Your Contest Guidelines

The High School Communications Competition sponsored by the Illinois Woman’s Press Association and the National Federation of Press Women inspires students to do their best work, which earns them recognition and reflects well on their teachers and advisers. The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed the contest on its “NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities,” which can be found on the website www.nassp.org.

In the contest, students may enter work in one of 20 categories: Editorial, Opinion, News Story, Feature Story, Sports Story, Columns, Feature Photo, Sports Photo, Cartooning, Review, Graphics/Photo Illustration, Single-Page Layout, Double-Truck Layout, Environment, Video News Story, Video Feature Story, Video Sports Story, Yearbook Layout, Yearbook Photo and Yearbook Copywriting.

The student’s work must have been completed between February 15, 2012, and February 28, 2013.

National first-place winners also receive $100 cash. National Honors are presented during the High School Communications Competition Awards Luncheon at the annual NFPW conference in Salt Lake City August 22-24, 2013

Each state winner will receive a certificate, with first-place winners going on to compete nationally. IWPA also presents the Silver Pen Award to the high school achieving the highest number of points among student contest entrants. The 2012 high school winning the Silver Pen Award will receive $100. State Honors are presented during the IWPA Communications Awards Luncheon held at the Union League Club of Chicago on May 18, 2013.

National first-place winners also receive $100 cash. National Honors are presented during the High School Communications Competition Awards Luncheon at the annual NFPW conference in Salt Lake City August 22-24, 2013

Each state winner will receive a certificate, with first-place winners going on to compete nationally. IWPA also presents the Silver Pen Award to the high school achieving the highest number of points among student contest entrants. The 2012 high school winning the Silver Pen Award will receive $100. State Honors are presented during the IWPA Communications Awards Luncheon held at the Union League Club of Chicago on May 18, 2013.

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General Requirements for Entries

• Entries must be the work of students enrolled in grades 9-12 during the current school year or the last semester of the senior year for students’ work published after the current deadline.
• Students must enter in the affiliate contest for their state. Students may enter as At-Large entries if their state does not have an affiliate OR if their state’s affiliate does not have a contest.
• Students may submit only one entry per category (except for the Columns category, which requires three samples of work per entry); students are welcome to enter as many categories as they wish. Students should decide which category best fits their work, as each piece may only be entered in one category.
• Entries published in a high school or community newspaper, printed and/or electronic (online) are eligible. Entries published in a yearbook are eligible for submission in the Yearbook category.
• For printed publications, submit three (3) tear sheets (the entire page on which the article or graphic appears) for each entry (including three copies of each of the three columns submitted in the Columns category); either an original or a photocopy is fine. For online publications, submit three (3) copies of the article including the URL and date of publication. For photos, submit three (3) copies of the photo as published.  For yearbook entries, submit either three (3) tear sheets for each entry or three (3) copies of the page proofs.
• On your entry, indicate which article or photo is to be considered by putting a check mark or an X by it, using a marker or highlighter. Entries submitted in the Single-Page Layout, Double-Truck Layout and Yearbook Layout categories do not need to be marked.
• If an entry is the work of more than one student, each student must complete an entry form.
• Entry forms and student work should be paper-clipped together – NO staples, sleeves or binders, please!
• Each state contest director should e-mail a “master list” of student entries

State Competitions
Students living in Illinois participate in the IWPA state high school competition. For any other state contact the national contest director Karen Rowley, kmrowley059@gmail.com, 225-892-0684.for that state’s contest chair. Most state deadlines are in February or early March to allow time for judging and processing for the national contest. First-place state winners advance to national competition.
For Illinois student entries must be postmarked by March 4, 2013. Send the completed form along with the $5.00 contest entry fee per entry to Cecilia Green, IWPA High School Communications Contest, 423 S. Main St., Bartlett IL 60103. Click here to get the Entry Form.

CONTEST CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA CONSIDERED BY JUDGES

1.  Editorial – This entry appears on the editorial page of the paper. It is the voice of the paper. An editorial is not a bylined personal column, but may be a signed on behalf of an editorial board. The editorial will be judged on the basis of the clarity of its point, the relevance of its subject matter to its audience, and the soundness and persuasiveness of its argument.

2.  Opinion – This is the voice of a single writer, not to be confused with an editorial. It can focus on items of a personal nature, social issues or the happenings of the world. It can be insightful and/or critical, but not libelous. Opinion pieces will be evaluated on clearness of style, sound reasoning and the effort to influence reader’s opinion in what the writer believes is the right direction. An opinion article is always bylined.

3.  News Story – The writer should show 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, clarity of lead, writing style, readability and impact.

4.  Feature Story – The story should focus on an in-depth topic of interest to readers. Copy will be judged on unusual aspects of the material or the handling, writing style and richness of detail, and the use of quotes, readability and thoroughness. The material may be a personality profile or a human interest piece.

5.  Sports Story – The story should demonstrate imagination and good application of sports-writing style in advance, follow-up, summary or feature coverage of sports events or sports participants. Avoid play-by-play rehash.

6.  Columns – Each entry must consist of three (3) columns. Two of the columns should have been published consecutively and the third column can be whichever one the writer selects. The columns can be analytical scrutiny, satire or personal comment on general or special subjects. The columns should entertain and/or educate, and the writer may use in-depth knowledge, research, study or expertise.

7.  Feature Photo – The photo must spark an emotional response in the viewer, and have eye-catching subject matter and storytelling qualities. No posed shots. Judging will be based on the photo’s quality as published. Original prints are not required. Images must not be digitally enhanced or retouched; cropping, toning, contrast and red-eye removal are the only electronic adjustments that are allowed.

8.  Sports Photo – The photo should be easy to “read” and cropped for impact. It should show the peak of the action, or capture an exciting moment or a storytelling facial expression. No posed shots. Judging is based on the quality of the photo as published. Images must not be digitally enhanced or retouched; cropping, toning, contrast and red-eye removal are the only electronic adjustments that are allowed.

9.  Cartooning – Copy may be generated by computer graphics or freehand and may be a comic strip or cartoon. Judging will consider the text or caption and the use of concept and artistic style. The subject matter is unrestricted. For example, any political, economic or social issue may be covered, or any human relations issue or other topic.

10.  Review – The entry should be of interest to the publication’s readers. Subject may be art or dramatic event or music. The article should include some critical analysis and show the writer’s knowledge of the subject. The review should be interesting, creatively written and rich in style.

11.  Graphics/Photo Illustration – The entry may be created freehand or electronically. Judging will be on creativity, uniqueness, clarity of relationship to an article or publication and how the graphic contributes to the visual enhancement of the subject matter. Unsigned work requires adviser’s verification.

12.  Single-Page Layout – The entry may be from a desktop publishing project or from the traditional printing production methods. (A double-truck is not a single page.)  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 the content of the article(s). Unsigned work requires adviser’s verification.

13. Double-Truck Layout – The entry is 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.
14. Environment – 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.

15. Video Web News Story – This entry is a video produced for airing on television or via the Web. Judging will be based on how well the student has used video and narration/reporting to obtain a news story that presents new information or a new angle. Judging will consider quality of picture and sound, as well as overall editing. DVD is the only acceptable format. DVD should play on a consumer DVD player or PC. Entry should indicate the file format and the Mac or PC program in which the file was created.

16. Video Feature Story – This entry is a video produced for airing on television or via the Web. Judging will be based on how well the student has used video and narration/reporting to give an in-depth or unusual look at a topic or person of interest. Judging will consider quality of picture and sound, as well as overall editing. DVD is the only acceptable format. DVD should play on a consumer DVD player or PC. Entry should indicate the file format and the Mac or PC program in which the file was created.

17. Video Sports Story – This entry is a video produced for airing on television or via the Web. Judging will be based on how well the student has used video and narration/reporting to cover a sports event or participant. DVD is the only acceptable format. Judging will consider quality of picture and sound, as well as overall editing. DVD should play on a consumer DVD player or PC. Entry should indicate the file format and the Mac or PC program in which the file was created.

18. Yearbook Layout – This entry may be a single-page or double-truck layout. Judging will be based on creative and effective use of graphic elements, typography, photos, illustrations and color, with a focus on how they attract reader interest or illustrate article content. In the case of a double-truck layout, judging also will consider how the elements of two facing pages work together.

19. Yearbook Photo – This entry may be a single photo or a multiple-photo spread from any section of the yearbook. Judging will be based on the quality of the photo(s), with emphasis on the activity portrayed, the news value, and the composition and cropping. Entry may not be a posed photograph or photographs. Original prints are not required. Images must not be digitally enhanced or retouched; cropping, toning, contrast and redeye removal are the only electronic adjustments that are allowed.

20. Yearbook Copywriting – This entry will consist of text from a section of the yearbook. Photo captions are not permitted. Judging will be based on creativity, effectiveness, impact and clarity.

2012 High School competition winners: Students from around the nation were named winners in NFPW’s 2012 high school communications competition, the only such contest for high school students in the country. Check out the accomplished list of winners for both national and the Illinois contest! (Art, link to national and state winners at  http://www.nfpw.org/pdf/2012HighSchool-winners.pdf

  For more information about IWPA, please e-mail iwpa@comcast.net, visit the website at www.iwpa.org/about_us, or call (312) 458-9151.  Contact NFPW at www.nfpw.org, presswomen@aol.com, or call (800) 780-2715.