
2018 Pinnacle Award Winners
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2017-2018 Pinnacle Awards. See the results below!
Want to see what the winning work looks like? Click here to see the individual or organizational slideshows.
Organizational Pinnacle Winners
Best College Media Outlet of the Year
Four-Year Best College Media Outlet of the Year
- First Place: The Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
- Second Place: OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
- Third Place: Daily Titan, California State University at Fullerton
Two-Year Best College Media Outlet of the Year
- First Place: The Advocate, Contra Costa College
- Second Place: Owl Magazine, Harford Community College
- Third Place: The Collegian, Tarrant County College
Broadcast Pinnacles
Four-Year Radio Station of the Year
- Honorable Mention: Radio Hofstra University – WRHU FM / WRHU.org, Hofstra University
- Third Place: 92 WICB – Ithaca College, Ithaca College
- Second Place: WMUL-FM, Marshall University
- First Place: WRST-FM, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Four-Year TV Station of the Year
- First Place: Elon News Network, Elon University
- Second Place: Mustang Media Group/Mustang News TV, Cal Poly
- Third Place: Texas Student Television, University of Texas at Austin
- Honorable Mention: ROAR Studios, Loyola Marymount University
- Honorable Mention: Met TV Metropolitan State, University of Denver
Two-Year Radio Station of the Year
- First Place: The Drumbeat, Tyler Junior College
- Second Place: Richland Student Media, Richland College
Two-Year TV Station of the Year
- First Place: Richland Student Media, Richland College
- Second Place: Owl Magazine, Harford Community College
- Third Place: The Drumbeat, Tyler Junior College
Feature Magazine Pinnacles
Four-Year Feature Magazine of the Year
- First Place: Baked, Syracuse University
- Second Place: Echo, Columbia College of Chicago
- Third Place: Manhappenin’ magazine, Kansas State University
- Honorable Mention: A Magazine, Kent State University
Two-Year Feature Magazine of the Year
- First Place: El Sol, Southwestern College
- Second Place: Owl Magazine, Harford Community College
- Third Place: The Summit, Grossmont Community College
Literary Magazine Pinnacles
Four-Year Literary Magazine of the Year
- First Place: Broken Ink, University of South Carolina Aiken
- Second Place: Hawaiʻi Review, University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Third Place: Collision University, of Pittsburgh
- Honorable Mention: Jet Fuel Review, Lewis University
Two-Year Literary Magazine of the Year
- First Place: AXIS Creative Arts Magazine, Miami Dade College
- Second Place: Miambiance, Miami Dade College
- Third Place: Amaranth, Anne Arundel Community College
Newspaper Pinnacles
Four-Year Daily Newspaper of the Year
- First Place: The Daily Texan, University of Texas at Austin
- Second Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Third Place: Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University
- Honorable Mention: Daily 49er, California State University at Long Beach
Four-Year Less-Than-Weekly Newspaper of the Year
- First Place: The Banner, California Baptist University
- Second Place: The Mercury, University of Texas at Dallas
- Third Place: Arrow, Southeast Missouri State University
- Honorable Mention: The University News, Saint Louis University
Four-Year Weekly Newspaper of the Year
- First Place: The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University
- Second Place: The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Third Place: The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University
Two-Year Newspaper of the Year
- First Place: The Advocate, Contra Costa College
- Second Place: The Union, El Camino College
- Third Place: The Collegian, Tarrant County College
Online Pinnacles
Mobile App/Plug-In of the Year
- First Place: The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University
- Second Place: BYU Daily Universe, Brigham Young University
- Third Place: The Charger Bulletin, University of New Haven
- Honorable Mention: The Drumbeat, Tyler Junior College
Four-Year Website of the Year
- Honorable Mention: The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
- Third Place: University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
- Second Place: OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
- First Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
Two-Year Website of the Year
- First Place: Pacific Rim Magazine, Langara College
- Second Place: Substance.Media, Mt. San Antonio College
- Third Place: The Corsair, Santa Monica College
Yearbook Pinnacles
Yearbook of the Year
- First Place: Ibis Yearbook, University of Miami
- Second Place: The Campanile, Rice University
- Third Place: Palladium, Troy University
- Honorable Mention: The Scroll, University of Central Arkansas
- Honorable Mention: Angelos, California Baptist University
Individual Pinnacle Award Winners
Advertising Pinnacles
Best Ad Campaign
- First Place: The Standard, Missouri State University
- Second Place: The McKinley Avenue Agency, Ball State University
- Third Place: The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University
- Honorable Mention: Mustang Media Group, Cal Poly
Best Ad Supplement/Special Section
- First Place: University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
- Second Place: EMERGE Magazine, University of Guelph-Humber
- Third Place: Pepperdine Graphic, Pepperdine University
- Honorable Mention: The Shorthorn, UT Arlington
Best Display Ad
- First Place: The Collegian, Kansas State University
- Second Place: Mustang Media Group, Cal Poly
- Third Place: Indiana Statesman, Indiana State University
- Honorable Mention: Manhappenin’ magazine, Kansas State University
Best House Ad
- First Place: The Signal, Georgia State University
- Second Place: SCAN Magazine, SCAD Atlanta
- Third Place: The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University
Best Multimedia Campaign
- First Place: EMERGE Magazine, University of Guelph-Humber
- Second Place: The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University
Best Online Ad
- First Place: University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
- Second Place: Northwest Student Media, Northwest Missouri State University
- Third Place: Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Best Rate Card/Media Kit
- First Place: The Shorthorn, UT Arlington
- Second Place: The Daily Titan, California State University – Fullerton
- Third Place: The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University
Best Social Media Strategy
- First Place: Mustang Media Group, Cal Poly
- Second Place: EMERGE Magazine, University of Guelph-Humber
- Third Place: The Shorthorn, UT Arlington
Broadcast Pinnacles
Best Television Newscast
- First Place: Elon News Network, Elon University
- Second Place: Owl Magazine, Harford Community College
- Third Place: NEWS3, Western Illinois University
- Honorable Mention: Mornings On The Hill, Syracuse University
Best Podcast
- First Place: Radio DePaul, DePaul University
- Second Place: No One Is Going To Do The Research For You, The American University in Cairo
- Third Place: WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1, North Carolina State University
Best Radio Newscast
- First Place: WSOU-FM, Seton Hall University
- Second Place: KTSW-FM 89.9, Texas State University
- Third Place: Radio Hofstra University – WRHU FM / WRHU.org, Hofstra University
Best Radio Promo/PSA
- First Place: Out of This World Promo, Marshall University
- Second Place: KCSU-FM, Colorado State University
- Third Place: Bangor Humane Society – Dog’s Day Out, Husson University
- Honorable Mention: Radio UTD, The University of Texas at Dallas
- Honorable Mention: KTSW-FM 89.9, Texas State University
Best Radio Special Event Coverage
- First Place: Bi Bi Bi, Arkansas State University
- Second Place: WSOU-FM, Seton Hall University
- Third Place: Mustang Media Group/KCPR-FM, Cal Poly
Best Radio Sportscast
- First Place: Ryan Yurachek Houston Flood Relief, Marshall University
- Second Place: WAER, Syracuse University
- Third Place: Husson University VS Castleton Women’s Basketball, Husson University
Best Radio Talk/Entertainment Program
- First Place: WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1, North Carolina State University
- Second Place: Edgar Allan Poe’s Tale of Mystery & Imagination, Husson University
- Third Place: Radio Hofstra University – WRHU FM / WRHU.org, Hofstra University
Best Television Sportscast
- First Place: BVTV, Buena Vista University
- Second Place: Elon News Network, Elon University
- Third Place: The Andersonian, Anderson University
- Honorable Mention: Q30 Television, Quinnipiac University
Best TV Entertainment Program
- First Place: ROAR Studios, Loyola Marymount University
- Second Place: Northwest Student Media, Northwest Missouri State University
- Third Place: NEWS3, Western Illinois University
- Honorable Mention: UABtv, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Best TV Promo/PSA
- First Place: One Mic, Kentucky State University
- Second Place: BVTV, Buena Vista University
- Third Place: ATV, American University
- Honorable Mention: KBVR-TV, Oregon State University
Best TV Special Event Coverage
- First Place: Northwest Student Media, Northwest Missouri State University
- Second Place: UTD TV, The University of Texas at Dallas
- Third Place: Owl Magazine, Harford Community College
Best Viral Video
- First Place: Owl Magazine, Harford Community College
- Second Place: Late Knight, Pacific Lutheran University
- Third Place: WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1, North Carolina State University
- Honorable Mention: Northwest Student Media, Northwest Missouri State University
Design Pinnacles (includes Best of Collegiate Design Pinnacles)
Best Editorial Illustration
- First Place: The State Press, Arizona State University
- Second Place: The Northerner, Northern Kentucky University
- Third Place: SCAN Magazine, SCAD Atlanta
Best Advertisement
- First Place: F Newsmagazine, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Second Place: Rice Thresher, Rice University
- Third Place: Pacific Rim Magazine, Langara College
Best Comic Strip
- First Place: The Banner, California Baptist University
- Second Place: The Connector, SCAD Atlanta
- Third Place: The State Press, Arizona State University
Best Editorial Cartoon
- First Place: Daily Titan, California State University – Fullerton
- Second Place: The Collegian, Tarrant County College
- Third Place: F Newsmagazine, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Honorable Mention: The Union, El Camino College
Best Infographic
- First Place: The Daily Texan, University of Texas at Austin
- Second Place: F Newsmagazine, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Third Place: The Connector, SCAD Atlanta
- Honorable Mention: The Spectrum, University at Buffalo
Best Magazine Contents Page/Spread
- First Place: Drake Magazine, Drake University
- Second Place: Distraction Magazine, University of Miami
- Third Place: Currents Magazine, Pepperdine University
- Honorable Mention: Jerk, Syracuse University
Best Magazine Cover
- First Place: Distraction Magazine, University of Miami
- Second Place: Focus Magazine, Baylor University
- Third Place: F Newsmagazine, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Honorable Mention: Pacific Rim Magazine, Langara College
- Honorable Mention: Swinging Bridge Magazine, Messiah College
Best Magazine Entertainment Page/Spread
- First Place: F Newsmagazine, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Second Place: SCAN Magazine, SCAD Atlanta
- Third Place: Distraction Magazine, University of Miami
- Honorable Mention: Swinging Bridge Magazine, Messiah College
Best Magazine Feature Page/Spread
- First Place: Jerk, Syracuse University
- Second Place: Distraction Magazine, University of Miami
- Third Place: AMP, The University of Texas at Dallas
- Honorable Mention: Horizon Magazine, Colorado Mesa University
Best Magazine News Page/Spread
- First Place: F Newsmagazine, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Second Place: Tusk Magazine, California State University – Fullerton
- Third Place: Alice, University of Alabama
- Honorable Mention: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Honorable Mention: Focus Magazine, Baylor University
Best Magazine Sports Page/Spread
- First Place: Ball Bearings, Ball State University
- Second Place: Swinging Bridge Magazine, Messiah College
- Third Place: Maroon Life, Texas A&M University
Best Newspaper Entertainment Page/Spread
- First Place: The Sunflower, Wichita State University
- Second Place: The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University
- Third Place: Loyola Maroon, Loyola University New Orleans
- Honorable Mention: The Alestle, Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville
Best Newspaper Feature Page/Spread
- First Place: Arrow, Southeast Missouri State University
- Second Place: Daily 49er, California State University – Long Beach
- Third Place: Elon News Network, Elon University
- Honorable Mention: The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
Best Newspaper Front Page
- First Place: The Daily Barometer, Oregon State University
- Second Place: OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
- Third Place: The All State, Austin Peay State University
- Honorable Mention: The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University
- Honorable Mention: The Battalion, Texas A&M University
Best Newspaper Nameplate
- First Place: Rice Thresher, Rice University
- Second Place: The All State, Austin Peay State University
- Third Place: el Don, Santa Ana College
- Honorable Mention: Pepperdine Graphic, Pepperdine University
Best Newspaper News Page/Spread
- First Place: The Signal, Georgia State University
- Second Place: Daily Titan, California State University – Fullerton
- Third Place: Mustang Media Group/Mustang News, Cal Poly
Best Newspaper Opinion Page/Spread
- Honorable Mention: The Union, El Camino College
Best Newspaper Photo Page/Spread
- First Place: el Don, Santa Ana College
- Second Place: The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University
- Third Place: Daily 49er, California State University – Long Beach
- Honorable Mention: The Signpost, Weber State University
- Honorable Mention: Mustang Media Group/Mustang News, Cal Poly
Best Newspaper Sports Page/Spread
- First Place: Rice Thresher, Rice University
- Second Place: The Sunflower, Wichita State University
- Third Place: The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
Best Online Infographic
- First Place: GH360, University of Guelph-Humber
- Second Place: Mustang Media Group/Mustang News, Cal Poly
- Third Place: The Connector, SCAD Atlanta
Best Online Main Page
- First Place: Talisman, Western Kentucky University
- Second Place: Urban Plains, Drake University
- Third Place: Ball Bearings, Ball State University
- Honorable Mention: Pepperdine Graphic, Pepperdine University
Best Social Media Main Page
- First Place: Mustang Media Group/Mustang News, Cal Poly
- Second Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Third Place: The Empire State Tribune, The King’s College
- Honorable Mention: Rice Thresher, Rice University
Best Special Section Cover
- First Place: F Newsmagazine, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Second Place: The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University
- Third Place: Daily Titan, California State University – Fullerton
- Honorable Mention: Pepperdine Graphic, Pepperdine University
Best Yearbook Cover
- First Place: Ibis Yearbook, University of Miami
- Second Place: Angelos, California Baptist University
- Third Place: The Scroll, University of Central Arkansas
- Honorable Mention: The Campanile, Rice University
- Honorable Mention: Palladium, Troy University
Best Yearbook Division Page/Spread
- First Place: Ibis Yearbook, University of Miami
- Second Place: Tower Yearbook, Northwest Missouri State University
- Third Place: The Scroll, University of Central Arkansas
- Honorable Mention: The Horned Frog, Texas Christian University
- Honorable Mention: The Campanile, Rice University
Best Yearbook Entertainment Page/Spread
First Place: The Campanile, Rice University
- Second Place: Ibis Yearbook, University of Miami
- Third Place: The Horned Frog, Texas Christian University
- Honorable Mention: The Scroll, University of Central Arkansas
- Honorable Mention: Crossings Yearbook, Roger Williams University
Best Yearbook Feature Page/Spread
- First Place: The Horned Frog, Texas Christian University
- Second Place: Tower Yearbook, Northwest Missouri State University
- Third Place: Ibis Yearbook, University of Miami
- Honorable Mention: The Royal Purple, Kansas State University
Best Yearbook News Page/Spread
- First Place: The Baylor Roundup, Baylor University
- Second Place: The Aggieland, Texas A&M University
- Third Place: Tower Yearbook, Northwest Missouri State University
- Honorable Mention: The Warbler, Eastern Illinois University
Best Yearbook Sports Page/Spread
- First Place: Ibis Yearbook, University of Miami
- Second Place: The Horned Frog, Texas Christian University
- Third Place: The Royal Purple, Kansas State University
- Honorable Mention: Tower Yearbook, Northwest Missouri State University
Online Pinnacles
Best Multimedia Breaking News Story
- First Place: Loquitur, Cabrini University
- Second Place: The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
- Third Place: Daily 49er, California State University – Long Beach
- Honorable Mention: The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University
- Honorable Mention: The Simpsonain, Simpson College
Best Audio Slideshow
- First Place: The Tack Online, Buena Vista University
- Second Place: Campus Carrier, Berry College
- Third Place: Viking Fusion, Berry College
- Honorable Mention: The Connector, SCAD Atlanta
Best Breaking News Coverage
- First Place: Daily Titan, California State University – Fullerton
- Second Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Third Place: The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University
- Honorable Mention: The Eagle, American University
Best Multimedia Feature Story
- First Place: EMERGE Magazine, University of Guelph-Humber
- Second Place: The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University
- Third Place: The Eagle, American University
- Honorable Mention: GH360, University of Guelph-Humber
Best Podcast
- First Place: Rice Thresher, Rice University
- Second Place: Catfishing in the Nile: Sexploitation and Online Blackmail in Egypt, The American University in Cairo
- Third Place: The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
- Honorable Mention: Radio DePaul, DePaul University
- Honorable Mention: KBVU 97.5 The Edge, Buena Vista University
Best Social Media Presence
- First Place: Mustang Media Group/Mustang News, Cal Poly
- Second Place: Ke Alaka’i, BYU Hawaii
- Third Place: OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
- Honorable Mention: The Beacon, University of Portland
Best Viral Video
- First Place: Ke Alaka’i, BYU Hawaii
- Second Place: The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University
Photo Pinnacles
Best Breaking News Photo
- First Place: Daily Titan, California State University – Fullerton
- Second Place: The Advocate, Contra Costa College
- Third Place: The Corsair, Loyola Marymount University
- Honorable Mention: The Rocket, Slippery Rock University
- Honorable Mention: The Shorthorn, UT Arlington
Best Feature Photo
- First Place: SCAN Magazine, SCAD Atlanta
- Second Place: The Connector, SCAD Atlanta
- Third Place: PULSE magazine, Central Washington University
- Honorable Mention: Expressions, East Carolina University
Best General News Photo
- First Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Second Place: The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University
- Third Place: The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University
- Honorable Mention: The Collegian, Tarrant County College
Best Photo Illustration
- First Place: Horizon Magazine, Colorado Mesa University
- Second Place: Currents Magazine, Pepperdine University
- Third Place: Tusk Magazine, California State University – Fullerton
- Honorable Mention: The Connector, SCAD Atlanta
Best Photo Package
- First Place: Horizon Magazine, Colorado Mesa University
- Second Place: The Empire State Tribune, The King’s College
- Third Place: Substance.Media, Mt. San Antonio College
- Honorable Mention: Rice Thresher, Rice University
Best Portrait
- First Place: Angelos, California Baptist University
- Second Place: Urban Plains, Drake University
- Third Place: The Shorthorn, UT Arlington
- Honorable Mention: Alice, University of Alabama
Best Sports Feature Photo
- First Place: The NewsHouse, Syracuse University
- Second Place: College Heights Herald, Western Kentucky University
- Third Place: The Reflector, University of Indianapolis
- Honorable Mention: The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University
Best Sports News Photo
- First Place: The Beacon, University of Portland
- Second Place: The Northerner, Northern Kentucky University
- Third Place: Rice Thresher, Rice University
Sports Pinnacles
Best Online Sports Section
- First Place: OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
- Second Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Third Place: RMU Sentry Media, Robert Morris University
- Honorable Mention: Carrie Pratt, Western Kentucky University
- Honorable Mention: The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University
Best Sports Columnist
- First Place: The DePaulia, DePaul University
- Second Place: The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
- Third Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Honorable Mention: Rice Thresher, Rice University
- Honorable Mention: The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University
Best Sports Feature
- First Place: The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
- Second Place: The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
- Third Place: OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
Best Sports Game Story
- First Place: The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
- Second Place: The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University
- Third Place: Daily 49er, California State University – Long Beach
- Honorable Mention: Cardinal Points, SUNY Plattsburgh
Best Sports Investigative Story
- First Place: The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
- Second Place: The DePaulia, DePaul University
- Third Place: The Daily Evergreen, Washington State University
- Honorable Mention: The Appalachian, Appalachian State University
- Honorable Mention: Daily Bruin, UCLA
Best Sports Multimedia Story
- First Place: OU Daily, University of Oklahoma
- Second Place: The NewsHouse, Syracuse University
- Third Place: Rice Thresher, Rice University
Best Sports Section
- First Place: The Battalion Texas A&M University
- Second Place: Elon News Network Elon University
- Third Place: el Don Santa Ana College
- Honorable Mention: Rice Thresher Rice University
- Honorable Mention: The Michigan Daily University of Michigan
Writing Pinnacles
Best Arts and Entertainment Story
- First Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Second Place: University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
- Third Place: Urban Plains, Drake University
- Honorable Mention: The Santa Clara, Santa Clara University
Best Breaking News Story
- First Place: The Empire State Tribune, The King’s College
- Second Place: The University Star, Texas State University
- Third Place: The Shorthorn, UT Arlington
Best Column
- First Place: Tusk Magazine, California State University – Fullerton
- Second Place: Pursuit, California Baptist University
- Third Place: Wingspan, Laramie County Community College
Best Editorial
- First Place: The Beacon, University of Portland
- Second Place: University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
- Third Place: The Eagle, American University
Best Feature Story
- First Place: The Beacon, University of Portland
- Second Place: Daily Titan, California State University – Fullerton
- Third Place: Ball Bearings, Ball State University
- Honorable Mention: The Lumberjack, Northern Arizona University
- Honorable Mention: The Spectrum, University at Buffalo
Best General News Story
- First Place: The Northerner, Northern Kentucky University
- Second Place: The Beacon, University of Portland
- Third Place: The Lumberjack, Northern Arizona University
- Honorable Mention: The Arbiter, Boise State University
- Honorable Mention: Lindenwood Legacy Magazine, Lindenwood University
Best Investigative Story
- First Place: Lindenwood Legacy Magazine, Lindenwood University
- Second Place: AWOL Magazine, American University
- Third Place: The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University
- Honorable Mention: The Eagle, American University
Best News Package
- First Place: Daily Titan, California State University – Fullerton
- Second Place: University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
- Third Place: Daily 49er, California State University – Long Beach
- Honorable Mention: Mustang Media Group/Mustang News, Cal Poly
Best Profile
- First Place: The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
- Second Place: BYU Daily Universe, Brigham Young University
- Third Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
Best Special Section – Four Pages or Less
- First Place: The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University
- Second Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Third Place: The Battalion, Texas A&M University
- Honorable Mention: The Sunflower, Wichita State University
Best Special Section – More than Four Pages
- First Place: Arrow, Southeast Missouri State University
- Second Place: Daily Bruin, UCLA
- Third Place: Elon News Network, Elon University