Pinnacle Awards Header

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 individuals and organizations are presented at the Fall National College Media Convention.

The 2025 Pinnacle Awards are now closed and no new entries will be taken. If you need assistance in making a payment for entries made prior to the June 17 deadline, please contact [email protected]

Entry 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 for individual work costs $20 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Organizational Pinnacles are $20 and open to CMA members only.
  • Each entry must have been produced by students actively enrolled at a college or university.
  • To qualify for an organizational award (e.g., Yearbook of the Year), your school must first submit entries to individual award categories.
  • College Media Association contests recognize excellent STUDENT work. By entering CMA contests, entrants are confirming that the work was created, edited, produced and published by students. Work from joint student-faculty collaborations and work by professional journalists (even if they are currently enrolled in a program) should not be submitted.
  • Each entry must have been created during the most recent academic year.
  • Entries are limited. Each media outlet at a college or university may submit only one entry per category.
  • Two-year schools may enter in the Two-Year Division OR in the school size division most appropriate for the campus size. No work may be entered in two divisions in the same category.
  • All categories must be submitted online. Online entries can include links, PDF, TXT, GIF, PNG, or JPG files.
  • College Media Association may post winning entries on the CMA website or for other purposes.

Categories

  

Rules & Instructions

Creative Pinnacles

  • Headline: Entries should include a PDF of the story/headline as it ran in the publication or a link to the elements online.
  • Infographic: Entries should include a PDF of the infographic as it ran in the publication or a link to the elements online.
  • Interactive/Motion Infographic: Entries should provide a link to published interactive infographic
  • Literary Magazine Cover: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Literary Magazine Spread: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Magazine Cover: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Magazine Spread: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Newspaper Front Page: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Newspaper Spread: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Special Section Cover: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Yearbook Cover: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Yearbook Division Page: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Yearbook Spread: Entries should include a PDF/image or a link to a file.
  • Photo Illustration: Entries should include a PDF of the illustration as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Comic: Entries must include three examples of a single comic series.
  • Editorial Illustration: Entries should include a PDF of the illustration as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Special Event Coverage (audio/video): Entries should be edited to showcase the most engaging elements of the coverage. Maximum length: 300 seconds
  • Video Entertainment Program: Entries should be edited to showcase the most engaging elements of the program. Maximum length: 300 seconds
  • Creative Audio Performance: Creative audio performance intended to entertain. May include humor, fiction, promotional or musical and audio performance. Up to 5 minutes in length.*
  • Best DJ Personality: Audio performance as a DJ as part of an internet or broadcast radio show. Submit no more than 5 minutes of DJ work, and edit to omit songs.*
  • Short Documentary: Non-fiction videos 2:30-7 minutes in length.*
  • Long Documentary: Non-fiction videos 7-15 minutes in length. May be edited to comply with length limits.*
  • Creative Film: Short films under 5 minutes in length. May be edited to comply with length limits.*
  • Vertical Short Video: Videos shot in vertical format intended for social media distribution. Maximum length: 60 seconds.*

Features Pinnacles

  • Arts and Entertainment Story (print/web): Entries should include a PDF of the package as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Arts and Entertainment Story (audio/video): Entries consist of a short package designed for broadcast or web distribution. Maximum length: 150 seconds.
  • Feature Story (print/web): Entries should include a PDF of the package as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Feature Photo Package: Entries should include a PDF of the package as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Feature multimedia package: Submit a minimum of three media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration)
  • Feature Package (audio/video): A short feature package designed for broadcast or web distribution. Maximum length: 150 seconds.*

General Pinnacles

  • Coverage of Diversity: An entry may be in any medium or combination of media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration).
  • Coverage of Faith: An entry may be in any medium or combination of media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration).
  • Series: Entries consist of a minimum three stories in any medium.
  • Special Section: Entries must include the entire section.
  • Portrait: Entries should include a PDF of the photo and related material as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Profile Story: An entry may be in any medium or combination of media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration).
  • Podcast: Non-fictional audio story or podcast, expository in nature. (Please submit no more than 15 minutes for consideration by the judges.) May be edited to comply with length limits.*

News Pinnacles

  • Breaking News Story (print/web): An entry may be in any medium or combination of media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration).
  • General News Story (print/web): An entry may be in any medium or combination of media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration).
  • Breaking News Package (audio/video): An entry will consist of work related to the same event or development throughout a 72-hour period.
  • Breaking News Photo: Entries should include a PDF of the image and related material as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Breaking News Multimedia Coverage: An entry will consist of work related to the same event or development throughout a 72-hour period.
  • General News Photo: Entries should include a PDF of the image and related material as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • General News Multimedia Coverage: An entry will consist of work related to the same event or development throughout a 72-hour period.
  • News Photo Package: Entries should include a PDF of the image and related material as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • News Multimedia Package: Submit a minimum of three media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration)
  • General Newsletter: Submit three examples from the contest period.
  • Investigative Story: Entries may consist of any medium or combination of media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration)
  • Audio Newscast: A newscast of up to 30 minutes in length designed for broadcast or web distribution (one entry per college).
  • General News Package (audio/video): A short news package designed for broadcast or web distribution. Maximum length: 150 seconds.*
  • Video Newscast: A newscast of up to 30 minutes in length designed for broadcast or web distribution (one entry per college).*

Opinion Pinnacles

  • Editorial Cartoon: Entries should include a PDF of the image and related material as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Column: Entries must include a minimum two examples with a single author.
  • Editorial: Entries must include a minimum two examples, unsigned.
Sports Column: Entries must include a minimum two examples with a single author.

Promotion / Advertising Pinnacles

  • Advertising Special Section: Entries must include the entire section.
  • Ad Campaign: Three elements, any medium, 100-word narrative describing campaign goals and results
  • Print Advertisement: Entries should include a PDF of the image and related material as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Video Advertisement: Entries should be no longer than 120 seconds.
  • Audio Advertisement: Entries should be no longer than 120 seconds.
  • Rate Card/Media Kit: An entry consists of a PDF or a link to the media kit.
  • Video Public Service Announcement: Entries should be no longer than 60 seconds.*
  • Audio Public Service Announcement: Entries should be no longer than 60 seconds.*
  • Campus Media Engagement: Entries consists of a written description of no more than two pages, with accompanying photos, videos and other materials that will help the judge understand how the activity promotes campus engagement with the campus media organization. Entries may be a single-event activity or campaign designed to increase engagement or to promote visibility of the organization as a whole or its particular products (such as a special issue, a sports preview, a housing guide, etc.)

Sports Pinnacles

  • Game Story (print/web): Entries should include a PDF of the image and related material as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Game Story (audio/video): A short game story designed for broadcast or web distribution. Maximum length: 150 seconds.
  • Sports Feature (print/web): Entries should include a PDF of the image and related material as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Investigative Sports Story: Entries may be in any medium or combination of media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration)
  • Multimedia Sports Story: Submit a minimum of three media (print/text/audio/video/social/photo/graphic illustration).
  • Sports Photo: Entries should include a PDF of the image and related material as it ran in the publication or a link to the package online.
  • Sports Newsletter: Submit three examples from the contest period.
  • Sports Feature (audio/video): A short sports package designed for broadcast or web distribution. Maximum length: 150 seconds.*
  • Video Sportscast: Entries should be no longer than five minutes and may be a segment of a longer sportscast.*
  

Please take a moment to read the instructions on how to prepare your entries prior to entering the contest.

Individual Pinnacle Instructions
  
Organizational Pinnacle Instructions

Organizational Pinnacles

To qualify for an organizational award (e.g., Yearbook of the Year), your school must first submit entries to individual award categories. Entries are $20 each and open ONLY to CMA members.

Categories

  • Print Newspaper of the Year
  • Media Website of the Year
  • Video Outlet of the Year
  • Audio Outlet of the Year
  • Feature Magazine of the Year
  • Literary Magazine of the Year
  • Yearbook of the Year
How to Enter

 

Film & Audio Festival

The CMA Film and Audio Festival is now accepting entries as part of the overall Pinnacles process. Categories are marked with an asterisk (*) in the main Pinnacle categories.

Entrants will have the opportunity to win a Pinnacle AND be featured in the 2025 CMA Film and Audio Festival in Washington, D.C. If you’ve entered the work in the Festival before, you’ll simply complete your entries in the Pinnacles system. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for ensuring your work is visible to judges and available for screening.

The CMA Film and Audio Festival deadline for entries is June 17 and covers the same time period as the Pinnacles.

 

Categories

  • Creative Audio Performance: Creative audio performance intended to entertain. May include humor, fiction, promotional or musical and audio performance. Up to 5 minutes in length.
  • Best DJ Personality: Audio performance as a DJ as part of an internet or broadcast radio show. Submit no more than 5 minutes of DJ work, and edit to omit songs.
  • Short Documentary: Non-fiction videos 2:30-7 minutes in length
  • Long Documentary: Non-fiction videos 7-15 minutes in length. May be edited to comply with length limits.
  • Creative Film: Short films under 5 minutes in length. May be edited to comply with length limits.
  • Vertical Short Video: Videos shot in vertical format intended for social media distribution. Maximum length: 60 seconds.
  • Feature Package (audio/video): A short feature package designed for broadcast or web distribution. Maximum length: 150 seconds.•
  • General News Package (audio/video): A short news package designed for broadcast or web distribution. Maximum length: 150 seconds.
  • Podcast: Non-fictional audio story or podcast, expository in nature. (Please submit no more than 15 minutes for consideration by the judges.) May be edited to comply with length limits.
  • Video Newscast: A newscast of up to 30 minutes in length designed for broadcast or web distribution (one entry per college).
  • Video Public Service Announcement: Entries should be no longer than 60 seconds
  • Audio Public Service Announcement: Entries should be no longer than 60 seconds
  • Sports Feature (audio/video): A short sports package designed for broadcast or web distribution. Maximum length: 150 seconds.
  • Video Sportscast: Entries should be no longer than five minutes and may be a segment of a longer sportscast.
How to Enter
Information Icon

Questions?

  • Rules, eligibility, deadlines, or contestant info: Contact College Media Association (CMA) Email CMA HQ or (518) 463-8644

  • Technical help with the BetterBNC platform: Visit www.betterbncsupport.com and click “Start Trouble Ticket” Or call (360) 427-6300 • 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PST, Monday–Friday

Browser Compatibility

BetterBNC works best with: Google Chrome (latest version) or Mozilla Firefox (latest version) for PC or Mac

Make sure your browser is up to date for the best contest experience.