
Student Publications
Talisman | College Heights Herald | Student Publications Advertising | Cherry Creative
WKU Student Publications
WKU Student Publications is home to the College Heights Herald newsroom, the Talisman magazine, Student Publications Advertising sales team and the Cherry Creative branded content studio. Our home is the Adams-Whitaker Student Publications Center on the campus of Western Kentucky University, and all four of our divisions are run by students applying lessons from their classrooms in real-world settings.
We have strong foundation of professionalism that has helped Western Kentucky University's student publications build a national reputation for excellence. Combined, our student-led areas have received 50 national Pacemaker Awards from Associated Collegiate Press, the nation's highest honor for student-run collegiate publications. Twenty-five of those Pacemakers have been awarded to the College Heights Herald, 22 to the Talisman, two to Student Publications Advertising and Cherry Creative and one to Cherry Creative alone.
WKU's student media are considered among the best programs in the nation. Both the Talisman and the Herald are in the ACP Hall of Fame, and both were listed among The Pacemaker 100 -- the 100 most successful student media outlets -- in a 2022 ranking by ACP. The Herald, known for its spirited coverage of WKU, was ranked No. 6 in the nation.
WKU Student Publications provides students with experiences that enhance their educational and career opportunities. We provide our audiences with news, information, and an accurate reflection of life at WKU.
Our alumni go on the successful careers, many in journalism but also in areas such as the law, business and other professions. Among our alumni in journalism, 38 former College Heights Herald or Talisman staff members have been honored with the Pulitzer Prize, either individually or as part of a team.
Recent News

Sep 1st, 2025
WKU's flagship student publications are finalists for three national Pacemaker Awards, the premier honor for student-run media, and five staff members are finalists for national...
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Mar 28th, 2025
College Heights Herald, Talisman and Friend of Student Publications Awards to be presented at Centennial Weekend celebration...
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Mar 25th, 2025
Five seniors will lead the four student divisions of WKU Student Publications -- the Talisman, the College Heights Herald, Student Publications Advertising and Cherry Creative....
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Mar 10th, 2025
The business side of WKU Student Publications won the 2025 Student Media Business Pacemaker Award from Associated Collegiate Press on Saturday. WKU won the Pacemaker for the second...
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