NEWSPAPER CONTEST

Division 1 – published 3-or more times per week

Division 2 – published 1-2 times per week, enrollment in top half of entries (Weekly)
Division 3 – published 1-2 times per week, enrollment in lower half of entries (Weekly)
Division 4 – published bi-weekly with enrollment in top half of entries (Bi-Weekly)
Division 5 – published bi-weekly with enrollment in lower half of entries (Bi-Weekly)
OR published less than bi-weekly (regardless of enrollment)

(NOTE: Any college/university may elect to compete in a higher division but may not compete
in a lower division. If a college/university elects to compete in a higher division, an affidavit
stating which division the newspaper wishes to compete and signed by the adviser must
accompany the entries.)

Articles and photos that appeared as part of online editions MAY be entered in the Previously
Published contest. (Note: The same version of a story should not be entered in both Online and
a previously published category.)

See Submission Guidelines for this contest

Please  include  a  complete  Entry  Log  for  this  contest.  

Categories

1. News Story – Single article that presents spots news, new information, or a new angle on
already-published information or past event. An objective story that represents relevance,
usefulness and interest.

2. Editorial – Editorial written as a statement of opinion of the publication, not a personal

opinion. Editorials should be neither bylined nor initialed and must be clearly labeled as
the newspaper’s opinion.

3. News Feature Story – A single article that provides information supplementing a news
story, often by adding the human element behind a news event or by giving background
through interpretation or explanation.

4. Feature Story – A single article that has a human interest value. An article entered in
this category may not also be entered in the Sports Feature category.

5. In-Depth Reporting – Story or stories that demonstrate extensive research and several
attributed sources designed to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of a subject
in any area: news, feature, sports. May have been published in a single issue of the
newspaper or as a series of a minimum of three articles appearing in separate issues. If
the articles were published in separate issues of the newspaper, they must be clearly
identified as part of a series in each publication.

6. General Column – A bylined column or Blog entry by a single writer. Topic may be
personal opinion, general or humor and must be clearly labeled as commentary. Judged
on quality of writing, development of theme and insight provided. Sports columns may
not be entered in this category. One article by one writer equals one entry.
7. Sports Column – A bylined column or Blog entry about a topic related to sports and
clearly labeled as commentary. One article by one writer equals one entry.

8. Critical Review – Opinion piece that reviews movie, music, play, concert, book, exhibit,
performance or other creative work available to the student community. Must be bylined
by one person and labeled as commentary. One review by one writer equals one entry.

9. Sports News Story – One article that emphasizes timely action (such as game stories).
(Articles reporting major developments within a college’s athletics programs, e.g., hiring
or firing of personnel, would be entered in the News Writing category, not this category.)

10. Sports Feature Story – A single article that uses lively details to clarify sports issues, to
provide entertainment and insight about sports or to profile a sports personality. An
article entered in this category may not also be entered in another category.

11. News Photo – Single photo of a newsworthy event. Priority in judging will be given to
“spot news” (photo of an event that is unplanned and immediate); outstanding
achievement in “general news” photos (coverage of events that were planned in advance)
also may be entered in this category. Will be judged on impact, news value and
information provided by the photo, technique, subject matter, on-the-spot timing,
resourcefulness of the photographer, audience impact and sharp print quality. No posed
shots or portraits may be entered in this category.

12. Feature Photo – Single photo printed in any section of the newspaper on any subject
other than sports. A picture of a “found” situation that features strong human interest, or a
fresh view on an everyday scene. May not be posed or digitally manipulated. Judged on
technique, impact, human interest with emphasis on people in their environment, good
composition, sharp print quality and the photo’s ability to convey a story.

13. Sports Feature Photo – Single photo with sports element. A picture of a “found”
situation that features strong human interest, or a fresh view on an everyday scene. May
not be posed or digitally manipulated. Judged on technique, impact, human interest with
emphasis on people in their environment, good composition, sharp print quality and the
photo’s ability to convey a story.

14. Sports Action Photo – Photo that captures the action of a sports event or activity.
Judging based on technique, sharp print quality and the degree to which the photo
captures the action and emotion of the sporting event. No posed shots may be entered in
this category.

15. Picture Story – A group of 3 or more photographs that tells a story with minimal text.
Judging will include the full page, including photos and captions, design, copy and
headlines. May either be photos that express an idea or a concept, or documentary photo-
journalism shot in real time. Although photos accompanied by text will be eligible, this
category will be judged primarily on the strength of the photographs. Photos that have
been manipulated or digitally altered are not eligible. An entry consists of a single
picture story by one or multiple photographers. Entry should include all names of
photographer(s) and designer(s) involved with entry. If submitting Online photos, entry
will include Web address/URL of the piece being submitted for judging. Individual
segments in this category may be entered in any other TIPA contest category.
16. Page One Design – Judged on visual appeal, news judgment and presentation. The
complete front page of one issue constitutes one entry. Name(s) of designer(s) should be
included with entry.

17. Single Subject Presentation Design – Single page or double-truck containing one or
more stories on a single topic. May be any subject: news, features, sports, etc. An entry in
this category also may be entered in a “content” category – In-Depth Reporting, for
example – but may not be entered in another design category. Name(s) of designer(s)
should be included with entry.

18. Feature Page Design – Entry may be either one complete feature page or double-truck
on any feature-type topic: general interest feature, entertainment, lifestyles, etc. Cannot
be a photo page. Name(s) of designer(s) should be included with entry.

19. Sports Page Design –Judging will be based on visual appeal, news judgment and
presentation. The complete sports page of one issue constitutes one entry. Name(s) of
designer(s) should be included with entry.

20. Opinion/Editorial Page Design – The complete opinion page of one issue constitutes
one entry. Judging will be based on visual appeal, news judgment and presentation.
Name(s) of designer(s) should be included with entry.

21. Ad Design – An individual advertisement for one advertiser designed by student(s),

judged on originality, effectiveness of communication and overall design.

22. Headline – One individual headline with story. May be from any section of the
newspaper. Name of student(s) who wrote the headline should be included with the entry.

23. Editorial Cartoon – Cartoon that expresses an opinion about a news personality, event
or issue. Judged on originality, appropriateness to subject matter, style, clarity and artistic
quality. If cartoon relates to a printed editorial or column, include it with the entry.
(Cartoon-style illustrations that are not editorial cartoons should be entered in the
“Illustration” category.)

24. Illustration (Non-Photographic) – A drawing or illustration (hand-drawn or computer-

generated) that accompanies and complements works of text.

25. Photo Illustration – An illustration based on photographic images that have been posed
and/or digitally created, altered or manipulated. Includes environmental portraits and
other posed photographs as well as images that have been digitally created or altered in
any way. (A photo illustration entered in this category may not be entered in any other
category.)

26. Information Graphic – A computer-generated or freehand image that supplies useful

information that may accompany and complement works of text. Interprets information,
facts and figures visually (lists, timelines, quote boxes, graphs, diagrams, maps, etc.) and
may utilize illustration and/or photography.

27. Special Edition or Section – Edition or Section different from the regularly published
newspaper. Must be staff produced. Each newspaper may have only one entry in this
 category. Entry should be the complete printed section or edition.

28. Overall Excellence – An entry consists of three issues of the newspaper. The issues must
be consecutive. An affidavit from the adviser must be included with the entries verifying
to judges that the entry is three consecutive issues and that the issues entered were
student-produced. Each school may have only one entry in this category. Entry consists
of printed issues.