Arizona Press Women annual High School Journalism Competition

Deadline to enter this year's contest has passed.

NFPW High School Communications Contest Guidelines

            The National Federation of Press Women’s High School Communications Contest inspires students to do their best work and offers them the opportunity to earn recognition which reflects well on their teachers/advisers. The guidelines and entry form are available online at nfpw.org.  The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed the contest on its “NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2007-08,” which can be found at www.nassp.org.

In the contest, students may enter work in one of 14 categories: editorial, opinion, news, feature, sports, column, feature photo, sports photo, cartooning, reviews, graphics, page layout (single-page and double-truck) and environment. Awards are presented in each category.

            Inquire about state contests early in the school year, because state deadlines are usually in February, to allow time for judging and processing for the national contest by the end of March.  The work must have been published between March 1, 2007 and Feb. 29, 2008. Publication date must appear on the entry. Make checks or money orders payable to Arizona Press Women, and include payment with your entries.  Mail to Ruth Howe, 6329 E. Catalina Drive, Scottsdale, AZ  85251-7014

 National student winners, their parents and advisers are invited to attend the NFPW High School Awards Luncheon, which will be held during the annual conference in Idaho Falls, Idaho, September 13, 2008.

General Requirements for Entries

·         Entries must be the work of students enrolled in grades  nine through12 during the current school year or of students who graduated from high school at the end of the 2007 spring semester.

·         Submit two copies of each entry whether from a publication or the Web. At least one copy must be an original and the second a clean copy. At least one should show the entire page on which the article or graphic appears. Mark the copy so there will be no doubt which article/graphic is to be considered.

·         When entering a photograph that was printed as part of a series, indicate which photo is to be judged.

Category Descriptors and Criteria Considered by Judges

Content: accurate, complete. Quotations and other information attributed to identified sources. Freedom from libel. No extraneous material.

Style: overall writing ability, including strong lead, transitions, adherence to facts.

Mechanics: grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, capitalization.

·         1.  Editorial. An editorial appears on the editorial page and is the voice of the paper. It provides information and insight to persuade readers about some desired action or outcome. An editorial is not a bylined personal column, but may be signed on behalf of an editorial board. Judging will be based on clarity of style, sound reasoning and effort to influence readers’ opinions in what the editorial board believes to be the right direction.

·         2.  Opinion. This is the voice of the writer, not to be confused with an editorial. The topic may be of the writer’s choosing as long as it is not libelous. Judging will evaluate clearness of style, sound reasoning and effort to influence reader’s opinion in what the writer believes is the right direction. An opinion article is always bylined.

·         3.  News. Shows initiative in obtaining a story that presents new information or a different angle on published information or past events. Judging will be based on general organization, writing style, readability and impact.

·         4.  Feature Story. An in-depth topic of interest to readers that may be a personality profile or human interest piece but it is not an opinion article and should be unbiased. Copy will be judged on unusual aspects of the material, writing style and richness of detail and use of quotations, readability and thoroughness.

·         5.  Sports Story. Imagination and good application of sports writing style in advance, follow-up, summary or feature coverage of events or sports participants. Avoid play-by-play rehash. Judging will be on the same criteria as for news or feature stories as well as on writing knowledgeably on the subject.

·         6.  Columns. Submit three entries from a standard column headline (a column that runs regularly in the publication). Analytical scrutiny, satire or personal comment on general or special subject that entertains and/or educates. Judging will be based on in-depth knowledge, research and expertise that adheres to the column’s theme.

·         7.  Feature Photo. Photo must have viewer emotional response, eye-catching subject matter and storytelling qualities. Judging will be based on the photo’s quality as published. Original prints are not required.

·         8.  Sports Photo. Photo should be easy to “read” and cropped for impact. It should show the peak of the action; capture an exciting moment or a storytelling facial expression. No posed shots. Judging is based on the quality of the photo as published.

·         9.  Cartooning. Copy may be generated by computer graphics or freehand and may be a comic strip or cartoon. Judging will be based on the text or caption (if any) and the use of concept and artistic style. The subject matter is unrestricted but may not be libelous.

·        10.  Reviews. Subject may be art, dramatic event, music, food, etc. Article should be creatively written and rich in style; it also should include some critical analysis and show writer’s knowledge of the subject.

·         11.  Graphics. Entry may be created freehand or electronically. Judging will be on creativity, uniqueness, clarity of relationship to article or publications and entry’s visual enhancement of the subject matter. Unsigned work requires adviser’s verification.

·         12.  Page Layout.

A.    Single-page Layout. Copy may be from a desktop publishing project or from the traditional printing production methods. Judges will consider any number of graphic elements, typography, photos, illustrations and color. Judging will be on creative and effective use of elements in drawing reader interest and supporting article(s) content. Unsigned work requires adviser’s verification. (Note: A double-truck may not be submitted in the single-page layout category.)

B.     Double-truck Layout. A two-page layout (centerfold) incorporating an odd number of pictures made up as a single unit with the usual margin between the two facing pages eliminated. Judging will be based on same elements as for single-page layout. Unsigned work requires adviser’s verification.

·         13.  Environment Award. Judging will be based on how the article, layout, graphic or photograph “educates the public about environmental issues or concerns.” This award is given in conjunction with the San Francisco Press Club Environment Award Fund.

Last update:  07/16/2008