JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention 

NSPA Best of Show

The NSPA Best of Show competition, a popular offering at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention, will be offered for all student media outlets participating in the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention.

The Best of Show competition features two divisions —
Staff Recognition
Individual Recognition

Because the pandemic has affected student travel, NSPA is adjusting the Best of Show rules for the Los Angeles convention.

Broadcasts, publications and websites may be entered in the Staff Recognition category if the adviser is a registered delegate at the convention. Students are not required to attend.

Best of Show winners will be announced on site at the convention awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9.

The  deadlines and submission guidelines are different for the two categories, so review these details carefully.

 

Submission deadlines

Staff Recognition

Student media must be submitted in person to the convention registration Best of Show desk by 1 p.m. Friday, April 8.

A single copy of print publications must be turned in to the convention registration Best of Show desk by 1 p.m. Friday, April 8, for the following:
Newspaper/Newsmagazine
Magazine
Yearbook
Bring a print copy of your 2021 yearbook to Los Angeles even if you submitted copies to the NSPA office previously.

A URL link must be turned in to the convention registration Best of Show desk by 1 p.m. Friday, April 8, for the following:
Broadcast News Program
Website
You may also email your URL links by the deadline to gary@studentpress.org.

 

Individual Recognition

Submit these entries by 5 p.m. CT Friday, March 18, using the BetterBNC award platform. Technical assistance is available from BetterBNC on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. 

 The BetterBNC award platform opens on Feb. 1.

Payment

Best of Show entries are purchased as part of the convention’s online registration process. Convention registration closes on Monday, March 28. 

The contest fee is $30 per entry for NSPA members and $45 per entry for nonmembers. Unlimited entries are permitted for the Individual categories. For the Staff competitions, only one submission is allowed in each category.

 

 

Staff Recognition

The awards in this category are presented to the student media outlet for the overall product. Only one submission is allowed in each category. The entries compete directly against each other, and a critique or scoresheet is not provided.

The Best of Show winner receives the iconic NSPA Best of Show trophy, with second through 10th place winners receiving certificates. The awards in this category are presented to student media staff.

Newspaper/Newsmagazine

Schools may enter one regular edition of their newspaper/newsmagazine. Enter one print copy of the most recent issue of the newspaper/newsmagazines, published between Aug. 1, 2021, and the contest deadline. Entries compete in one of three categories —

  1. Newspaper/Newsmagazine (high school enrollment of less than 1,500)
  2. Newspaper/Newsmagazine (high school enrollment of 1,500 or more) 
  3. Newspaper/Newsmagazine (junior high/middle school)

 

Website

An online news website actively updated throughout the current school year, competing in one of three categories and submitted as a URL link.

  1. Website (high school enrollment of less than 1,500)
  2. Website (high school enrollment of 1,500 or more)
  3. Website (junior high/middle school)

Please email your website URL link and category (4, 5, 6)
to gary@studentpress.org by 1 p.m. PT Friday, April 8.

 

Broadcast News Program

Entries consist of a single broadcast news program aired between Aug, 1, 2021, and the contest deadline. Entries must be submitted as URL links  (i.e., a YouTube or Vimeo link). The news program must be housed on a site or channel owned by a school student media outlet and not a personal site or channel. News programs compete in two categories:

  1. Broadcast News Program (high school)
  2. Broadcast News Program (junior high/middle school)

Please email your news program URL link to gary@studentpress.org
by 1 p.m. PT Friday, April 8.

 

Magazine

Submit the most recent magazine print issue in one of two categories:

  1. Literary arts magazine
  2. Specialty magazine 

Specialty magazines provide in-depth, long-form stories focused on timely topics/issues relevant to your audience. A specialty magazine has its own identity and name and is not a special edition of a newspaper/newsmagazine. Topical magazines such as sports, science, business or entertainment also compete in this category.

 

Yearbook

The 2021 yearbook should be entered. A print copy is required. High school yearbooks will be divided into equal categories based on the number of pages. Junior-high/middle-school yearbooks, of all page counts, will compete in a separate category.

Bring a print copy of your 2021 yearbook to Los Angeles even if you submitted copies to the NSPA office previously.

  1. Yearbook (high school)
  2. Yearbook (junior high/middle school)

 

Individual Recognition

Best of Show Individual Awards recognize specific student journalists for their achievement. 

The awards in this category are presented to individuals or teams of up to five staff members. There are no restrictions on the number of entries; however, an entry can be submitted in only one category. All entries should be published during the current school year (after Aug. 1, 2021) by your student media outlet. 

The Best of Show category winner receives a plaque, with second through 10th place winners receiving certificates. 

 

13. Editorial Leadership

This competition, intended for individual editors not teams, requires an application submitted as a PDF file and through the BetterBNC award platform.

  1. List your contributions to your high school student media program, including positions held and job descriptions if needed.
  2. Describe your leadership philosophy (200 words or fewer).
  3. Describe your most proud leadership moment (100 words or fewer).
  4. A statement of support from your adviser (100 words or fewer).

 

14. Blog

Must reflect journalistic standards in topic, coverage and writing and should appear on your student media outlet’s website. Entry must be a single blog, not a collection. Submit a URL link from the current school year (after Aug. 1, 2021) through the BetterBNC award platform.

 

15. Podcast

Delivers relevant content through engaging audio storytelling and should appear on your student media outlet’s website. Entry must be a single podcast, not a collection. Submit a URL link from the current school year (after Aug. 1, 2021) through the BetterBNC award platform.

 

16. Magazine Design

Single-page or double-page spread appearing in a print literary arts or specialty magazine. Submit a PDF file of the page or spread from the most recent magazine through the BetterBNC award platform.

 

17. Newspaper/Newsmagazine Design

Single-page or double-page spread appearing in a print newspaper/newsmagazine. Submit a PDF file of the page or spread published during the current school year (after Aug. 1, 2021) through the BetterBNC award platform.

 

18. Yearbook Design

Single-page or double-page spread appearing in a print yearbook.  Submit a PDF file of the page or spread to be published in the 2022 yearbook through the BetterBNC award platform.

 

19. Photojournalism

News/feature photo appearing in print or online. Image should be from the current school year (after Aug. 1, 2021) Submit a file (JPG, TIF, PNG) along with a caption through the BetterBNC award platform.

 

20. Broadcast News Story

Demonstrates broadcast news-gathering and reporting skills. Produced and aired during the current school year (after Aug. 1, 2021). Submit a URL link through the BetterBNC award platform.

 

21. Broadcast Feature Story

Demonstrates broadcast human-interest storytelling and reporting skills. Produced and aired during the current school year (after Aug. 1, 2021). Submit a URL link through the BetterBNC award platform.

 

22. Social Justice Reporting

With a focus on equity and inclusion, news stories in this category are welcome from print, broadcast and online student media outlets. Submit a URL link for broadcast and online or a PDF file for print published during the current school year (after Aug. 1, 2021) through the BetterBNC award platform.