Both the print and online editions of the Baker Orange have been selected as 2008 American Collegiate Press Pacemaker finalists.
Sometimes called the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate journalism, the Pacemaker is the highest award available to ACP members.
“If you want to look at the list of the best college papers, you look at the list of Pacemaker finalists,” Gwyn Mellinger, professor of mass media and communication, said.
Jenalea Myers, a 2008 Baker graduate, served as editor for the 2007-2008 year. <br/>"I was really in shock when I found out, and I waited for someone to tell me that they were joking," she said."I was really in shock when I found out, and I waited for someone to tell me that they were joking," she said.
“I was really in shock when I found out, and I waited for someone to tell me that they were joking,” she said.
Each newspaper entering the contest submits three issues, two nearest a date pre-selected by Pacemaker officials and one wild card issue.
“Usually you have a lot of latitude on which issue you enter, but this is very constrained,” Mellinger said. “If it’s an issue where the staff had a misspelled headline or an out-of-focus photo, that’s too bad. A little bit of it is the luck of the draw. A lot of it is being consistent.”
The finalists were chosen based on coverage and content, quality of writing and editing, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, layout and design, photography and art and graphics.
Series, in-depth reporting and out-of-the ordinary topics were some of last year’s staff’s strengths, Mellinger said.
“Last year’s staff did some things that they didn’t have to do, reporting on topics that were unexpected with a little bit more texture and depth,” Mellinger said.
Carrying that little extra something over onto the online side of things was important for the nomination of the Baker Orange’s Web site.
"We're in the process of making the online site more than just a dumping ground from the print side," Dave Bostwick, assistant professor of mass media and communication, said.<br/>Convergence Editor Chansi Long is committed to adding special stories and features.Convergence Editor Chansi Long is committed to adding special stories and features.
Convergence Editor Chansi Long is committed to adding special stories and features.
“We offer something that you just can’t get from the printed paper,” she said. “We have a lot of multimedia, which is what online users like to see.”
Long became the convergence editor after the December 2007 graduation of former convergence editor Wes Mikel.
The winners of both the online and print categories will be announced at the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Advisers National College Media Convention awards ceremony in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 1
“I think the editor will end up getting a lot of credit, but it is a staff effort,” Myers said.