An overview of NSPA’s signature award, The Pacemaker, with examples from the 2009-10 finalists and winners, presented at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Portland, Ore., April 2010.

1. The Pacemaker
Recognizing excellence in student media since 1927

2. Introduction
The Pacemaker is the highest honor in scholastic
journalism. For decades, it has recognized
trend-setters and go-getters, effort and
enterprise, achievement and talent.
Today, the Pacemaker continues to recognize
the best student work in the nation.

3. Keep in mind…
The images seen in this presentation are Pacemaker
Finalists from the 2008-09 academic year.
Winners will be announced
at Saturday’s awards ceremony.
Inclusion of a publication in this presentation does not
indicate status as a winner. Do not read anything into
whether an example was included here.

4. Who’s judging?
• Pacemaker judges are professionals working in media as
well as a range of experts familiar with student media.
• Judges for the 2009 NSPA Newspaper Pacemakers
included working or retired professionals from Seattle-
area newspapers.
• Judges for the 2010 NSPA Magazine Pacemakers were
staff members from the Alaska Quarterly Review.

5. Who’s judging?
• Judging is by team. We ask the media organization to
compile a group with representation from various
departments (writer, editor, designer, photographer,
etc.).
• Entries are judged holistically. There is not a rubric with
points attached to certain criteria.
• Judging is by nature somewhat subjective based on
established standards of scholastic journalism.

6. How do they judge?
• The number of Pacemaker finalists and winners is
proportional to the number of entries.
• The number is not fixed each year, but about half of the
finalists will be named winners.
• This is a contest, not a critique.
• NSPA asks judges to provide general feedback on the
finalists. Some teams are more thorough. Comments will
be shared on our Web site as part of the winners gallery.

7. What do they judge?
• Content
• Quality of writing and editing
• Presentation: Layout and design
• Photography, art and graphics
• Reporting: Type and depth (newspaper)
• Editorial Leadership (newspaper)
• Overall concept or theme (yearbook, magazine)

8. Content & Coverage
• The publication should accurately reflect all aspects of
student life, from academics to sports, arts to
community news.
• Newspapers should localize national or regional
stories for their own campus community. Wire or
reprinted copy is discouraged.

9. Wings
Arrowhead Christian Academy
Redlands, Calif.
Content and Coverage
Tell the story of the year — even the seemingly routine or
mundane. Note how the secondary elements provide smaller
stories, even through photos.

10. Sentry
Robinson Middle School
Fairfax, Va.
Content and Coverage
From the opening spread, a tone is set that all aspects of the
school will be covered. The copy tells the story of class activities.

11. The Clan
McLean High School
McLean, Va.
Content and Coverage
A divider page is a good place to put those topics or other bits of
information that don’t fit in a traditional section but are still
important to telling the story of the year.

12. Content and Coverage
The national story about the
economy and financial crisis is
localized with a specific story
about the school and its
community of students and
families.
The Roundup
Brophy College Preparatory Academy
Tucson, Ariz.

13. Content and Coverage
A centerpiece package on the
experiences of an alumnus
when the school was first
integrated anchors the page.
Hard news items on curriculum
and state funding round out
the offerings.
Silver Chips
Montgomery Blair High School
Silver Spring, Md.

14. Content and Coverage
Relevant and timely stories on
Page One include election
night results, school budget
cuts and “dirty” dancing
behaviors. Teasers complete
the package.
tjToday
Thomas Jefferson HS for Science & Technology
Alexandria, Va.

15. Content and Coverage
An timely topic affecting all
students — the dress code —
is placed on the cover
prominently and handled
inside with depth coverage.
The Blazer
Timberline High School
Lacey, Wash.

16. Quality of writing & reporting
• Writing should be crisp. Reporting must be thorough.
• Copy should be clean and edited for consistent style.

17. Presentation: Layout and design
• The publication should have a clean and contemporary
look.
• Visual hierarchy is established.

18. Log
Columbus North High School
Columbus, Ind.
Presentation: Layout and Design
This classic design takes the rules and improvises: Strong
dominant photo facing the gutter, headline that leads the eye,
secondary elements, multiple points of entry.

19. Ash-A-Wut
Gabrielino High School
San Gabriel, Calif.
Presentation: Layout and Design
Note the strong grid used to structure the page. White space is
also used exceptionally well, and the large knockout photo on the
left page draws the reader’s eye and leads to the secondary
elements on the page.

20. Cayuse
Walnut High School
Walnut, Calif.
Presentation: Layout and Design
A perennial spread on fashion doesn’t have to look cliché. Even
the photos look natural, and the page evokes the contemporary
fashion with contemporary design.

21. Presentation: Layout and
Design
This page demonstrates
strong use of modular layout
with an attention to reader
entry points through sidebars
and the left rail as teasers.
The Nexus
Westview High School
San Diego, Calif.

22. Presentation: Layout and
Design
A strong, visual centerpiece
package dominates the page.
Newsier items complete the
secondary placements. Good
use of sidebar elements to
complement the main
coverage. Use of color is
constrained.
The Prowl
Coral Glades High School
Coral Springs, Fla.

23. Presentation: Layout and
Design
Wow. Clean and simple design
that is executed perfectly
makes this a supremely
attractive page. It also
succeeds in not being boring.
Spartana
Homestead High School
Fort Wayne, Ind.

24. Presentation: Layout and
Design
Multiple entry points invite
the reader. Clever illustrative
solution avoids a posed photo.
Mug shots break up text.
The Connection
John B. Connally High School
Austin, Texas

25. Presentation: Layout and
Design
Classic example of modular
layout with a centerpiece
package (softer news)
bracketed by harder news
stories.
El Estoque
Monta Vista High School
Cupertino, Calif.

26. Presentation: Layout and
Design
A model example of modular
layout — descending
headlines and centerpiece
design with strong
organization and reader-
service elements.
High Tide
Redondo Union High School
Redondo Beach, Calif.

27. Photography, art and graphics
• Visuals enhance the verbal content and draw in the
reader.
• Quality of photos and art is technically excellent.

28. Odyssey
Chantilly High School
Chantilly, Va.
Photography, Art and Graphics
Strong, storytelling photos are absolutely essential in any
yearbook, and this is one area where Pacemaker finalists and
winners usually separate from the pack.

29. Indian
Shawnee Mission North HS
Overland Park, Kan.
Photography, Art and Graphics
Do not be afraid of using a HUGE candid as a portrait. Here, it
works. Make sure you have an exceptional photo because every
flaw will be amplified at that size.

30. Hawk
Pleasant Grove High School
Texarkana, Texas
Photography, Art and Graphics
This is an effect that should not be used on every image but which
adds a lot of impact (and might make a marginal image better).
Note the restraint — it’s not overdone.

31. Photography, Art
and Graphics
A creative photoillustration
emphasizes one aspect and
instantly conveys the story
topic to readers. Strong
typography helps clarify the
message.
Spark
Lakota East High School
Liberty Township, Ohio

32. Photography, Art
and Graphics
It’s OK to push the envelope.
This story is about local
kidnappings involving current
and former students.
The Squall
Dexter High School
Dexter, Mich.

33. Photography, art
and graphics
Wonderful and dynamic
artwork can really lure in the
reader.
The Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kan.

34. Reporting: Type and depth
• Major stories should show evidence of multiple
sources.
• Series or in-depth pieces should be prominent.

35. Titanium
Antelope High School
Antelope, Calif.
Reporting: Type and Depth
One important role of a yearbook is to document the year and to
acknowledge milestones and special events. This is a spread about
the school’s first-ever opening day — from Vol. 1 of the yearbook.

36. Reporting: Type and Depth
Placing a story about Atheism
on Page One take guts. It
better be well done and
thought-provoking, not
sensational or biased. This
one resulted in a campus
dialog and response from
school officials in subsequent
editions.
ReMarker
St. Mark’s School of Texas
Dallas, Texas

37. Reporting: Type and Depth
Students reported on the
school district’s hiring
practices regarding criminal
background checks. The article
resulted in changed policies.
This story is a finalist in
NSPA’s News Story of the Year
contest. Its main author is the
2009 National High School
Journalist of the Year.
The Spoke
Conestoga High School
Berwyn, Pa.

38. Reporting: Type and Depth
Helping the audience discover
a previously unknown problem
— in this case the chaotic
world of foster care — is a
fundamental role of the press.
The Surveyor
George Washington High School
Denver, Colo.

39. Reporting: Type and Depth
The front page of this
newspaper is dedicated to a
timely topic that is presented
without sensationalism and
from multiple angles.
The Bulletin
El Toro High School
Lake Forest, Calif.

40. Editorial leadership
• Opinion pages should be alive with a variety of
content: staff editorials, cartoons, letters and personal
columns.
• Content should be consequential.

41. Editorial Leadership
Opinion pages can be vivid and
lively, too. Display headlines,
a crisp cartoon and
illustrative art accompany the
columns and staff editorial.
The content can and should be
treated visually like other
pages.
(2008 example)
The Peninsula Outlook
Peninsula High School
Gig Harbor, Wash.

42. Editorial Leadership
A nice blend of staff and
student voices is this page’s
hallmark. Staff editorial is on
a timely topic (asbestos), and
speak-outs, letters and
columns complete the page.
The First Amendment on the
ear is a nice touch.
(2008 example)
Munsonian
Muncie Central High School
Muncie, Ind.

43. Overall concept or theme
• Concept unifies coverage and content.
• Theme is relevant to current year or issue and provides
structure for storytelling.

44. 2009 Highlights
• Several trends for the 2009 Pacemakers can be
identified.
• They experiment with quick-read and alternate story
forms to convey a message.
• They tackle sophisticated and timely topics.
• Breaking news is included regularly, including news
about the community.

45. Decahmian
Del Campo High School
Fair Oaks, Calif.
Typography
The use of a type “cloud” or using type to create an image can be
useful to provide information and illustration at the same time.

46. The Edge
Glacier Peak High School
Snohomish, Wash.
Reader Service Items
Captions are presented along the right rail with small icons
corresponding to the the position of each photo.

47. Lair
Shawnee Mission Northwest HS
Shawnee, Kan.
Design trend: Diagonal line pattern
Diagonal lines used as a fill or pattern to form a larger shape are
super hot in 2009 and 2010. Expect to see even more of this in
2010 books and 2011 as the trend catches on and is copied.

48. Design trend:
Diagonal line pattern
Diagonal lines are all over this
book, starting on the cover.
Fentonian
Fenton High School
Fenton, Mich.

49. Details
Whitney High School
Rocklin, Calif.
Design trend: Diagonal color bars
Diagonal color bars over text are popular in 2009 and 2010. It’s
even more effective with a limited palette, such as over black-
and-white photos here.

50. Prowler
Pioneer Middle School
Tustin, Calif.
Design trend: Hand-drawn art
Hand-drawn art continues to be a huge trend from 2009 and into
2010.

51. Jag
Mill Valley High School
Shawnee, Kan.
Photoillustration
Clever photoillustrations help give the book a magazine feel. This
photoillustration is appropriately labeled as such in the lower
right corner.

52. Hard News
A major story in the region
was an outbreak of HIV at a
nearby school, resulting in
testing and community
concern.
The Kirkwood Call
Kirkwood High School
Kirkwood, Mo.

53. Tough Topic
Sexting was the “hot topic” of
2008-09, and many papers
covered the issue as a
national trend with specific
problems in their
communities.
The Lance
Omaha Westside High School
Omaha, Neb.

54. Tough Topic
In-depth coverage regarding
the death of a student.
The Network
Marian High School
Omaha, Neb.

55. Hard News
One hard news story would be
enough for most issues in
most papers, but this page has
three: community rejection of
the budget proposal, students
caught drinking on a field trip,
and the swine flu scare.
The Highland Fling
Northern Highlands Regional High School
N.J.

56. 2009 Design of the Year
• Finalists in Illustration, Infographic and Page One
categories

57. Illustration
Finalist: Lauren Cox
Redwood Bark
Redwood High School
Larkspur, Calif.

58. Illustration
Finalist: Noah Sneider
The Viking
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, Calif.

59. Illustration
Finalist: Jolene Xie
The Nexus
Westview High School
San Diego, Calif.

60. Illustration
Finalist: Mattie Nobles
The Rock
Rock Canyon High School
Highlands Ranch, Colo.

61. Illustration
Finalist: Dillon Kogle
Chieftain
Montrose High School
Montrose, Colo.

62. Illustration
Finalist: Lindsay Shores, Laura Seach, Alia Huffman, John Husak
Marquee
Dreyfoos School of the Arts
West Palm Beach, Fla.

63. Infographic
Finalist: Alice Lee
El Estoque
Monta Vista High School
Cupertino, Calif.

64. Infographic
Finalist: Erin Schrode
The Voice
Marin Academy
San Rafael, Calif.

65. Infographic
Finalist: Tara Gracer, Jeff Lerman, Victor Rudo
Deerprints
Deerfield High School
Deerfield, Ill.

66. Infographic
Finalist: Christopher Hsing
Silver Chips
Montgomery Blair High School
Silver Spring, Md.

67. Infographic
Finalist: Kevin Li, Rohan Kusre
Spark
Lakota East High School
Liberty Township, Ohio

68. Newspaper Page One
Finalist: Jamie Hausman
Statesman
Stevenson High School
Lincolnshire, Ill.

69. Newspaper Page One
Finalist: Kirsten Robinson
The Express
Blue Valley Northwest High School
Overland Park, Kan.

70. Newspaper Page One
Finalist: Cami Wade
North Star
Francis Howell North High School
St. Charles, Mo.

71. Newspaper Page One
Finalist: Rohan Kusre
Spark
Lakota East High School
Liberty Township, Ohio

72. Newspaper Page One
Finalist: Mike Barnes, Katie Arquiette
The Growl
Massaponax High School
Fredericksburg, Va.

73. Some ways to improve
• Work on the content. Dig around your campus and
community for real stories. Don’t overplay or
sensationalize. Cover all aspects and all groups.
• Pay attention to photography and graphics. These
two areas help your publication stand out from others.
Think of the best way to tell a story for readers to read
and understand.
• Go in-depth when the story merits. Don’t give a story
a double-truck unless the story is worth that much
space. Be proportional.

74. Some ways to improve
• Details make the difference. Typography, white space,
color palette, style — these are what set Pacemakers
apart. Be disciplined.
• Have a strong editorial voice. Make the editorial
pages a lively forum on substantive topics.
• Make every story polished. Write tight. Readers will
read long if it’s good. Put columnists on a word count
diet.

75. What’s next?
• The 2009 Pacemaker and individual contest winners
will be announced Saturday afternoon.
• Enter your student media in the 2010 contests. Watch
your e-mail and our Web site for deadlines and entry
forms.

76. Want a copy of this show?
• No, I won’t e-mail it to you.
• However, you can view and download it from
SlideShare at http://slideshare.net/loganaimone
• There’s also a link from http://loganaimone.com

77. Questions?
• You can e-mail me at logan@studentpress.org