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Pepperdine Student Journalists Earn Top Honors at ACP National College Media Conference

March 17, 2026

 

 

Student JournalistsMALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine University’s student-run news organizations, Pepperdine Graphic Media (including the Graphic and Currents Magazine) and NewsWaves 32, received top national and regional recognition at the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Spring National College Media Conference, held March 5–7 in San Francisco. 

Competing against leading collegiate media programs from across the United States, Pepperdine students earned dozens of awards for excellence in their work for design, broadcasting and multimedia storytelling. The honors reflect the continued strength of Pepperdine’s student journalism programs and their commitment to high-quality journalism work. 

Among the most notable achievements, NewsWaves 32 earned 1st Place for Best of Show for Broadcast News Show, while the Graphic secured multiple top design and reporting honors, including 1st Place for Best News Series, Best Social Media Reporting and Best Overall Newspaper Design. 

ACP Spring 2026 National Awards 

Pepperdine continued its success on the national stage with several “Best of Show” and individual honors: 

  • 1st Place, Broadcast News Show — NewsWaves 32
  • Finalist, Online Pacemaker (one of the highest honors in collegiate journalism)
  • 2nd Place, Digital Newsletter — The Pixel
  • 2nd Place, Magazine Design — Betsy Burrow
  • 3rd Place, Newspaper/Newsmagazine Design — Betsy Burrow
  • 3rd Place, Newspaper/Newsmagazine — The Graphic
  • 3rd Place, Website — The Graphic
  • 4th Place, Advertising Media Kit — Graphic Staff
  • 6th Place, Feature Magazine — Currents Magazine

Individual reporting and broadcast honors included: 

  • 7th and 8th Place, Broadcast Feature Story — Emma Martinez
  • 10th Place, Feature Story — Amanda Monahan
  • 6th Place, Sports Story — Nina Fife 

California College Media Association Awards (2026) 

Pepperdine students earned numerous top placements, including: 

  • 1st Place, Best News Series — Gabrielle Salgado, Justin Rodriguez, Emma Martinez, Rachel Flynn, Mackenzie Krause
  • 1st Place, Best Social Media Reporting — Graphic Staff
  • 1st Place, Best Overall Newspaper Design — Gabrielle Salgado, Tony Gleason, Graphic Staff
  • 1st Place, Best Newspaper Front Page Design — Betsy Burrow
  • 1st Place, Best Inside Page Spread Design — Betsy Burrow and Cara Tang
  • 1st Place, Best Magazine Cover Design — Betsy Burrow 

Additional honors included: 

  • 2nd Place, Best Interactive Graphic — Gabrielle Salgado
  • 2nd Place, Best Feature Story — Haylie Ross and Emma Martinez
  • 2nd Place, Best Photo Illustration — Melissa Houston and Betsy Burrow
  • 2nd Place, Best Special Issue/Section — Nick Charkhedia and Graphic Staff
  • 3rd Place, Best Multimedia Package — Tony Gleason 

Student Leadership on the National Stage 

In addition to award recognition, 8 of the 12 students from Pepperdine were selected to present on multiple panels at the conference, sharing their expertise with peers from across the country. 

Panel topics included: 

  • Covering Your College Athletics Department: Nina Fife and Tony Gleason
  • Covering a Private University: Henry Adams and Tony Gleason
  • Leading a College Newsroom: Tony Gleason, Amanda Monahan, Nina Fife and Alicia Dofelmier
  • Building Your Broadcast Newsroom: Melissa Houston, Kaiya Treash and Amanda Monahan
  • Solutions Journalism: Hear from the Students: Henry Adams and Amanda Monahan
  • Tear Down the Silos: How Student Media Groups Can Thrive: Melissa Houston, Amanda Monahan, Tony Gleason and Soliel Lara

These sessions highlighted Pepperdine students’ leadership in navigating complex reporting environments, fostering collaborative newsrooms and innovating across print, digital, and broadcast platforms. 

Pepperdine Graphic Media (including the Graphic and Currents Magazine) and NewsWaves 32 continue to serve as vital training grounds for aspiring journalists, storytellers, and media leaders, producing work that informs, engages and impacts both the campus and broader community. 

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About Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private Christian university located 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in Malibu, California. Rooted in the Christian tradition, Pepperdine is committed to both the relentless pursuit of truth through academic and scholarly excellence and to embodying Christian faith and values. With students at the heart of the educational enterprise, the University prepares approximately 9,000 scholars for lives of purpose, service, and leadership across its flagship liberal arts school, Seaver College; the Pepperdine College of Health Science; and four graduate schools—the Caruso School of Law; the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School; the Graduate School of Education and Psychology; and the School of Public Policy. Follow Pepperdine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

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