IDS, IUSTV receive nine Best in Show honors at fall conference
The Indiana Daily Student received two Pacemaker Awards from the Associated Collegiate Press at its fall 2025 conference — for both Multiplatform organization and for Newspaper/Newsmagazine. For the first time in its history, IUSTV was a finalist for a Broadcast Pacemaker.
“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” executive director Laura Widmer said. “ACP is honored to recognize the best of the best.”
The IDS was one of 11 college newsrooms in the country to receive a Multiplatform Pacemaker, ACP's newest award during the October conference in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes excellence for college newsrooms utilizing online, email newsletters, print media, social media and audio/videos. The IDS has received this honor for three out of the four years it's been offered.
“This is clearly a forward-thinking Pacemaker award that reflects the new college media ecosystem,” ACP associate director Gary Lundgren said. “While ACP continues to award Pacemakers for individual platforms, it is increasingly important for judges to review how print, online, email newsletters, social media and audio/video all come together to serve readers.”
The Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemaker award was established shortly after ACP was founded in 1921. It is often regarded as the most-competitive, most-honored award in collegiate journalism, according to the organization's website. This year, 90 newspapers entered and the IDS was one of 21 newspapers to receive the honor. The IDS has won the award 26 times.
“It is exciting to see how these colleges and universities are refining their print products in today’s college media ecosystem,” Lundgren said. “It is definitely a transitional time for the college student newspaper.”
IUSTV was among only five finalists for a 2025 Broadcast Pacemaker Award. The broadcast competition was added in 2020 and honors excellence in collegiate newscasting.
“As digital platforms expand, a growing number of student media operations are producing outstanding broadcast news programs,” Lundgren said.
ACP's Best in Show Awards recognize work done during the first three months of the fall semester. The IDS and IUSTV received nine Best in Show awards at the conference.
IDS's Jonathan Frey, first place, "A Drunk Driver Killed Nate 3 Years Ago," Feature Story
IDS creative/marketing/advertising staff, first place, Advertising Media Kit
Staff, second place, "Daily Rundown," Email Newsletter
IUSTV, second place, "IUSTV News," Broadcast News Program
IDS's Mia Hilkowitz , fourth, "IU Refuses To Release Review of Whitten Plagiarism Allegations," News Story
IUSTV's Isaac Perlich, fifth place, "Bloomington Animal Shelter Donor," Broadcast Feature Story
Staff, sixth place, "Idsnews.com," Website
IDS's Lauren McKinney, sixth place, "IU Football Players Celebrate," Sports Photography
IDS's Briana Pace, eighth place, "IU's Charlie Kirk Vigil," News/Feature Photo
