2021 RULES

All professional and student journalists, including freelancers, residing in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas can submit entries or have entries submitted on their behalf by news organizations that published or broadcast their work. Work published or broadcast by outlets outside of the contest area is eligible for entry as long as the author resides in one of the contest sates.

You DON’T have to be a member of the Society of Professional Journalists to enter, but members get a discount on entry fees.

Entries may be submitted in more than one category, but a separate entry fee is required for each category.

Any significant challenges or corrections to an entry must be provided with the entry. If not noted, an entry will be disqualified.

A cover letter is generally not required, but if included, should be no more than one page.

Letters and supportive material are required only in conjunction with nominations for the Robert McCord FOI Award, Community Service Award, Outstanding New Journalist Award and Diamond Journalist of the Year Award.

Please ensure entry URLs remain valid through June 30, 2020, to accommodate judging.

Contest administrators reserve the right to combine entries in the same category from different platforms or circulation groups if an insufficient number of entries make the category non-competitive.

If you’re new to using the Better BNC entry platform, go here for instructions.

FEES

SPJ members: $10 per entry.

To claim the member fee, you must supply your personal SPJ member number (in the entry platform’s comments box). A team entry may claim the fee if at least one team member is an SPJ member. That person’s name and SPJ member number must be listed in the comments box.

Nonmembers: $20 per entry.

Student SPJ members: $5 per entry. Provide your member number.

Student nonmembers: $10 per entry.

No fees will be refunded.

Go here to submit payment for entries.

CONTEST CATEGORIES

PRINT/ONLINE

101.  BREAKING NEWS – DAILY — For excellence in clear and accurate reporting and engaging writing on deadline by individuals or teams. Judges will consider deadline pressure and complexity of subject. Submit up to three articles and any related multimedia content.
102. BREAKING NEWS – NON-DAILY — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
103. BREAKING NEWS – MAGAZINES — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
104. BREAKING NEWS – ONLINE ONLY — For online outlets not affiliated with a print publication. Same criteria as daily newspapers.
105. ONGOING COVERAGE – DAILY — For excellence in long-term coverage (three months or more) by individuals or teams of a topic or major event demonstrating solid reporting and presentation with complexity and perspective. Submit up to five stories along with any related multimedia content. Entries may include a mix of story types, e.g. breaking news, features and explanatory.
106.  ONGOING COVERAGE – NON-DAILY — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
107.  ONGOING COVERAGE – MAGAZINES — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
108. ONGOING COVERAGE – ONLINE ONLY — For online outlets not affiliated with a print publication. Same criteria as daily newspapers.
109. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING – DAILY — For excellence in reporting by individuals or teams that demonstrates initiative, persistence and resourcefulness in pursuing information that is restricted or not easily available and is of public interest and significance. Cover letter required, explaining reporting process and impact or results. Submit one story or a series and any related multimedia content. If entering a series, please submit no more than six stories.
110. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING – NON-DAILY — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
111.  INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING – MAGAZINES — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
112. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING – ONLINE ONLY — For online outlets not affiliated with a print publication. Same criteria as daily newspapers.
113.  EXPLANATORY REPORTING – DAILY — For excellence in reporting and writing that elucidate significant stories and complex situations, that deepen understanding of a subject or that focus on subjects covered minimally or not at all by most media. Submit one story or a series and any related multimedia content. If entering a series, please submit no more than six stories.
114. EXPLANATORY REPORTING– NON-DAILY — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
115. EXPLANATORY REPORTING – MAGAZINES — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
116. EXPLANATORY REPORTIONG – ONLINE ONLY — For online outlets not affiliated with a print publication. Same criteria as daily newspapers.
117.  FEATURES – DAILY — For individual writing excellence about people, places, events or interesting topics. Judges will consider use of narrative, use of humor or drama, style, creativity, clarity and suitability of the writing to the subject. Submit one story or series of no more than three parts and any related multimedia material.
118.  FEATURES – NON-DAILY — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
119.  FEATURES – MAGAZINES — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
120. FEATURES – ONLINE ONLY — For online outlets not affiliated with a print publication. Same criteria as daily newspapers.
121.  EDITORIALS – DAILY — For excellence in opinion writing that represents a news organization’s position on a topic or issue. Judges will consider importance to the community, writing style, reasoning, originality and reader interest. Submit three editorials on different topics or on the same topic as one entry.
122.  EDITORIALS – NON-DAILY — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
123.  EDITORIALS – MAGAZINES — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
124. EDITORIALS – ONLINE ONLY — For online outlets not affiliated with a print publication. Same criteria as daily newspapers.
125.  SPORTS – DAILY — For excellence in coverage of any sport or athletic endeavor. Judges will consider clarity and style. Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic.
126.  SPORTS – NON-DAILY — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
127.  SPORTS – MAGAZINES — Same criteria as daily newspapers.
128. SPORTS – ONLINE ONLY — For online outlets not affiliated with a print publication. Same criteria as daily newspapers.
129.  COMMENTARY – ALL PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in commentary or analysis by an individual. News-related blogs also are eligible. Judges will consider quality of expression, clarity and originality. Submit three samples as one entry.
130.  ARTS & CULTURE WRITING – ALL PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in writing incisively about art, music, movies, theater, dance, books, restaurants, architecture or other public performance. Entry may include reviews. Judges will consider quality of analysis and persuasiveness of arguments. Submit up to three samples and any related multimedia content.
131.  BUSINESS WRITING – ALL PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in coverage of business or finance by an individual or team. Submit up to five samples and any related multimedia content.
132.  EDUCATION REPORTING – ALL PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in coverage of education by an individual or team. Submit up to five samples and any related multimedia content.
133.  HEALTH, SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT WRITING – ALL PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in writing clearly about health, the environment and science, including technology. Submit up to five stories and related multimedia content. NOTE: Pandemic-related coverage can be submitted here or in Special Awards Category 185: Pandemic Coverage.
134.  POLITICS – ALL PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in coverage of public issues, political campaigns, candidates or campaign finance. Submit three stories as one entry.
135.  SPECIAL SECTION – ALL PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in publishing a special section devoted to a single topic or a niche publication. Judges will consider depth of coverage, presentation and quality of writing. Submit one section or publication.
136.  COMMUNITY JOURNALISM – ALL PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in focused coverage of a community or neighborhood. Submit no more than four news stories and related multimedia content.

VISUAL JOURNALISM – ALL MEDIA

137.  PHOTOGRAPHY – BREAKING NEWS — For excellence in photojournalism produced on deadline. Judges will consider deadline pressure, complexity of subject and visual presentation. Submit photos with cutlines from up to three stories, but no more than six images in all. Please include the accompanying story or link the story.
138.  PHOTO SPREAD/ESSAY — For excellence in a group of photographs on a single theme published as part of a single story or as a stand-alone layout. Submit no more than 10 images with cutlines and an explanation of the context or the accompanying story or text. Links are acceptable.
139.  PHOTO PORTFOLIO — For excellence in photography that shows the work of a single photographer. Submit no more than five photos with cutlines.
140.  DATA VISUALIZATION — For excellence in presenting complex information using graphics, maps and other data visualization and interactive tools. Submit up to three samples, including the associated stories or links to them online.
141.  GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS — For excellence in graphics presentations or illustrations in print or online. Submit three samples. Include any accompanying story or text.
142.  VIDEO JOURNALISM – BREAKING NEWS — For excellence in image-driven work that demonstrates clear, accurate and compelling video produced on deadline, with or without narration. Judges will consider deadline pressure and complexity. Submit video from up to three stories totaling no more than 15 minutes combined.
143.  VIDEO JOURNALISM – FEATURES — For excellence in artful storytelling. Submit one video of up to 15 minutes.
144.  VIDEO JOURNALISM – PORTFOLIO — For excellence in video journalism by an individual. Submit up to three samples with a maximum combined length of 30 minutes.

DESIGN – ALL MEDIA

145.   NEWSPAPER DESIGN — For excellence in presentation that significantly enhances access to journalistic work, audience experience and improves engagement. Submit up to three samples.
146. MAGAZINE DESIGN – Same criteria as newspapers.
147.   WEB/MOBILE DESIGN — Same criteria as newspapers.

BROADCAST

148.  PODCASTS — For excellence in reporting and journalistic storytelling that stand alone or are part of a series. Submit up to three episodes. Podcast entries may have also aired as radio broadcasts.
149.  BROADCAST BREAKING NEWS — For excellence in reporting within a single broadcast on television or radio produced on deadline. Judges will consider deadline pressures and complexity.  Submit one story per entry. Maximum story length: 5 minutes.
150.  BROADCAST FEATURE REPORTING — For excellence in reporting and journalistic storytelling on television or radio. Submit one story per entry. Maximum story length: 5 minutes.
151.  BROADCAST DOCUMENTARY/INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM — For excellence in in-depth reporting that demonstrates initiative, persistence and resourcefulness on television or radio. Cover letter required, explaining reporting process and impact or results. Submit a single piece or multiple pieces with a maximum combined run time of 30 minutes.
152.  BROADCAST POLITICAL COVERAGE — For excellence in coverage of public issues, political campaigns, candidates or campaign finances on television or radio. Submit no more than three stories as one entry with maximum run time of 10 minutes.
153. BROADCAST BUSINESS COVERAGE — For excellence in coverage of business or finance on television or radio. Submit no more than three stories as one entry with maximum run time of 10 minutes.
154. BROADCAST EDUCATION COVERAGE — For excellence in coverage of education on television or radio. Submit no more than three stories as one entry with a maximum run time of 10 minutes.
155. BROADCAST HEALTH/SCIENCE COVERAGE — For excellence in coverage of health or science on television or radio. Submit no more than three stories as one entry with a maximum run time of 10 minutes.

STUDENT JOURNALISM

156.  BREAKING NEWS – PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in clear and accurate reporting and engaging writing on deadline by individuals or teams. Judges will consider deadline pressure and complexity of subject. Submit up to three articles and any related multimedia content.
157.  BREAKING NEWS – BROADCAST — For excellence in reporting within a single TV or radio broadcast produced on deadline. Judges will consider deadline pressures and complexity.  Submit one story per entry. Maximum story length: 5 minutes.
158.  FEATURES – PRINT/ONLINE — For individual writing excellence about people, places, events or interesting topics. Judges will consider use of narrative, use of humor or drama, style, creativity, clarity and suitability of the writing to the subject. Submit one story or series of no more than three parts and any related multimedia material.
159.  FEATURES – BROADCAST — For excellence in reporting and journalistic storytelling in a TV or radio broadcast. Submit one story per entry. Maximum story length: 5 minutes.
160.  EDITORIALS – PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in opinion writing that represents a student publication’s position on a topic or issue. Judges will consider importance to the community, writing style, reasoning, originality and reader interest. Submit three editorials as one entry.
161.  EDITORIALS – BROADCAST — For excellence in opinion writing that represents a student news outlet’s position on a topic or issue. Judges will consider importance to the community, writing style, reasoning, originality and reader interest. Submit three editorials as one entry. Maximum combined run time: 5 minutes.
162.  SPORTS – PRINT/ONLINE — For excellence in coverage of any sport or athletic endeavor. Judges will consider clarity and style. Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic.
163.  SPORTS – BROADCAST — For excellence in coverage of any sport or athletic endeavor on TV or radio. Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic with a combined maximum length of 10 minutes.
164.  BUSINESS – PRINT/ONLINE/BROADCAST — For excellence in coverage of business or finance, including institutions of higher learning. Judges will consider clarity. Submit a single story or no more than three stories representing continuing coverage of a single topic. Maximum run time for video or audio: 5 minutes.
165.  COMMENTARY – PRINT/ONLINE/BROADCAST — For excellence in commentary or analysis by an individual. News-related blogs also are eligible. Judges will consider quality of expression, clarity and originality. Submit three samples as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 5 minutes.
166. EDUCATION — PRINT/ONLINE/BROADCAST — For excellence in coverage of education. Judges will consider clarity. Submit three samples as one entry. Maximum run time for video or audio: 5 minutes.
167.  PHOTOGRAPHY – NEWS — For excellence in photojournalism. Judges will consider deadline pressure, complexity of subject and visual presentation. Submit photos with cutlines from up to three stories. Please include the accompanying story or link the story.
168.  PHOTO SPREAD/ESSAY — For excellence in a group of photographs on a single theme published as part of a single story or as a stand-alone layout. Submit no more than 10 images with cutlines and an explanation of the context or the accompanying story or text. Links are acceptable.
169.  PHOTO PORTFOLIO — For excellence in photography that shows the work of a single photographer. Submit no more than five photos with cutlines.
170.  DATA VISUALIZATION — For excellence in presenting complex information using graphics, maps and other data visualization and interactive tools. Submit up to three samples, including the associated stories or links to them online.
171.  GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS — For excellence in graphics presentations or illustrations in print or online. Submit three samples. Include any accompanying story or text.
172.  VIDEO JOURNALISM – BREAKING NEWS — For excellence in image-driven work that demonstrates clear, accurate and compelling video produced on deadline, with or without narration, for TV or online. Judges will consider deadline pressure and production quality. Submit video from up to three stories of up to 10 minutes total.
173.  VIDEO JOURNALISM – FEATURE — For excellence in artful storytelling in video for TV or online. Submit one video of up to 15 minutes.
174.  AUDIO JOURNALISM – BREAKING NEWS — For excellence in clear, accurate and compelling reporting produced on deadline for radio or podcast. Judges will consider deadline pressure and production quality. Submit audio from up to three stories of up to 10 minutes total.
175. AUDIO JOURNALISM – FEATURE – For storytelling excellence for radio or podcast. Submit one story of up to 15 minutes.
176.  NEWSPAPER DESIGN — For excellence in presentation that significantly enhances access to journalistic work, audience experience and improves engagement. Submit up to three samples as one entry.
177. WEB/MOBILE DESIGN — For excellence in online or mobile presentation that significantly enhances access to journalistic work, audience experience and improves engagement. Submit up to three samples as one entry.
178.   PODCASTS — For excellence in reporting and journalistic storytelling across multiple episodes that stand alone or are part of a series. Submit up to three episodes. Podcast entries may have also aired as radio broadcasts.
179.  STUDENT SPECIAL PROJECTS — For excellence by individuals or groups of students for exemplary reporting, writing and/or photography/videography produced by all forms of student media. These should be student-generated and not part of an ongoing university-sponsored project. Submit up to three samples.

DIAMOND RECOGNITION – ALL MEDIA

180.  PUBLIC SERVICE — For excellence in journalism that seeks to improve conditions for the benefit of society through extensive coverage of an issue facing a community. Entry must include a nominating letter that provides background and context on the issue and results, if any. Judges will consider significance of the issue, journalistic initiative, presentation, and results. Submit stories, opinion pieces or a combination of both in an entry package containing no more than 10 items, plus the nominating letter.
181. OUTSTANDING NEW JOURNALIST — For journalistic excellence demonstrated by an individual who has worked five years or fewer in their market. The winner will be chosen based on a nominating letter and supporting documents. Submit a portfolio of three to five pieces by the nominee.
182.  DIAMOND JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR — For journalistic excellence by a journalist in any medium. Submit a portfolio of five to seven pieces by the nominee and a nominating letter from a ranking editor or producer.
183.  THE ROBERT F. MCCORD FOI AWARD — For excellence in coverage that focuses on the public’s right to know and that carries on the legacy of the late Robert McCord, a former national SPJ president who is considered the father of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.  Cover letter required in support of the nomination. Submit stories, opinion pieces, letters or other material that demonstrate how the nominee contributed to the protection or enhancement of the public’s right to know.
184.  PANDEMIC COVERAGE — For excellence in coverage of the novel coronavirus/covid-19 pandemic. Judges will consider depth of reporting, clarity of writing and ability of the journalists to go beyond the daily casualty numbers to convey humanity’s many facets in the face of a global crisis. Cover letter required. Submit up to 10 stories and any related multimedia content.