Biola University’s student-run newspaper, The Chimes, has been chosen as a finalist in the Associated Collegiate Press’ Pacemaker Award for 2011. The award is one of the highest national honors for student journalism, comparable to a Pulitzer Prize at the student level.

Biola student Elizabeth Sallie worked as a reporter for The Chimes in May of 2011. She now serves as the paper’s current editor-in-chief.

“We focus on innovative and accurate reporting,” said Sallie, “Content was most important…well-researched and thorough stories.”

The Chimes is one of the 24 finalists up for the award. Other finalists include papers at Loyola Marymount University, San Francisco State University, and George Washington University. The student newspapers are judged by media professionals in the Washington, D.C., area and are critiqued in the following areas: coverage and content, quality of reporting and writing, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, layout and design, photography, art and graphics.

“Our vision was clean and classy with great visuals,” said Sallie.

Professor of Journalism Michael Longinow, who also serves as the Journalism Department Chair, is the official academic advisor for the The Chimes staff.

“They come at their work with innovation and professionalism that not all campus media staffs are willing to pursue,” said Longinow, “They’re serious about journalism. And it shows.”

The winner of the Pacemaker Award will be announced at the 90^th annual College Media Convention on Oct. 29 in Orlando, Fla.

Written by Melissa Soto, Media Relations Intern. For more information, please contact Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu or via phone at 562.777.4061.