The Universe is a finalist in four categories in the Associated Collegiate Press 2013 competition.
BYU’s multimedia news operation, a lab within the Communications Department, is being considered for top honors in the categories of Four-year Non-daily Newspaper, Multimedia Story, Infographic and Newsmagazine/Special Section Cover.
The Associated Collegiate Press’ Newspaper Pacemaker award considers coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, layout and design, and photography, art and graphics. Judges for this category was by staff of the Miami Herald. The nomination in this category also recognizes Rebecca Lane, who was The Universe’s editor during the 2012-2013 academic year.
Lane oversaw The Universe’s coverage of the monumental change in the LDS Church’s missionary program and campus coverage of the 2012 presidential election. Stories in those and other areas during the year have also received awards from the Associated Press, the National Newspaper Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.
The Universe’s digital initiative is being recognized through a nomination in the Multimedia Story category for a Storify treatment of reaction to the announcement LDS Church missionaries could begin serving at younger ages.
Universe graphic artists and designers Jennifer Cardenas, James Gardner, Brad Davis and Brett Bertola are finalists in the Infographic category for a two-page spread titled “58 new missions bring worldwide total to 405” published in the Feb. 26 print edition of The Universe.
The Universe’s special sections staff is recognized as a finalist in the Newsmagazine/Special Section Cover category for creative work on the cover of The Universe’s 2013 Housing Guide. The student staff included James Gardner, Brad Davis, Brett Bertola, David Bowman, Tom Busath, Brittania Busby, Miranda Facer, Sara Lutz, Kelly Orgill and Macie Bayer.
The 2013 Housing Guide cover features a photograph of a miniature tree house that sets the design theme for the rest of the printed section. Interior photos show detailed miniatures within the tree house. The staff designed, built and photographed all of the miniatures used in the guide.
“Judges selected finalists based on the effective use of photos, color, art, graphics and typography; established visual hierarchy … and suitability for respective audience,” the Associated Collegiate Press said in a news release announcing the finalists. There were more than 200 entries in advertising competition. Winners will be announced at the ACP/CMA National College Media Convention in New Orleans Oct. 26.
The Universe, BYU’s laboratory news organization built on the legacy of The Daily Universe newspaper, has a weekly print publication as well as online and mobile news products. More than 50 students working as reporters as part of coursework in BYU’s Communications Department are joined by a paid staff of as many as 20 student editors, photographers, designers, ad sales representatives and business office staff, all of whom are in jobs related to their academic pursuits.
“We have marketing, public relations, advertising and illustration students all working together,” said Warren Bingham, The Universe’s full-time manager of design and production. The design concepts and layout for the Housing Guide all came from the student staff. The special sections staff also produces a Bridal Guide and will soon debut The Universe’s Dating Guide.
