Journalism students have a number of opportunities to be recognized for their work, both on a state and national level. Recognition in individual contests can help students become eligible for scholarship and monetary awards, as well as help, build resumes for scholarship programs and college admission.

Information on some of the opportunities available is listed below. Be sure to consult the organizations’ websites for rules and updates.

 

Columbia Scholastic Press Association: http://cspa.columbia.edu/

Contest: Gold Circle (individual)

o   Newspapers and newsmagazines, magazines, yearbooks and digital media are all eligible for consideration; categories vary by medium but generally include verbal (written) and visual (design and photography).

o   Fees: Some entries are included with regular and associate membership. Beyond that, schools may enter as many individual entries as they would like at $8.95/entry.

o   Deadlines: Print newspaper and magazine entries are due in June, yearbook and digital media in October.

o   Other info: Must be a CSPA member to enter. Verbal and visual categories require cutting the page from the original publication (no photocopies or printouts are accepted). Online media categories require the full web address to be printed on the entry form. Video categories are submitted on individual DVDs.

 

Contest: Crown Awards (publications).

o   Categories: General magazine, literary/arts, news, digital and yearbook. CSPA offers print, online and hybrid memberships, which determine the category you enter. Middle school/high school/college divisions offered.

o   Fees: Regular and Associate members are able to submit their publications for Crown consideration.

o   Deadlines: Spring publications must submit their work in June, and fall yearbooks submit their publications in October.

o   Other info: Crown winners are determined by a panel. No written critique is offered.

 

National Scholastic Press Association: http://studentpress.org/nspa

Contest: Individual Awards

o   Categories: Story of the Year, Multimedia Story of the Year, Broadcast Story of the Year, Picture of the Year, Design of the Year and Cartooning Award,

o   Fees: Included with membership

o   Deadline: June

o   Other info: The first place winners from each Story of the Year category compete against one another for the $1,000 Brasler Prize. Only 1-2 entries per contest are allowed.

 

Contest: Pacemaker (publications)

o   Categories: Online, yearbook, newspaper, magazine, broadcast

o   Fees: Included with membership

o   Deadline: Varies by publication

o   Other info: Judged by teams

 

Quill and Scroll: http://quillandscroll.org/

Contest: Writing, Photo and Multimedia (individual)

o   Categories: 21 categories, including editorial writing, news writing, sports writing, news feature photography, sports photography, editorial cartoon, cover/front page design

o   Fees: $5 per entry

o   Deadline: February

o   Other info:  Open to members and non-members who are currently enrolled high school students. Maximum of four entries per student per category. Individual winners are eligible to apply for scholarships as seniors. Participating schools become eligible for Blue and Gold Awards.

 

Contest: Yearbook Excellence Contest

o   Categories: Writing, design, photography and theme development categories included

o   Fees: $5 per entry, except for Theme Development, which is $10

o   Deadline: November

o   Other info: Broken into two enrollment classes (more than 750 students and 749 and fewer students). Unlimited entries per category (except Theme Development) allowed. Participating schools become eligible for Blue and Gold Awards.

 

Association of Texas Photography Instructors: http://www.atpi.org/

Contest: Fall Photo

o   Categories: Digital photo categories include studio portrait, nature, travel, student life, still life and portfolio; Video/Multimedia categories include news, comedic short film and documentary; and B&W Darkroom Print

o   Fees: $1 per entry for members, $2 per entry for nonmembers

o   Deadline: October

o   Other info:  Beginning, advanced and faculty divisions offered. Entries limited to 3 per student per category. Thematic category prompt changes from year to year.

 

Contest: Rising Star (whole school)

o   Categories: Architecture, documentary/photojournalism, landscape/nature, sports, portrait, thematic

o   Fees: $10 for one to three portfolios

o   Deadline: April

o   Other info: A group portfolio contest. Open only to ATPI members. Schools choose up to three categories to enter. Students can contribute no more than three images per portfolio. Rising Star is awarded to the school with the most winning portfolios.

Contest: Top Program

o   Categories: Architecture, commercial/advertising, documentary/photojournalism, landscape/nature, sports, portrait, still life, thematic

o   Fees: $10 for one to three portfolios

o   Deadline: April

o   Other info: A group portfolio contest. Open only to ATPI members. Portfolios must be matted or mounted. Schools choose up to three categories to enter. Students can contribute no more than two images per portfolio. Top Program is awarded to the school with the most winning portfolios.

Interscholastic League Press Conference: http://www.uiltexas.org/journalism/ilpc

Individual Achievement Awards

o   Categories: Yearbook, current year yearbook, newspaper, online newspaper and broadcast IAA contests offered; individual categories vary by publication

o   Fees: $10 flat fee per publication

o   Deadline: Yearbook is due in December; all others due in February

o   Other info: Must be an ILPC member to enter. Rookie contests available for schools new to competition.