The Murray State News wins 15 awards at national conference

By Gray Hawkins | Nov 11, 2026

MURRAY, Ky. — The Murray State News won 15 national awards during the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP)/College Media Association (CMA) National College Media conference in Kansas City, Missouri, Nov. 4-7.  

The annual conference highlights collegiate student media with awards shows, critiques, lectures and networking sessions. The News’ Ainsley Beatty, feature editor, Gray Hawkins, editor-in-chief, and Leigh Landini Wright, faculty adviser, attended.

The Murray State News brought home 15 total awards from the CMA Pinnacle Awards and the ACP Conference Best of Show awards. In the Pinnacle Awards, The News participates in Division II with other 4-year institutions with an undergraduate enrollment between 3,000 and 9,999. 

Wright said The News has doubled its success from the 2025 CMAs when it received six Pinnacle awards and an adviser award. 

“The competition in Division II is extremely tough, ranging from private schools to regional universities,” Wright said. “I’m proud of how The Murray State News students continue to produce quality student journalism. Awards showcase the excellent reporting, writing, videography, photography and design that these students do.”

Student staff members won the following 13 Pinnacle Awards:

• Alum Shelby Bloomer placed second in multimedia sports story.

• Alum Shelby Bloomer and current staff members Aly Adler and Gray Hawkins placed second in investigative story.

• Alum Kristopher Fister and current staff members Aly Adler placed third in general news multimedia coverage.

• Alum MacKenzie Rogers placed third in newspaper spread.

• Alum MacKenzie Rogers placed third in newspaper print advertisement.

• Current staff member Aly Adler placed third in arts and entertainment story (audio/video).

• Alums Kristopher Fister and MacKenzie Rogers placed third for photo illustration.

• Current staff members Aly Adler and Gray Hawkins and former staff member River Murt received honorable mention in breaking news multimedia coverage. 

• JMC 398 students in the 2026 spring semester received honorable mention in audio newscast.

• Alum Zach Simmons received honorable mention in game story (print/web).

• Alum Kristopher Fister received honorable mention in sports action/game photo.

• Current staff member Lindsey Hopper received honorable mention in sports feature photo.

• Current staff member Aly Adler received honorable mention in feature multimedia package.

The Best of Show awards were submitted and judged at the conference. In an individual category, alum Kristopher Fister placed second in sports photo. In a category for four-year institutions with enrollment under 15,000, The Murray State News placed ninth in newspaper/newsmagazine for Volume 100, Issue 3, published Oct. 15, 2026. 

Beyond awards, the 2026 CMA conference provided an opportunity for traveling student staff members to bring expertise and fresh ideas back to the newsroom and improve coverage for the University community.

Beatty said the conference was a great opportunity to hear from students and faculty at other universities as well as professionals in the industry. 

“It was really cool to see what other college newspapers are doing and to connect with students,” Beatty said. “We got good feedback on our work at The News and how we can continue to expand and improve. I will take a lot that I learned from this conference into my writing and work with The News this year and next.”