Pendulum, Colonnades named ACP Pacemaker finalists

The Pendulum, Elon University's weekly student newspaper, and Colonnades, the university's literary magazine, were named 2010 finalists in the Associated Collegiate Press Newspaper and Magazine Pacemaker competitions Sept. 2. The Pacemaker is the highest honor ACP gives to its members.

The ACP Newspaper Pacemakers were judged by a Washington, D.C., newspaper member of the Newspaper Association of America. They award general excellence in four-year college daily newspapers, four-year college non-daily newspapers and two-year college newspapers. Entries for the competition are judged based on their coverage and content, the quality of writing and reporting, the leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, layout and design, and photography, art and graphics.

The Pendulum submitted five newspapers for consideration, according to the guidelines laid out by ACP.

Student leaders at The Pendulum chose the following issues:

  • Oct. 14, 2009 (Edition include stories about the Alamance Tea Party rally in Graham, health care challenges and the university’s strategic plan.)
  • Oct. 28, 2009 (Edition includes coverage of swine flu vaccinations, how the university was dealing with the economic downturn and the federal medical marijuana debate.)
  • Dec. 2, 2009 (Edition includes stories about food banks’ shortage of food, the ban on texting while driving and in-depth look at the Greensboro economy.)
  • Feb. 10, 2010 (Edition includes stories about a former student who went missing from her home, a gun wielding incident at Sanday’s Subs and local businesses coming to the Town of Elon.)
  • Feb. 24, 2010 (Edition includes stories about umemployment benefits ending, a student who filed a false policy report and how universal health care coverage would affect the medical profession.)

The Pendulum was among 22 finalists in the four-year college non-daily competition. The newspapers above were produced under the leadership of Andie Diemer ’10 in the fall semester of 2009 and senior Pam Richter in the spring semester of 2010.

In addition, The Pendulum Online was named an Online Pacemaker finalist in March, and former Pendulum design chief Caroline Matthews ’10 was named a finalist in the Infographic competition.

The ACP Magazine Pacemakers are awarded for general excellence in collegiate magazines in two categories: feature and literary magazines. Colonnades was submitted in the literary competition. Entries are judged based on their content, quality of writing and editing, photography, art and graphics, layout and design, and overall concept or theme.

Colonnades submitted its most recent issue, “Public Spaces,” which was produced under the leadership of Arie Saint ’10. It includes submissions from students in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, 35mm photography, digital photography, art and reviews. This is the first time Colonnades has been named a Pacemaker finalist.

Winners will be announced at the 89th annual Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Advisers conference in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 30.