Individual Awards
From "best news story" to "best theme development," GSPA offers 41 individual categories for judging in newspaper, newsmagazine, news website, TV news, yearbook and literary magazine. March 16, 2012 is the postmark deadline for ALL individual entries published (or to be published) in the 2011-12 school year.
Download entry instructions and the official entry form.
Award Categories
BROADCAST
1. News Package
One news story (versus sports coverage or feature stories) produced by a broadcast student may be submitted. Entries will be judged on news value, reporting/writing and format.
2. In-depth News/Documentary
This category is for documentary-style packages with emphasis on research, interviewing and analysis.
3. Feature Package
Acceptable feature package types include human interest, descriptive, personality profiles, informative and how-to stories.
4. Production
This category includes non-news pieces that are heavy in production qualities. Acceptable entries include music videos, mini-movies, TV shows or PSAs.
5. Sports Package
This category can include both broadcast sports news and sports feature packages.
LITERARY MAGAZINE
6. Poem
Original poems with the author’s byline may be submitted.
7. Short Story
Original short stories with the author’s byline may be submitted.
8. Artwork
Original artwork, not including the cover design, may be submitted. Submit one copy of the literary magazine page containing the art and one copy of the original artwork.
9. Cover Design
This category includes hand or computer-generated artwork or photography used on the literary magazine cover. Submit one copy of the literary magazine cover and one copy of the original artwork.
10. Photograph
Original photographs shot specifically for literary magazines are acceptable. The photograph's content and technical quality will be considered by judges. Submit original photograph with one copy of the magazine page containing the photograph.
11. Spread Design
Submit one spread from the literary magazine. Please include all pages that comprise the spread.
NEWSPAPER/NEWSMAGAZINE/NEWS WEBSITE
12. News Story
News stories should report but not interpret events that have news value and timeliness to the publication’s readers. This category includes advance and follow-up stories.
13. In-depth News Story
Stories should be in-depth and interpretive, characterized by the use of background information and should inform or instruct the reader. The elements “why” and “how” should be examined. Stories may lack the timeliness of news stories and may lack dependence on a specific news event.
14. Feature Story
Acceptable feature story types include human interest, descriptive, informative and how-to stories.
15. Feature Profile
Feature stories focusing on one individual's life, accomplishments, story, etc.
16. Column
Columns must carry bylines or other writer identification and appear in every issue or on a regular basis. A series of columns throughout the year stapled together is considered one entry. All columns (entertainment, humor, etc.) that are not sports columns or editorial commentary (see below) may be entered in this category.
Exactly two columns by a single writer qualify as one entry. Single column entries will not be accepted.
17. Opposing Viewpoints Column
Opposing Viewpoints Columns represent the opinions of two writers on a singular topic.
18. House Editorials
House editorials should represent the opinion of the staff, editors or editorial board on a timely news matter of concern to the school, community, state, nation or world. In addition to providing the viewpoint of the staff, editorials provide facts and reasoning behind the opinion. House editorials are not bylined, signed or initialed, or in any way identified as being the opinion of a writer(s).
Exactly three house editorials qualify as one entry. Only one entry per staff accepted.
19. Commentary (Op-Ed Columns)
Commentary, or op-ed columns, should represent the opinion of the writer on a timely news matter of concern to the school, community, state, nation or world. The writer should provide facts and reasons to back up their opinion. Commentary should be bylined or otherwise identified as being the opinion of a particular writer(s).
Exactly two columns authored by the same writer(s) qualify as one entry.
20. Critical Review
Reviews should present opinions, observations and evaluations of films, books, television programs, recordings, concerts, plays, restaurants and other things of interest to the paper’s market.
21. Sports News Story
Sports news stories should report but not interpret events that have news value and timeliness to the publication’s readers. This category includes advance and follow-up stories. Please note separate category for sports game coverage.
22. Sports game coverage
On-the-spot coverage of a single sports event (i.e., game, match or meet).
23. Sports Feature Story
Stories may include human interest, personality profiles, informative and interpretative (“why”) features related to sports topics.
24. Sports Column
Columns must be related to sports, carry bylines or other writer identification, and appear in every issue or on a regular basis.
Exactly two columns authored by the same writer(s) qualifies as one entry.
25. Headline Writing
Headlines should accurately reflect the content of stories without repeating the lead, and should draw readers into the story. Please include the articles for which the entries serve as headlines.
Submit at least three headlines written by the same student.
26. Caption Writing
Captions should contain sufficient information about the people and action in the photograph, without stating the obvious. Please include the photographs.
Submit captions for three photographs, all written by the same student.
27. Editorial Cartoon
Original artwork serving as news commentary. Each editorial cartoon counts as a separate entry.
28. Sports Photograph
Any non-portrait photo directly related to sporting events may be entered.
29. News Photograph
Photos in this category should be non-portrait, non-sports photos of on-the-spot coverage of an event that has news value and timeliness.
30. Feature Photograph
Photos should be non-portrait, non-sports photos that create a special effect or entertain, appeal to the emotions and accompany a feature story or stand alone on a page with a cutline.
31. Photo Essay
This category is for descriptive stories told through numerous photographs. Submit the full page, including the headlines, copy, photos and captions along with the original photographs. The entry will be judged on the quality of the photographs, copy and layout. Please include the names of all students who worked on the photo essay.
32. Information Graphic
This category includes artwork or information graphics used to enhance any news, feature or sports article. Submit tear sheet showing how the graphic was used with the original.
33. Illustration
This category is for hand-generated artwork created by a single student. Non-editorial cartoons from newspapers are accepted in this category. Illustrations that are part of information graphics should NOT be entered in this category.
34. Photo Illustration
Photo illustrations (photos manipulated for artistic purpose or to illustrate an idea) fall into this category. Submit tear sheet showing how the graphic was used with the original.
35. Double-truck layout/design
Centerspread layouts will be judged on content, design, originality and overall use of space.
36. Advertising Design
This category includes student-designed and student-written advertisements. Judging will be based on originality, creativity, design, appeal and perceived effectiveness. Submit the entry on its tearsheet from the newspaper (or a copy of the yearbook page on which it falls) and designate the ad in red ink with neat markings.
YEARBOOK
37. Yearbook Story
Entries can include year-end recaps, school events or other standard yearbook stories. Stories should use creativity, but still follow basic journalistic writing standards.
38. Special Interest Story
This category includes specially-reported stories highlighting a specific issue, person or event unique to the school year. Stories should use creativity, but still follow basic journalistic writing standards.
39. Spread Design
One or two pages may be submitted. Layouts will be judged on content, design, originality, creativity and overall use of space.
40. Cover Design
Only original, student-produced designs may be entered. Company-designed covers will not be accepted. Judges will consider use of color, design elements and relationship to the book's theme.
Only one entry per staff accepted.
41. Theme Development
Submit all theme-related pages, including the cover, endsheets, title page, opening, closing, divisionals and examples of other pages that highlight the yearbook's theme. Awards will recognize the staff.
Only one entry per staff accepted.