The Pinnacle College Media Awards are a national contest from College Media Association to recognize excellence in student-produced college media.
The contest honors overall excellence in student work on college newspapers, websites, magazines, yearbooks, radio or television stations, including Internet or closed circuit outlets, produced during an academic year. The Pinnacle College Media Awards for organizations are presented at the Fall National College Media Convention.
To see the categories for the Pinnacle Awards recognizing individuals, please click here.
NEW FOR 2023! A TWO-YEAR Division & FOUR-YEAR College/University Size Divisions
If a division has fewer than three entries in a single category, that division will be combined with the next larger division and the resulting award will be designated with the larger of the divisons.
- Two-year colleges
- Division I 10,000+ campus undergraduate enrollment (not including distance learning)
- Division II 3000-9999 campus undergraduate enrollment (not including distance learning)
- Division III 1000-2999 campus undergraduate enrollment (not including distance learning)
- Division IV under 1000 campus undergraduate enrollment (not including distance learning)
Guidelines: Please read and follow the guidelines listed below for submitting entries. Entries not submitted according to the guidelines will be disqualified.
• Each Pinnacle entry costs $10 for members.
• Entries for the Organizational Pinnacles are open to any student media outlet that has an active member of College Media Association as an adviser. Advisers who aren’t already members can join CMA here.
• Each entry must have been created between June 17 – June 12 of the most recent academic year.
• Each entry must have been produced by students actively enrolled at a college or university.
• Entries are limited. Each media outlet at a college or university may submit only one entry per category.
• College Media Association may post winning entries on the CMA website or for other purposes.
• See each category description for details on how to submit entries for that category. All categories except yearbook must be submitted online.
Questions? Please feel free to email your questions to info@collegemedia.org.
CATEGORIES
NEW FOR 2023! Some category names and definitions have changed.
Broadcast Pinnacles
Two-Year TV Station of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in coverage, content and reporting, production quality, service to the campus community and innovative use of audio/video. Submit three clips, each no longer than five minutes: one news, one entertainment and one station manager’s choice.
Four-Year TV Station of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in coverage, content and reporting, production quality, service to the campus community and innovative use of audio/video. Submit three clips, each no longer than five minutes: one news, one entertainment and one station manager’s choice.
Two-Year Radio Station of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in coverage, content and reporting, production quality, service to the campus community and innovative use of audio/video. Submit three clips, each no longer than five minutes: one news, one entertainment and one station manager’s choice.
Four-Year Radio Station of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in coverage, content and reporting, production quality, service to the campus community and innovative use of audio/video. Submit three clips, each no longer than five minutes: one news, one entertainment and one station manager’s choice.
Feature Magazine Pinnacles
Two-Year Feature Magazine of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit a complete PDF of one issue published during the 2022-23 academic year.
Four-Year Feature Magazine of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit a complete PDF of one issue published during the 2022-23 academic year.
Literary Magazine Pinnacles
Two-Year Literary Magazine of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in content, design, art, writing and editing. Submit a complete PDF of one issue published during the 2022-23 academic year.
Four-Year Literary Magazine of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in content, design, art, writing and editing. Submit a complete PDF of one issue published during the 2022-23 academic year.
Newsletter Pinnacles
Two-Year General News Email Newsletter of the Year: This category is for newsletters that are published at a two-year school. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs OR links for three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Four-Year General News Email Newsletter of the Year: This category is for newsletters that are published at a four-year school. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs OR links for three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Two-Year Sports Email Newsletter of the Year: This category is for newsletters that are published at a two-year school. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs OR links for three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Four-Year Sports Email Newsletter of the Year: This category is for newsletters that are published at a four-year school. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs OR links for three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Two-Year Diversity/Social Justice Email Newsletter of the Year: This category is for newsletters that are published at a two-year school. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs OR links for three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Four-Year Diversity/Social Justice Email Newsletter of the Year: This category is for newsletters that are published at a four-year school. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs OR links for three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Two-Year Special Topic (Not news, sports or DEI) Email Newsletter of the Year: This category is for newsletters that are published at a two-year school. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs OR links for three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Four-Year Special Topic (Not news, sports, or DEI) Email Newsletter of the Year: This category is for newsletters that are published at a four-year school. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs OR links for three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Newspaper Pinnacles
Two-Year Newspaper of the Year: This category is for newspapers that are published at a two-year school. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs of three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Four-Year Multi-Weekly Newspaper of the Year: This category is for newspapers that are published two-five days per week. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit URL links OR complete PDFs of three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Four-Year Weekly Newspaper of the Year: This category is for newspapers that are published, on average, about once per week. This category recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit URL links OR complete PDFs of three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Four-Year Periodic Newspaper of the Year: This category is for newspapers that are published, on average, 2-3 times per month. It recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; service to the campus community; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit complete PDFs of three issues. One should be published during the fall 2022, one from spring 2023 and one editor’s choice.
Website Pinnacles
Two-Year Website of the Year (stand-alone): This category recognizes excellence in overall coverage, content and content delivery, design, reporting, writing and editing, multimedia, special projects, cross-platform integration, service to the campus community and interactivity.
Four-Year Website of the Year (stand-alone): This category recognizes excellence in overall coverage, content and content delivery, design, reporting, writing and editing, multimedia, special projects, cross-platform integration, service to the campus community and interactivity.
Two-Year Newspaper Website of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in overall coverage, content and content delivery, design, reporting, writing and editing, multimedia, special projects, cross-platform integration, service to the campus community and interactivity.
Four-Year Newspaper Website of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in overall coverage, content and content delivery, design, reporting, writing and editing, multimedia, special projects, cross-platform integration, service to the campus community and interactivity.
Two-Year Broadcast Station Website of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in overall coverage, content and content delivery, design, reporting, writing and editing, multimedia, special projects, cross-platform integration, service to the campus community and interactivity.
Four-Year Broadcast Station Website of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in overall coverage, content and content delivery, design, reporting, writing and editing, multimedia, special projects, cross-platform integration, service to the campus community and interactivity.
Yearbook Pinnacles
Yearbook of the Year: This category recognizes excellence in coverage and content; design, graphics and illustrations; photography; and reporting, writing and editing. Submit a PDF or use a link from Google Drive or Dropbox to show us your yearbook. The yearbook must be published between June 17, 2022, and June 12, 2023.
College Media Outlet of the Year
Two-Year Best College Media Outlet. News is a concept, not a format. We recognize the media outlet that delivers stellar information to its audience through multiple channels: the written word, the spoken word, photography, and video. Judges will consider both print and web design, the use of web tech and even apps, the integration of social media into news coverage, and the day-in-day-out quality and quantity of coverage that students, faculty, staff, and administrators want — and frankly, need. One entry per school. Applicants should submit up to five links to relevant sites, plus a written statement of no more than 500 words on how the organization provides news across platforms in an ever-changing media landscape. Judges will evaluate based on reporting quality, distribution (multiple ways/platforms), frequency of updates, and reach/interaction.
Four-Year Best College Media Outlet. News is a concept, not a format. We recognize the media outlet that delivers stellar information to its audience through multiple channels: the written word, the spoken word, photography, and video. Judges will consider both print and web design, the use of web tech and even apps, the integration of social media into news coverage, and the day-in-day-out quality and quantity of coverage that students, faculty, staff, and administrators want — and frankly, need. One entry per school. Applicants should submit up to five links to relevant sites, plus a written statement of no more than 500 words on how the organization provides news across platforms in an ever-changing media landscape. Judges will evaluate based on reporting quality, distribution (multiple ways/platforms), frequency of updates, and reach/interaction.
Best Organizational Diversity Initiative of the Year. We recognize the media outlet that employs innovative and effective strategies for addressing issues of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, both internally and in the products it creates. One entry per school. Applicants should submit up to five links to relevant evidence, plus a written statement of no more than 500 words addressing the internal and external results of the initiative(s). Judges will evaluate based on content quality, innovation and demonstrated effectiveness.