OU Daily was named one of the nation’s top three college media organizations in Pinnacle Awards results announced Friday by the College Media Association in New Orleans.
In competition against four-year outlets on campuses with more than 10,000 students, the Daily finished third behind the UCLA Daily Bruin, which won first place, and the Indiana Daily Student, which finished second. The Kentucky Kernel and Michigan Daily earned honorable mentions.
Entries judged were produced between June 2023-June 2024, spanning the tenures of summer 2023 editor-in-chief Colton Sulley and fall 2023-spring 2024 editor-in-chief Karoline Leonard.
OU Student Media endeavors have now earned 15 organizational Pinnacle honors since 2017. The Daily has been named a media outlet of the year finalist seven times in the past eight years, winning the top honor in 2017 and 2019.
In those eight years, the next most frequently acclaimed organization in that contest is the Indiana Daily Student, with five honors. No other large-school college media organization has been recognized more than twice.
The distinction recognizes organizations that serve audiences through multiple channels, across writing, photo, video, design, apps, social media and more with, according to the judging criteria, “a day-in-day-out quality and quantity of coverage that students, faculty, staff and administrators want — and frankly, need.”
Earlier this contest season, the Daily also earned a Pacemaker finalist honor for its news magazine in the competition administered by the Associated College Press.
Also, this week the Daily earned nine honors in the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists’ annual contest in which its work is judged against the state’s professionals.
The Daily finished second in website of the year behind Oklahoma Voice, second in newspaper of the year behind the Cherokee Phoenix and third in magazine of the year behind Tulsa People and the Curbside Chronicle.
In individual competitions, Karoline Leonard earned honorable mention in the print reporter of the year category. She also won first place in online reporting for her story exploring the evolving value of a college degree.
In spot news reporting, Leonard and Peggy Dodd won second place for coverage of Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt ordering a review of DEI programs. In sports reporting, Jason Batacao won second place for his game story on Dillon Gabriel leading OU to a win in 2023 against Texas.
In sports photography, Aden Choate won first place for his image of a sideline catch by Drake Stoops and Bob Nguyen took second for his image of Jayda Coleman’s walkoff home run in the Women’s College World Series.
Redshirt fifth year wide receiver Drake Stoops during the game against TCU on Nov. 24.
OU softball head coach Patty Gasso celebrates senior outfielder Jayda Coleman's home run in extra innings during the NCAA WCWS semifinal game against Florida on June 4.
