Ball State University Student Media Earns National Awards, Top Honors

Pictured from left to right are Ball State graduates and noted media professionals: Laura Moorhead, Bernie Kohn, Lisa Renze, and Gene Policinski. The honors were announced during MediaFest22 journalism conference in Washington, D.C., held in late October. Photo providedPictured from left to right are Ball State graduates and noted media professionals: Laura Moorhead, Bernie Kohn, Lisa Renze, and Gene Policinski. The honors were announced during MediaFest22 journalism conference in Washington, D.C., held in late October. Photo provided

By Ball State Marketing and Communications—

MUNCIE, IN – Ball State University’s student media recently earned numerous journalism and communications accolades and awards, including more than three dozen awards combined for Ball Bearings magazine, The Ball State Daily News, and the McKinley Avenue Agency—an on-campus student-run communications, media, and advertising agency. The honors were announced during MediaFest22 journalism conference in Washington, D.C., held Oct. 26-30.

Additionally, three Ball State student publications— Ball Bearings (formerly Echo) magazine, The Ball State Daily News, and the now-retired Orient Yearbook—have been selected by the Associated Collegiate Press for the Top 100 Pacemaker list, recognizing the organization’s best national publications of all-time. A Pacemaker is widely recognized as the Pulitzer Prize of college journalism.

“These honors speak volumes about the talent and hard work of our students and the commitment our skilled faculty has to preparing our students for fulfilling careers in the fields of journalism and communications,” said Dr. Paaige Turner, dean of Ball State’s College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM). “We are proud of everyone in CCIM that had a role in the creation and production of these multi-award-winning publications and organizations.”

Among the many awards won by Ball State student media, announced at MediaFest22:

  • The Ball State Daily News was one of only 19 newspapers in the country to earn a Pacemaker. This is the fourth year in a row that the Daily News has earned a Pacemaker.
  • The McKinley Avenue Agency earned a first-place 2021-22 Pinnacle Award, in the Display Ad category, from the College Media Association. The agency designs display ads for The Ball State Daily News and Ball Bearings magazine.

A full list of 2021-22 Pinnacle Awards is available on the College Media Association website.

Housed within CCIM, Ball State’s independent student media programs offer opportunities to gain industry experience; express creativity; connect with like-minded students; network with professionals; and engage in meaningful professional development and service.

About Ball State

Founded in 1918 and located in Muncie, Ball State University is one of Indiana’s premier universities and an economic driver for the state. Ball State’s 21,600 students come from all over Indiana, the nation, and the world. The 790-acre campus is large enough to accommodate first-rate facilities and 19 NCAA Division I sports, but our welcoming and inclusive campus is small enough to ensure the friendliness, personal attention, and access that are the hallmarks of the University. Destination 2040: Our Flight Path establishes Ball State’s ambitious goals for our second century. We Fly!