The Optimist, ACU’s student-run newspaper, has been recognized as one of the three best non-daily student newspapers in the nation for 2009.
The newspaper earned a National Mark of Excellence Award as a National Finalist in the Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper category at the 2010 Society of Professional Journalists national convention in Las Vegas on Monday.
To be considered for the award, the Optimist first had to win its regional competition. It was named best all-around around non-daily newspaper at SPJ’s Region Eight Convention in Austin last March. Region Eight includes Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Linda Bailey, senior journalism major from Borger and Editor-in-Chief of the Optimist, said the award is a reflection of the newspaper staff’s hard work.
“I’m really proud of the staff last year and this year for the hard work they’ve put in,” Bailey said. “It proves we are doing our best to make the paper the best it can be.”
Bailey said the Optimist was created to serve its readers. She said the awards from SPJ, the largest society of professional journalists in the country, confirm the newspaper is fulfilling its mission.
“The Optimist’s purpose is to inform our readers about what is going on in our community and to give our staff a chance to learn about media and what our futures as journalists will look like,” Bailey said. “I think we are doing a good job with both of these things.”
Dr. Kenneth Pybus, associate professor of journalism and mass communication and faculty adviser to the Optimist, said the goal of the newspaper is to inform and serve as an educational tool – not necessarily to win awards.
“We don’t go out seeking awards just to win awards,” Pybus said. “But we do enter competitions to show the good work we are already doing.”
Like Bailey, Pybus said the Optimist serves a vital role on campus and has a distinct purpose.
“We don’t produce things to win awards,” Pybus said. “We do them to inform, educate and entertain students. The awards just show we are doing a good job.”
Dr. Cheryl Bacon, professor of journalism and mass communication and chair of the department, said national recognition proves the excellence of ACU’s journalism program and its ability to compete with other prominent programs.
“The award says that it stands up against anybody anywhere,” Bacon said. “When you win best all-around they are looking at many aspects of the newspaper and how it serves its community.”
