The OU Daily has been named a Pacemaker finalist in the online category of the annual Associated Collegiate Press contest.
Why it matters: 44 college media operations — including 37 from four-year schools — spanning 20 states were recognized. California leads the nation with 12 finalists, followed by Texas with six. OU Daily was Oklahoma's only selection.
Six SEC peers also named: South Carolina (Daily Gamecock), Georgia (Red and Black), Vanderbilt (Hustler), Texas A&M (Battalion), Kentucky (Kernel) and Texas (Daily Texan).
Historical context: The Daily has been at least a finalist 10 times in 12 years, including the past five. In its history, the Daily is a 13-time finalist and eight-time Pacemaker winner. Most recently, the Daily won in the online category in 2023.
What they're saying: "The Pacemaker is the association's preeminent award. ACP is honored to recognize the best of the best." — ACP executive director Laura Widmer
Timeline: Judging continues through March 2. Finalists honored, winners announced in March in San Francisco.
Note: Work judged spanned the tenures of summer editor Ana Barboza and fall/spring editor Anusha Fathepure. In 2025, the Daily generated more than 68 million views across all platforms.
