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Review Named Pacemaker Finalist

Honoring the nation’s best, the National Scholastic Press Association has named 49 scholastic student newspapers and newsmagazines as finalists in its prestigious Pacemaker competition, and for the second consecutive year, and third time since 2015, the Review is one of them.
“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” executive director Laura Widmer said. “NSPA is honored to recognize the best of the best.”

These Pacemaker finalists will be recognized and the Pacemaker winners will be announced at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention, Nov. 21-24, 2019, in Washington, D.C. The Review will be sending a contingent of editors and advisers to the convention.
The NSPA Pacemaker Award has a rich tradition, and the association started presenting the award to high school newspapers a few years after NSPA’s founding in 1921. Through the years, yearbooks, magazines, online sites and broadcast programs were added to the competition. The Review won Pacemakers both times they were named finalists in 2015 and 2018.

Last year marked the first time that the Review was sent free of charge to every Upper School household. The 49 Pacemaker finalists represent 16 states and the United Kingdom. California, Missouri and Texas set the pace with eight finalists each. The Review was the only finalist in the Houston area. In all, 220 student news publications from 33 states entered the Pacemaker competition. In the first round of the competition, the news publications competed against those of similar types — tabloid newspaper, broadsheet newspaper, newsmagazine, specialty magazine and junior high/middle school. When the process was finished, the 49 Pacemaker finalists were named. From that group, 19 will earn the Pacemaker award placing those publications in the top 9 percent. In addition to demonstrating excellence in key areas including coverage, writing, editing, design and photography, the winning newspapers took risks and served as a strong voice for its student audience.

“The best newspapers and newsmagazines delivered relevant coverage that resonated with student readers and the school community with appropriate sourcing, abundant student quotes and consistent journalistic style,” said Gary Lundgren, associate director and coordinator of the competition. “The Pacemakers represent the best in verbal and visual storytelling.” Even in a digital age, print publications are thriving in high schools across the country, Lundgren said. Most print news publications have shifted to more in-depth coverage and now report breaking news on companion websites.

Last year's editors-in-chief were Sophie Caldwell and Iris Chen. The Review is advised by David Nathan, Shelley Stein and Chuy Benitez. 

Click here to read the full press release from NPSA announcing the Pacemaker finalists for 2019.



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