Student Contests

Showcasing Excellence in College Media

Each year, the College Media Association hosts a series of prestigious contests designed to highlight the best in student journalism across print, broadcast, digital, and design. These opportunities empower students and student media organizations to elevate their work, gain national recognition, and set professional standards for storytelling, design, and multimedia innovation.

Featured Contests

• Pinnacle Awards: The Pinnacle Awards are CMA’s flagship national honors, recognizing the best student work in collegiate journalism, media production, and organizational excellence. Open to individuals and student media outlets from across the country, these awards span a wide range of categories—including writing, photography, design, multimedia storytelling, advertising, podcasting, and more.

  Winners are selected by a panel of experienced media professionals and educators, and are announced each fall at the National College Media Convention. Finalists and recipients often go on to use these accolades to bolster résumés, portfolios, and graduate school applications—making the Pinnacle Awards both a mark of quality and a launchpad for student journalists' careers.

• Apple Awards: Celebrated as the “Best of Show” competition, the Apple Awards honor outstanding student media work presented during CMA’s Spring National College Media Convention in New York City. Named in tribute to the event’s host city—the Big Apple—these awards recognize excellence across categories like newspapers, magazines, broadcasts, websites, and more. Judged by media professionals, the Apple Awards provide an opportunity for student outlets to be recognized for the quality of their work during the academic year. Winners are announced at the closing ceremony of the spring convention.

• Film & Audio Festival: Showcasing standout video and audio pieces, this festival celebrates student multimedia projects selected for screening at the Fall National College Media Convention.

 Participating in CMA student contests helps students build portfolios, raise their publication’s visibility, and benchmark their work alongside peer institutions. Winning entries are featured at CMA conventions, shared with the broader journalism community, and published as models of excellence.

Ready to Boost Student Achievement?

Explore contest categories, submission guidelines, deadlines, and eligibility below—or take a look at past finalists and winners to inspire your work. Read more about eligibility, how to enter, and past award recipients.