2018 CONTEST CLOSED! Stay tuned for results later this spring.
Download the complete 2018 SCJ Contest Rules as a PDF here.
2018 Rules for the Society for Collegiate Journalists National Contest for College Newspapers, Websites, Yearbooks, Magazines, Radio Stations and Television Stations
PROFESSIONALLY JUDGED | NO FEES | ENTRY DEADLINE: JAN 31, 2018 @ 11:59 P.M.
General Contest Rules:
- Only active chapters of SCJ and their initiated members are eligible to participate. To be eligible for Chapter Awards, the chapter submitting must have submitted membership materials to the National Office and had an induction ceremony on or after January 31, 2018. To be eligible for Individual Awards, the person who created this work MUST be a dues-paying SCJ member who was inducted before the contest deadline, January 31, 2018. Eligibility will be verified by the National Office prior to judging. Non-members and honorary members are not eligible to compete.
- All entries must have been published or broadcast in the calendar year 2017 except the submissions for overall excellence in the online categories. The online entries will be judged at times selected by the judges.
- All categories except yearbook are online entry. All entries (except yearbook) should be sent to scjnationalcontest@gmail.com. All email entries must be date-stamped no later than January 31, 2018.
- No more than three entries from each chapter may be submitted in any individual category. Submit only entries of high quality, which merit attention.
- Entry deadline is January 31, 2018. All entries must be postmarked for yearbook or date-stamped for the other categories by this date. Improperly prepared and/or late entries will be disqualified.
- No entries will be returned to chapters of individual members. Where possible, judges’ comments will be published with awards listings on http://scjnational.org and disseminated over the email list.
- The SCJ Contest Director has final say over contest decisions. For example, if too few entries are received in any category the contest director may choose to eliminate the category.
- All work must have been produced by a student member of an SCJ chapter and must have appeared in a student publication or website or aired on a student broadcasting facility. The contest is not for faculty or staff of the university or for work that has been edited or worked on by outside professionals.
- If appropriate, attach a statement of no more than 100 words explaining unusual circumstances under which an entry was published or broadcast. For example, you may want to put a news story in context, describe action that resulted from it, or detail difficulties encountered in gathering information. All statements must be typed and attached to the email entry in the appropriate category.
- Email any contest questions to Dr. Sally Renaud, SCJ Executive Director serenaud@eiu.edu
GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS
(All categories except Yearbook)
Chapter Awards
Several categories are for works created by the efforts of a team of students. In these categories, the school and/or publication will be recognized as the winner, not individual student members. We refer to this type of award as a Chapter Award. Chapter Awards must be submitted by active chapters, not individual SCJ Members.
Email either .pdfs, .jpgs or web addresses (see categories for which format is most appropriate). Attach or type in the body of ONE email all materials necessary for judging in each category. For example, if you are entering Newspaper Overall Excellence, you should send only one email with all entries included in this single email.
The names of the .pdfs should indicate the name of the paper and the date of publication, likewise, web addresses in the body of an email should indicate the name of the organization and other relevant entry materials.
In the subject line of the email type the words “Contest Entry” followed by the category designation (i.e. OL1, NP1a, etc.). In the text of the email indicate the following items:
- Publication Name
- College
- Campus Address
- City, State, Zip
- Name of Person Submitting Entry
Individual Awards
The second type of award is the INDIVIDUAL AWARD. These are given only to members who have been inducted into the Society. Entries must be submitted by individual SCJ members.
Email the .pdf, .jpg, or web address of each contest entry. Each chapter is allowed no more than 3 entries per category. Each entry should be submitted in its own email.
If you are uploading jpegs or pdfs, name your files using the following format: The name of the media organization, the category and the entry number (e.g. TheSpectatorNP2entry1). If you are sending URLs, include the name of the media organization and the category and entry number in the body of the email above the link. information in the body of the email directly in front of the web address.
In the subject line of the email type the words “Contest Entry” followed by the category designation (i.e. II1, IM3, etc.). In the body of the email indicate the following items:
- Entry Number
- Media Organization Name
- Name of Entry (headline, program title, etc.)
- College
- Campus Address
- Name of writer, producer, photographer or artist
- This person(s) was inducted into the society on: (semester and year)
- Person Submitting Entry
CATEGORY I: ONLINE MEDIA (Online Only)
Chapter Awards | To enter this category, email the web address of your site following the submission guidelines listed on page 2 for Chapter Awards. The websites will be visited at least twice from the time the judge receives the entry until the time the winners are announced.
OL 1. Online News Website Overall Excellence: This category is for news outlets that do not have a print or broadcast presence. They must operate as stand-alone news websites.
OL 2. Companion Newspaper Website Overall Excellence: This category is for websites that do not stand alone. These websites can include online versions of a print issue and /or materials meant to complement a print newspaper
OL 3. Companion Broadcast Website Overall Excellence: This category is for websites that do not stand alone. These websites can include online versions of a broadcast channel and /or materials meant to complement a radio or television station.
OL 4. Online Magazine Website Overall Excellence: This category is for magazines that do not have a print edition. These sites must operate as stand-alone online magazines. This category is for all types of magazines including general interest, literary and special interest.
OL 5. Internet Radio Overall Excellence: This category is for radio stations that broadcast exclusively on the radio. These sites must operate as stand-alone radio stations.
Individual Awards | To enter these categories, follow the submission guidelines listed on page 2 for Individual Awards. The judges will visit the urls during the judging period (Feb. 15, 2018-March 15, 2018). The stories should remain active at the site during this time.
IM 1. Multimedia news story: Any type of multimedia, including video, audio, text, graphics.
IM 2. Multimedia feature story: Any type of multimedia, including video, audio, text, graphics.
IM 3. Multimedia sports story: Any type of multimedia, including video, audio, text, graphics.
IM 4. Photo slideshow: Slideshows that feature still photography as the main form of storytelling.
IM 5. Multimedia Series: Three or more multimedia stories—feature or news—on a related topic or issue.
CATEGORY II: NEWSPAPER (Excluding Online Only)
Chapter Award | To enter this category, email your entry following the submission guidelines listed below.
NP 1. Newspaper Overall Excellence: Email the .pdfs of complete issues published (must have been printed and distributed on campus; if you are an online only publication, please see the online media category) on or nearest the dates of March 15, October 15 and December 1. Items will be judged on overall excellence as a print publication only. Attach all three .pdfs of these issues to one email.
The names of the .pdfs should indicate the name of the paper and the date of publication. In the subject line of the email type “Contest Entry NP1.” In the text of the email indicate the following items:
- Publication Name
- College
- Campus Address
- City, State, Zip
- Name of Person Submitting Entry
- Subcategory [will be either NP1A (weekly or more often) or NP1b (less than weekly)]
Individual Awards | To enter these categories, follow the submission guidelines listed one page 2 for Individual Awards. Email the .pdf of each page selected for contest entry (must have been printed and distributed on campus; if you are an online only publication, please see the online media category). Items will be judged as a print publication only.
NP 2. Front Page: Both design and content are judged.
NP 3. Editorial Page: Both design and content are judged.
NP 4. Sports Page: Both design and content are judged.
NP 5. News Page: Both design and content are judged. No front pages in this category.
NP 6. Feature Page: Both design and content are judged.
NP 7. Photo Essay: Can be news, feature or sports with at least three photos.
NP 8. Advertising Portfolio: Submit three examples of advertisements (house ads and for hire) published in a campus publication during the contest period. Each ad should be sent in the context of publication, clearly mark on the .pdf the advertisement that is intended for competition.
CATEGORY III: INDIVIDUAL WRITING AND IMAGING (PRINT AND ONLINE)
Individual Awards: Writing | To enter these categories, follow the submission guidelines listed one page 2 for Individual Awards. You may NOT enter the same story in more than one category.
IW 1. News Stories (excluding Sports)
IW 2. Editorials (staff editorials only; individually bylined op-eds/columns will not be judged in this category)
IW 3. Breaking or Hard News
IW 4. Multi-story News Series (at least three separate but related stories for each entry)
IW 5. Continuing Coverage (at least two separate but continuing stories for each entry)
IW 6. Column or Commentary (individual opinion writing; staff editorials should be entered in IW2)
IW 7. Features (excluding Sports)
IW 8. Sports News
IW 9. Sports Features
IW 10. Sports Columns
IW 11. Individual Magazine Writing (any genre published in a magazine, this is the only individual writing category for magazines)
IW 12. Individual Yearbook Writing (any genre published in a yearbook, this is the only individual writing category for yearbooks)
Individual Awards: Imaging | To enter these categories, follow the submission guidelines listed one page 2 for Individual Awards. Submit a url for the web page or a .pdf to show context.
II 1. News Photography
II 2. Feature Photography
II 3. Sports Photography
II 4. Cartoon Strips and Panels
II 5. Editorial Cartoon
II 6. Graphic Illustrations
II 7. Yearbook Photography
CATEGORY IV: MAGAZINES (excluding online only)
Chapter Awards | To enter this category, email the web address of your site following the submission guidelines listed on page 2 for Chapter Awards. Additionally, please note:
- All (but no more than three) consecutive issues published during the competition year may be submitted.
- Attach or link to .pdfs in the body of the email.
MAG 1. Magazine Overall Excellence: All magazine types (literary, special interest, general interest) may be entered.
MAG 2. Outstanding Literary Magazine
MAG 3. Outstanding Special Interest Magazine
MAG 4. Outstanding General Interest Magazine
CATEGORY V: BROADCASTING (BROADCAST ONLY)
Chapter Award: Television | To enter this category, email the URL of your news show following the submission guidelines listed on page 2 for Chapter Awards.
TV 1. Television News Show Overall Excellence
Individual Awards: Television | To enter these categories, follow the submission guidelines listed one page 2 for Individual Awards.
TV 2. Television News Package
TV 3. Television Feature Package
TV 4. Television Sports Package
TV 5. Commercial, Promotion and Public Announcement (Entries should be no longer than 60 seconds.)
Additionally, for all television entries (chapter and individual), please note:
- Video entries must be submitted using a url for a web address to prove they were broadcast.
- Entries must be no longer than 30 minutes (many will be less, but none should exceed).
Chapter Award: Radio | To enter this category, email the URL of your radio news show following the submission guidelines listed on page 2 for Chapter Awards.
RD 1. Radio News Show Overall Excellence
Individual Awards: Radio | To enter these categories, follow the submission guidelines listed one page 2 for Individual Awards.
RD 2. Radio News Package
RD 3. Radio Feature Package
RD 4. Radio Sports Package
RD 5. Commercial, Promotion and Public Announcement (Entries should be no longer than 60 seconds.)
Additionally, for all radio entries (chapter and individual), please note:
- Radio entries must be submitted in .mp3 format or include a url for a web address.
- Entries must be no longer than 30 minutes (many will be less, but none should exceed).
CATEGORY VI: YEARBOOK (PRINT ONLY)
Chapter Awards | Submit ONE entire copy of your 2017 book. Do not submit tearsheets; entries will be judged in all categories. Affix the entry form (below) inside the front cover of each book submitted.
YB 1. Overall Excellence
YB6a, small schools–enrollment less than 7,000
YB6b, large schools–enrollment of 7,000 and above
YB 2. The Terry Vander Heyden Award for Coverage of the Year (12 months on campus)
YB 3. Concept of the Book (theme, idea, structure)
YB 4. Reporting in Words (copy, reportorial writing)
YB 5. Photography
YB 6. Display (layout, design, graphics)
Yearbook entries should be mailed to:
Martha Collins
N.C. State Student Media
305 Witherspoon CB 7318
NC State University
Raleigh NC, 27695
SCJ 2018 National Contest Yearbook Entry Form
Entry Number (max of three per category, except in single entry categories) _________
Contest Category_______________________
Publication Name ________________________________________________________________
College/University _____________________ City _________________ State _____ Zip ______
Name of writer, Photographer or Artist ______________________________________________
This person was inducted into the society on: (semester and year)_________________________
Campus Address__________________________________________________________________
Class/Year ____________ Position and Publication
Staff__________________________________________
College Enrollment ________________________________________________________________
Person Submitting Entry ___________________________________________________________
Have questions? Send them to Sally Renaud, Executive Director, serenaud@eiu.edu.
