the acp pacemaker fall 2012

SETTING THE PACEWhat the winners look like

ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESSLogan Aimone, Executive Director

Recognizing excellence in student media since 1927.

This presentation is available at: slideshare.net/loganaimonePermission is granted for educational use.

Thursday, November 15, 12

INTRODUCTIONThe Pacemaker is the highest honor

in collegiate journalism. For decades, it hasrecognized trend-setters and go-getters, effort

and enterprise, achievement and talent.

Today, the Pacemaker continues to recognizethe best student journalism in the nation.


KEEP IN MIND…The images seen in this presentation are

Newspaper and Magazine Pacemaker Finalists from the 2011-12 academic year plus 2011 yearbooks.

Winners will be announced for the first timeat Saturday’s awards ceremony.

Inclusion of a publication in this presentation does not indicate status as a winner. Do not read anything into

whether an example was included here.


WHO’S JUDGING?Pacemaker judges are professionals working in media as well as a range of experts familiar with student media.

Judges for the 2012 ACP Pacemakers included working professionals, veteran college media advisers and teams

from The Sacramento Bee, The Atlanticand Graywolf Press.


WHO’S JUDGING?Judging is by team. We ask the media organization to compile a group with representation from various

departments (writer, editor, designer, photographer, etc.).

Entries are judged holistically. There is not a rubric with points attached to certain criteria.

Judging is by nature somewhat subjective based on established standards of journalism.


HOW DO THEY JUDGE?• The number of Pacemaker finalists and winners is

proportional to the number of entries.

• The number is not fixed each year, but about half of the finalists will be named winners.

• This is a contest, not a critique.

• ACP asks judges to provide general feedback on the finalists. Some teams are more thorough. Comments will be shared on our website as part of the winners gallery and in our book, The Pacemaker.


WHAT DO THEY JUDGE?• Content

•Quality of writing and editing

• Presentation: Layout and design

• Photography, art and graphics

• Reporting: Type and depth (newspaper)

• Editorial Leadership (newspaper)

•Overall concept or theme (yearbook, magazine)


CONTENT & COVERAGE• The publication should accurately reflect all aspects of student

life, from academics to sports, arts to community news.

•Newspapers should localize national or regional stories for their own campus communities. Wire or reprinted copy is discouraged.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Solid news stories about improper police actions, a tuition increase and academic news comprise this page/

Daily PennsylvanianUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pa.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

This coverage localizes national stories, connecting readers to the larger picture. Hard news fills out the front page.

The Occidental WeeklyOccidental CollegeLos Angeles, Calif.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

A blend of hard news and features makes this page. Relevant topics about the cost of college are presented clearly and with prominence.

Golden Gate XpressSan Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, Calif.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Stories here mix hard news about events with trend pieces on married undergraduates and community kitchens.

The Chicago MaroonUniversity of ChicagoChicago, Ill.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Relationships — they’re front of mind for most students. Here, they’re compiled into specil coverage. Stories include how hobbies affect the relationship, hooking up and being a “player.”

InsideIndiana UniversityBloomington, Ind.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Yearbooks highlight concerns of the day and use excellent stories, photos and graphics to do so.

IbisUniversity of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.


WRITING & REPORTING•Writing should be crisp. Reporting must be thorough.

• Copy should be clean and edited for consistent style.

• Look at ACP Story of the Year winners for examples of excellence: http://www.studentpress.org/acp/winners/story12.html


http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/winners/story10.html

http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/winners/story10.html

PRESENTATION:LAYOUT & DESIGN

• The publication should have a clean and contemporary look.

• Visual hierarchy is established.


PRESENTATION

Classic modular layout is used here to present stories with a hierarchy. Bolder headline in center leads the eye.

The Nevada SagebrushUniversity of Nevada, RenoReno, Nev.


PRESENTATION

A contemporary look is achieved with the yellow boxes, bold type, tight leading and extra white space.

ExcaliburYork UniversityToronto, Ont.


PRESENTATION

Another classic modular format is straightforward, simple and easy to navigate.

The News-RegisterNorth Lake CollegeIrving, Texas


PRESENTATION

A strong feature package anchors the page, while harder news stories surround it. A clean design helps the page look contemporary without gimmicks.

The Auburn PlainsmanAuburn UniversityAuburn, Ala.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

This spread about state fair food could be in any type of print media. And, it serves the reader.

AgromeckNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, N.C.


PHOTOGRAPHY, ART & GRAPHICS

• Visuals enhance the verbal content and draw in the reader.

•Quality of photos and art is technically excellent.


PHOTO, ART & GRAPHICS

The headline’s use of Twitter references and the bold illustration make the page attractive without relying on photography or only typography.

The Heights HeraldWestern Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, Ky.



A strong illustrative “billboard” photo illustration above the fold grabs the reader. The use of gray and red adds to the tone of the story.

The IthacanIthaca CollegeIthaca, N.Y.



The whole page is an illustration of the cover. It’s a fine line when using illustration, because too much whimsy implies less seriousness.

NexusCamosun CollegeVictoria, B.C.



Alluding to a blockbuster movie, this cover is actually an infographic and attractive.

The Et CeteraEastfield CollegeMesquite, Texas



A dominant photo can have impact, especially when it is taken from an unusual angle and cropped well.

UnionEl Camino CollegeTorrance, Calif.



When focusing on an issue rather than a person, an illustration helps maintain focus. In this case, the topic of transgender life is explored.

North by NorthwesternNorthwestern UniversityEvanston, Ill.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Fantastic photos are the hallmark of what makes a great yearbook.

SoonerUniversity of OklahomaNorman, Okla.


REPORTING:TYPE & DEPTH

•Major stories should show evidence of multiple sources.

• Series or in-depth pieces should be prominent.


REPORTING

A mega-story like the Sandusky abuse accusations doesn’t happen often. The Collegian staff uses Page One to present a menu of the coverage — because it all was huge news.

The Daily CollegianPennsylvania State UniversityState College, Pa.


REPORTING

Hard-hitting investigative news is the tradition at this college, and it appears on Page One regularly. Here, unethical behavior and controversial administrative decisions are center stage.

The SunSouthwestern CollegeChula Vista, Calif.


REPORTING

Page One is dedicated to exploring the Kony 2012 media campaign and American attitudes toward Uganda and other African nations. The staff takes the opportunity to contextualize the story for the South Dakota campus.

The VolanteUniversity of South DakotaVermillion, S.D.


EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP•Opinion pages should be alive with a variety of content: staff

editorials, cartoons, letters and personal columns.

• Content should be consequential.


EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP

Opinion pages don’t have to be boring! A strong piece of editorial art plus four columns of equal length on four hot topics combine for a dynamic page. An in-your-face headline helps, too.

Indiana Daily Student, 2011Indiana UniversityBloomington, Ind.


CONCEPT / THEME• Concept unifies coverage and content.

• Theme is relevant to current year or issue and provides structure for storytelling.


SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER•Does your publication provide a sense of place?

•When reading the publication, does the reader learn about the campus, the culture, the students and faculty?

•Or, does the coverage feel generic?


SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER•Does the work feel contemporary?

• The publication ought to look like it was produced this year.

•Don’t start over each year, but the type and graphics need to evolve.

• Look to trend-setting magazines, advertisements and other current printed materials for inspiration.


SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER•Do the stories matter?

• Place the stories in context for the reader.

• Set the agenda through investigations and enterprise pieces.

• Localize regional, national and international stories. Focus on the campus.


SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE

•Work on the content. Dig around your campus and community for real stories. Don’t overplay or sensationalize. Cover all aspects and all groups.

• Pay attention to photography and graphics. These two areas help your publication stand out from others. Think of the best way to tell a story for readers to read and understand.


SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE

•Details make the difference. Typography, white space, style — these are what set Pacemakers apart.

•Have a strong editorial voice. Make the editorial pages a lively forum on substantive topics.

•Make every story polished. Write tight. Readers will read long if it’s good. Put columnists on a word count diet.


WHAT’S NEXT?

The 2012 Pacemaker and individual contest winnerswill be announced Saturday afternoon.

Enter your student media in the 2013 contests. Watch your email and our website for deadlines

and entry forms.


QUESTIONS?

Thanks!

E-mail: [email protected]: slideshare.net/loganaimone


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

the acp pacemaker fall 2012

Education

year winners

content coverageyearbooks

content coveragestories

pacemaker judges

student media

content quality of writing

present stories

useexcellent stories