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 Fall National High School Journalism Convention. 

The Best of Show competition features two divisions —
Staff Recognition, submitted on site at the convention
Individual Recognition, submitted prior to the convention

To participate in Best of Show, students are required to attend the convention. For middle school/junior high, the adviser must be registered, but student attendees are not required.

Best of Show winners will be announced on site at the convention awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13.

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

 

Submission deadlines

Staff Recognition: A single copy of print publications must be turned in to the convention registration Best of Show desk by 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, for the following:
Newspaper/Newsmagazine
Magazine
Yearbook 

A URL link must be turned in online by 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, for the following:
Broadcast News Program
Website

Individual Recognition: Submit these entries by 5 p.m. CT Monday, Oct. 31, using the BetterBNC award platform. Technical assistance is available from BetterBNC on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT.

 

Payment

Best of Show entries are purchased as part of the convention’s online registration process. Convention registration closes at 6 p.m. CT Oct. 28.

The contest fee is $30 per entry for NSPA members and $45 per entry for nonmembers.

Unlimited entries may be purchased for the Individual Recognition categories. For the Staff Recognition categories, 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.

 

Broadcast News Program

Entries consist of a single broadcast news program. Enter the most recent broadcast. 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. Submit entries using these links:

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

Magazine

Submit the most recent magazine print issue, to the convention registration Best of Show desk by 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in one of two categories:
3. Literary arts magazine
4. 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.

Newspaper/Newsmagazine

Schools may enter one regular edition of their newspaper/newsmagazine. Enter one print copy of the most recent issue of the newspaper/newsmagazine, to the convention registration Best of Show desk by 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11.  Entries compete in one of five categories —
5. Newspaper (high school enrollment of less than 1,800)
6. Newspaper (high school enrollment of 1,800 or more)
7. Newsmagazine (high school enrollment of less than 1,800)
8. Newsmagazine (high school enrollment of 1,800 or more)
9. Newspaper/Newsmagazine (junior high/middle school)

Website

An online news website actively updated during the current school year, competing in one of three categories and submitted as a URL link.
10. Website (high school enrollment of less than 1,800)
11. Website (high school enrollment of 1,800 or more)
12. Website (junior high/middle school)

Yearbook

The 2022 yearbook should be entered. A print copy should be submitted to convention registration Best of Show desk by 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11.

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. 

Yearbooks will be available to the end of the Saturday, Nov. 13, awards ceremony for return. NSPA does not guarantee the return of your yearbook.

13. Yearbook (high school)
14. Yearbook (junior high/middle school)

 

 

Individual Recognition

Best of Show Individual Awards recognize specific student journalists for their achievement.
Submissions are now closed. Deadline was Oct. 31.