The Orion is an independent, Pacemaker Award winning student-run news source at California State University, Chico. Every Wednesday, we provide broad, in-depth coverage of university news, sports, features and entertainment in our weekly paper and daily content on our website.

The Orion’s goal is to build journalistic excellence at Chico State by striving to inspire our readers to think critically, with complete, accurate and unbiased journalism.

Since its inception in 1975, The Orion has provided a training ground for students interested in journalism, photography, advertising, marketing, production, graphic design and videography.

The Orion distributes 3,000 free newspapers to buildings on campus and to more than 90 off-campus locations weekly.

Awards

The Orion, a laboratory newspaper of CSU, Chico’s nationally accredited journalism department, has won dozens of national, regional and state awards. It was inducted into the Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame in 2005 for its record of achievement.​

NATIONAL AWARDS

Advertising Excellence

Best Display Ad/BW:First Place: 2009Best Newspaper Promotion Ad/BW:Second Place: 2008
Third Place: 2009

Best Display Ad Campaign:Third Place: 2008

General Excellence

Pacemaker Award for General Excellence:1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014

Online Pacemaker Award:2007, 2009

ACP National Newspaper of the Year:First Place: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011Second Place: 2006

SPJ Mark of Excellence:First Place: 2000, 2004

NNA Better Newspapers Contest:First Place: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame:Inducted 2005

REGIONAL AWARDS

Society of Professional Journalists:

Best All-Around University Newspaper:First Place: 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2009
Second Place: 1992, 1995
Third Place: 1991

STATE AWARDS

California Newspaper Publishers Association:

General Excellence:First Place: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013

California College Media Association:

General Excellence:
First Place: 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2017
Second Place: 2006, 2010, 2014

Best Overall Design:
First Place: 2006, 2009
Second Place: 2007, 2010