CMA’s Four-Year TV Station of the Year Pinnacle Awards competition. TV shows in this category were evaluated on their depth and creativity of content, high level of production and community value. ENN submitted shows from Nov. 2, 2020, Nov. 3, 2020 and March 25, 2021, for consideration.
The College Media Association and Associated Collegiate Press also honored individual Elon students in several categories. Below are the students who finished in the top three of any competition.
ACP Individual Awards
- The Pendulum staff won first place for Newspaper Best of Show award for their Sept. 22, 2021 edition.
- Elon News Network staff won first place for Website Best of Show award for elonnewsnetwork.com.
- Grace Terry ‘21 won first place for Multimedia Sports Story for her story on “Women coaches underrepresented at Elon, Division I sports.”
- Anna Terry ‘23 won first place for Podcast Best of Show award for the ENN Radio show on April 12, 2021.
- Mackenzie Wilkes ‘22 won second place for Multimedia News/Feature Best of Show award for “A taxing divide.”
- Courtney Weiner ‘21, Abby Gibbs ‘21, Samantha Casamento ‘21 and Amanda Gibson ‘21 won second place for Multimedia Feature Story for “Under their wings.”
- Mackenzie Wilkes ‘22 won second place for Multimedia News Story for “A taxing divide.”
- Mackenzie Wilkes ‘22 won second place for COVID-19 Online News or Features for her story on “Navigating Faith in a Pandemic.”
- Nyah Phengsitthy ‘23 and Clare Grant ‘23 won second place for COVID-19 Design/Visual for the cover of the Commencement Edition.
- Elon News Network staff won second place for Live Blog Best of Show award for its coverage of a winter storm in Alamance County.
- Luke Johnson ‘23 won third place for Photojournalism Best of Show award for his photograph of the Women’s March in Washington, D.C.
- Elon Local News staff won third place for Broadcast News Program Best of Show award for their broadcast dated Sept. 20, 2021.
- Christian Galvano ‘21 and Kyra O’Connor ‘23 won third place for Breaking News Story for “Multiple marchers arrested, pepper sprayed in Graham at march for voting rights and justice.”
CMA Individual Pinnacle Awards
- Caroline Bunder ‘22 and Nyah Phengsitthy ‘23 won first place for Newspaper Photo Page/Spread for “A look at Elon’s devoted beekeeper.”
- Grace Terry ‘21 won first place for Sports Multimedia Story for her story on “Women coaches underrepresented at Elon, Division I sports.”
- The Pendulum staff won second place for Sports Section for their Aug. 19, 2020; Oct. 21, 2020; April 21, 2021 editions.
- Courtney Weiner ‘21, Abby Gibbs ‘21, Samantha Casamento ‘21 and Amanda Gibson ‘21 won second place for Multimedia Feature Story for “Under their wings.”
- Sam Porozok ‘22 won third place for Comic Strip award for “Comic Sams.”
- Elon Local News staff won third place for Video Newscast for their broadcast on Nov. 2, 2020.
- Jack Norcross ‘21 and Grace Terry ‘21 won third place for Multimedia Breaking News Story for “Pro-Trump parade drives through Elon University’s campus.”