KANSAS CITY, Mo. | The Northern Star was awarded a Pacemaker by the Associated Collegiate Press and the Newspaper Association Foundation of America on Saturday at the National College Media Convention.

The award recognizes excellence and outstanding achievement by a college newspaper in a national competition. Out of 241 newspaper entries in three categories, judges from The St. Petersburg Times selected 48 entries for recognition, according to the ACP’s Web site.

Newspaper finalists were chosen based on excellence in the following areas: Coverage and content, quality of writing and editing, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, layout and design and photography, and art and graphics, according to the Web site.

Since 1927, the Pacemaker has been the highest honor available to ACP members and today is considered one of the most prestigious awards in collegiate journalism, according to the Web site.

The Northern Star was also awarded second place for 2008 Story of the Year Award for Online Package. The award recognizes outstanding writing and reporting in a national competition.

The Northern Star also won Best in Show for 4-year daily tabloid.