Annual National Contest

Download the complete Contest Rules 2016 here.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS IS CLOSED FOR 2016.

General Rules:

Only active chapters of SCJ and their initiated members are eligible to participate.
All entries must have been published or broadcast in the calendar year 2015 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. It is important to note that individual work done by members of the yearbook staff can be entered in some of the other categories, so long as it is within the 3 entries per chapter and the entrant is inducted. All entries (except yearbook) should be sent to scjnational@gmail.com. All email entries must be datestamped no later than January 31, 2016.
Entries for Newspaper Overall Excellence are as follows: Three complete issues published on or nearest the 2015 dates of April 6, September 21 and November 30. Yearbooks: one complete copy; no tearsheets. Magazines: all (up to four) consecutive issues.
Stories in a series or continuing coverage may be submitted as one entry.
No more than three entries from each chapter may be submitted in any individual category. Submit only entries of high quality, which merit attention.
Improperly prepared, 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 scj.us and disseminated over the email list. You must provide a name for entries.
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, include 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.
Entry deadline is January 31, 2016. All entries must be postmarked for yearbook or datestamped for the other categories by this date. Late entries will be discarded.
Send entries to: scjnational@gmail.com
Yearbook entries should be mailed to:

Mary Beth Earnheardt
SCJ VP of Contests
Youngstown State University
Communication Department
1 University Plaza
Youngstown, OH 44555

GUIDELINES FOR ENTRY (ALL CATEGORIES EXCEPT YEARBOOK)

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. To be eligible the chapter submitting must have submitted membership materials to the National Office and had an induction ceremony on or after January 31, 2013. Eligibility will be verified by the National Office prior to judging.

Email either .pdfs, .jpgs or web addresses (see categories for which format is most appropriate) to scjnational@gmail.com.

Attach or type in the body of ONE email all materials necessary for judging (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. You must replicate this information for EACH entry as they are sorted before being sent to judges. 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

College Enrollment

Name of Person Submitting Entry

The other type of award are the INDIVIDUAL MEMBER AWARDS. These are given only to members who have been inducted into the society. Entries must be submitted by individual SCJ Members. To be eligible the person who created this work MUST be a dues paying SCJ member who was inducted before the contest deadline, January 31, 2016. Membership will be verified at the National Office and work submitted by non-members or honorary members will be excluded from judging. Email the .pdf, .jpg, or web address of each contest entry (all work must be from STUDENT RUN MEDIA, professional media work will not be considered in any category of the SCJ contest). All entries must be emailed. Send each entry (you are allowed no more than 3 per active chapter) to scjnational@gmail.com.

The way your files are identified (.pdfs, web addresses, .jpgs) should indicate the name of the media organization, the category and the entry number (e.g. TheSpectatorNP2entry1). For the files that you can name, you should change the name to reflect this format, for the web addresses, include this information in the body of the email directly in front of the web address. If you are entering multiple designs you must send a separate email for each entry (up to 3 in each category). This is because in the individual member awards all entries compete against all other entries, unlike some of the other categories where multiple items make up a single entry. In the subject line of the email type the words “Contest Entry” followed by the category designation (i.e. II1, IM3, etc.). In the text of the email indicate the following items (you may copy this into the body of the email for each entry):

Entry Number (max of three per category use a separate email entry for each separate entry in the Individual Member categories, entries in the Chapter Award categories will not include an entry number)
Media Organization Name
Name of Entry (headline, program title, date, slugline, etc.)
College
Campus Address
Name of writer, producer, photographer or artist (include only SCJ members)
This person was inducted into the society on: (semester and year only active members are eligible to enter, for multiple members include with name)
Person Submitting Entry

CATEGORY I: ONLINE MEDIA (Online Only)

These are CHAPTER AWARDS submitted by active chapters, not individual SCJ Members. To be eligible the chapter submitting must have submitted membership materials to the National Office and had an induction ceremony on or after January 31, 2013. Eligibility will be verified by the National Office prior to judging.

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. To enter this category email the web address of your site following the procedures listed above 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 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. To enter this category email the web address of your site following the procedures listed above 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 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. To enter this category email the web address of your site following the procedures listed above 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 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. To enter this category email the web address of your site following the procedures listed above 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. 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. To enter this category email the web address of your site following the procedures listed above 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.

INDIVIDUAL MULTIMEDIA

IM 1. Multimedia news story. These entries include any type of multimedia, including video, audio, text, graphics.

IM 2. Multimedia feature story. These entries include any type of multimedia, including video, audio, text, graphics.

IM 3. Multimedia sports story. These entries include any type of multimedia, including video, audio, text, graphics.

IM 4. Photo slideshow. This category is specifically for slideshows that feature still photography as the main form of storytelling.

IM 5. Multimedia Series. This category is specifically for three or more multimedia stories—feature or news—on a related topic or issue.

CATEGORY II: NEWSPAPER (Excluding Online Only)

This is an overall award submitted by chapters, not individual SCJ Members. To be eligible the chapter submitting must have had an induction ceremony and submitted membership materials to the National Office on or after January 31, 2013. Eligibility will be verified by the National Office prior to judging.

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 April 6, September 21 and November 30 to scjnational@gmail.com. Items will be judged on overall excellence as a print publication only. We will not accept printed newspapers in this category, all entries must be emailed. Attach all three .pdfs of these issues to the 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 NP 1.” In the text of the email indicate the following items:

Publication Name

College

Campus Address

City, State, Zip

College Enrollment

Name of Person Submitting Entry

*Subcategory

* Categories for entries will be based on submissions received. When possible we’ll attempt to organize by more often than weekly, weekly, and less than weekly.

These are INDIVIDUAL MEMBER awards, entries must be submitted by individual SCJ Members. To be eligible the person who created this work MUST be a dues paying SCJ member who was inducted before the contest deadline, January 31, 2016. Membership will be verified at the National Office and work submitted by non-members or honorary members will be excluded from judging. 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. We will not accept printed newspapers in this category, all entries must be emailed. Send each entry (you are allowed no more than 3 per active chapter) to scjnational@gmail.com, the names of the .pdfs should indicate the name of the paper, the category and the entry number (e.g. TheSpectatorNP2entry1). If you are entering multiple designs you must send a separate email for each entry (up to 3 in each category). In the subject line of the email type “Contest Entry NP # .” In the text of the email indicate the following items:

Entry Number (max of three per category, except in single entry categories)

Contest Category

Publication Name

Date issue was published on

Campus Address

College

City, State, Zip

Name of writer, Photographer or Artist

This person was inducted into the society on: (semester and year only active members are eligible to enter)

Person Submitting Entry

For each INDIVIDUAL MEMBER category you must submit the name of the designer/creator/photographer and this person must be an inducted member of the society.

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. Front pages will not be considered 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, mark on the .pdf or in the body of the email the advertisement that is intended for competition.

CATEGORY III: INDIVIDUAL WRITING AND IMAGING (PRINT AND ONLINE)

INDIVIDUAL WRITING

IW 1. News Stories (excluding Sports)

IW 2. Editorials (staff editorials only, individually bylined editorials will not be judged in this category)

IW 3. Breaking or Hard News

IW 4. Multi Story News Series (you must have a least three separate stories for each entry to be considered a news series)

IW 5. Continuing Coverage (you must have at least two separate stories for each entry to be considered continuing coverage)

IW 6. Column or Commentary (not for staff entries, this is for individual opinion writing, staff opinions 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 magazine pieces)

IW 12. Individual Yearbook Writing (any genre published in a yearbook, this is the only individual writing category for yearbook pieces)

INDIVIDUAL IMAGING

II 1. News Photography: Submit a website or .pdf to show context and a .jpg of the original.

II 2. Feature Photography: Submit a website or .pdf to show context and a .jpg of the original.

II 3. Sports Photography: Submit a website or .pdf to show context and a .jpg of the original.

II 4. Cartoon Strips and Panels: Submit a website or .pdf to show context.

II 5. Editorial Cartoon: Submit a website or .pdf to show context.

II 6. Graphic Illustrations: Submit a website or .pdf to show context.

II 7. Yearbook Photography: Submit a website or .pdf to show context and a .jpg of the original. (This is the only individual imaging category for yearbook photography)

Entries accepted from all STUDENT RUN MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, do not include anything published by an organization that is not run by students.

CATEGORY IV: MAGAZINES (excluding online only)

These are overall awards submitted by chapters, not individual SCJ Members. To be eligible the chapter submitting must have had an induction ceremony and submitted membership materials to the National Office on or after January 31, 2013. Eligibility will be verified by the National Office prior to judging. Note that you must enter in MAG 2, MAG 3 or MAG 4 to be considered for MAG 1. All magazines entered into MAG 2, MAG 3 and MAG 4 will be judged for MAG 1.

MAG 1. Magazine Overall Excellence: All magazine types (literary, special interest, general interest) may be entered. You do not need to send a send in an entry for this category, entries from MAG2, MAG3 and MAG4 will constitute the competition for MAG1.

MAG 2. Outstanding Literary Magazine: Email a link to or a .pdf of each issue. You may submit 1-3 issues for consideration.

MAG 3. Outstanding Special Interest Magazine. Email a link to or a .pdf of each issue. You may submit 1-3 issues for consideration.

MAG 4. Outstanding General Interest Magazine. Email a link to or a .pdf of each issue. You may submit 1-3 issues for consideration.

Additional Magazine Entry Procedures

All (but no more than four) consecutive issues published during the competition year may be submitted.
Attach or link to .pdfs in the body of the email. Include the information indicated in the contest rules for your entry.
Each chapter should send only one email in this category with all attachments or links in the single email.
In the email line indicate whether you are entering MAG2, MAG3, or MAG 4. MAG 1 will be composed of all entries in the three other categories.

CATEGORY V: BROADCASTING (BROADCAST ONLY)

TV1 is an overall award submitted by chapters, not individual SCJ Members. To be eligible the chapter submitting must have had an induction ceremony and submitted membership materials to the National Office on or after January 31, 2013. Eligibility will be verified by the National Office prior to judging

Television

TV 1. Television News Show Overall Excellence

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.

RD 1 is an overall award submitted by chapters, not individual SCJ Members. To be eligible the chapter submitting must have submitted membership materials to the National Office and had an induction ceremony on or after January 31, 2013. Eligibility will be verified by the National Office prior to judging.

Radio

RD 1. Radio News Show Overall Excellence

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.

Additional Broadcast Entry Procedures

Submit no more than one category in the same email.
Submit radio must be submitted in .mp3 format.
Submit video entries must be submitted as .mov or .mp4 or include a url for a web address.
Radio and television entries must be no longer than 30 minutes (many will be less, but none should exceed).
Entry emails must include information necessary to identify the production with the school.
Each TV broadcast entry should have a video slate preceding the production/entry. Entries should include name of college, title of entry, names of producers, station’s call letters and contest category.

CATEGORY VI: YEARBOOK (PRINT ONLY)

These are overall awards submitted by chapters, not individual SCJ Members. To be eligible the chapter submitting must have submitted membership materials to the National Office and had an induction ceremony on or after January 31, 2013. Eligibility will be verified by the National Office prior to judging.

YB 1. Overall Excellence

YB6a, small schools–enrollment less than 7,000

YB6b, large schools–enrollment of 7,000 and above

YB 2. Coverage of the Year: 12 months on campus: The Terry Vander Heyden Award

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

Additional Yearbook Entry Procedures

Submit ONE copy of your 2015 book. Single entries will be disqualified. Do not submit tearsheets; entries will be judged in all categories
Affix an entry form inside the front cover of each book submitted. The entry form is copied below.

Entry Number (max of three per category, except in single entry categories) __________

Contest Category_______________________

Publication Name ___________________________________________________________________________

College _________________________ 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 Mary Beth Earnheardt, Contest Director, at Mary Beth Earnheardt
Youngstown State University
Communication Department
1 University Plaza
Youngstown, OH 44555

Society for Collegiate Journalists

Annual National Contest

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