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Newspapers

Deadline Reporting

  — Non-Daily Publication
  — Daily Circulation of 1-50,000
  — Daily Circulation of 50,001-100,000
  — Daily Circulation of 100,001+

This award recognizes a reporter or team for deadline reporting of a single event. Entries must have been published in the issue that directly follows the event. Entry must be about a single breaking news event.

Entrants should submit a link to the online article or a PDF of the newspaper page on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the work will not be accepted.

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Non-Deadline Reporting

  — Non-Daily Publication
  — Daily Circulation of 1-50,000
  — Daily Circulation of 50,001-100,000
  — Daily Circulation of 100,001+

This award recognizes a reporter or team for non-deadline reporting of a single event or issue. Entry may be a single article or a series of no more than five articles.

Entrants should submit a link to the online article or a PDF of the newspaper page on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the work will not be accepted.

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Investigative Reporting

  — Non-Daily Publication
  — Daily Circulation of 1-50,000
  — Daily Circulation of 50,001-100,000
  — Daily Circulation of 100,001+

This award recognizes a reporter or team for investigative reporting of a single event or issue. Entry may be a single article or a series of no more than five articles.

Entrants should submit a link to the online article or a PDF of the newspaper page on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the work will not be accepted.

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Feature Reporting

  — Non-Daily Publication
  — Daily Circulation of 1-50,000
  — Daily Circulation of 50,001-100,000
  — Daily Circulation of 100,001+

This award recognizes a reporter or team for feature writing. Entry may be personality profiles, trend stories, human interest stories, or any feature that is not a breaking news story. Entries may be a single article or series of no more than five.

Entrants should submit a link to the online article or a PDF of the newspaper page on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the work will not be accepted.

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Editorial Writing

  — Daily Circulation of 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication
  — Daily Circulation of 100,001+

This award recognizes an editorial writer or team of writers. Entry may be one editorial or a series of no more than five on a single subject. Judges will consider whether the conclusion is logical, fair and of general importance to the community.

Entrants should submit links to the editorials online or PDFs of the newspaper page on which the editorials appeared. The dates of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the editorials will not be accepted.

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Washington Correspondence

This award recognizes a correspondent on assignment in Washington, D.C. Entry must consist of a minimum of three different stories demonstrating insightful coverage of significant events or issues. Five story limit. All platforms, including broadcast, are eligible.

For print/online entries, entrants should submit a link to the online articles or a PDF of the newspaper page on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the work will not be accepted. For video broadcast, entrants should upload the work to an online video site and submit the URL (preferred) or upload a file to the awards site. All video files must be one of the following formats: .wmv, .mov, .mpeg or .mp4. All audio-only files must be .mp3 (preferred), .wav or .aiff format.

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Foreign Correspondence

This award recognizes a correspondent on assignment outside the U.S. Entry must consist of a minimum of three different stories demonstrating insightful coverage of significant events or issues. Five story limit. All platforms, including broadcast, are eligible.

For print/online entries, entrants should submit a link to the online articles or a PDF of the newspaper page on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the work will not be accepted. For video broadcast, entrants should upload the work to an online video site and submit the URL (preferred) or upload a file to the awards site. All video files must be one of the following formats: .wmv, .mov, .mpeg or .mp4. All audio-only files must be .mp3 (preferred), .wav or .aiff format.

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General Column Writing

  — Daily Circulation of 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication
  — Daily Circulation of 100,001+

Entry must consist of five different columns.

Entrants should submit links to the columns online or PDFs of the newspaper page on which the columns appeared. The dates of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the columns will not be accepted.

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Sports Column Writing

  — Daily Circulation of 1-100,000/Non-Daily Publication
  — Daily Circulation of 100,001+

Entry must consist of five different columns.

Entrants should submit links to the columns online or PDFs of the newspaper page on which the columns appeared. The dates of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the columns will not be accepted.

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Public Service Journalism

  — Non-Daily Publication
  — Daily Circulation of 1-50,000
  — Daily Circulation of 50,001-100,000
  — Daily Circulation of 100,001+

This award recognizes a newspaper that renders public service through extensive coverage of an issue facing the community it serves. Entry may include a maximum of five articles.

Entrants should submit a link to the online articles or a PDF of the newspaper pages on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the work will not be accepted.

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Magazines

Magazine Writing

  — Regional/Local Circulation
  — National Circulation

This award recognizes the work of a magazine writer or team. Entry may be a single article or a series of no more than five articles on the same subject.

Entrants should submit a link to the online article or a PDF of the magazine page on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the article will not be accepted.

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Magazine Investigative Reporting

  — Regional/Local Circulation
  — National Circulation

This award is given to a magazine reporter or reporting team for investigative reporting. Entry may be a single article or a series of no more than five articles, including sidebars.

Entrants should submit a link to the online article or a PDF of the magazine page on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the article will not be accepted.

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Public Service in Magazine Journalism

  — Regional/Local Circulation
  — National Circulation

This award recognizes a magazine or reporter that renders public service through extensive coverage of an issue facing society. Entry may be a single article or a series of no more than five articles. Up to five pages of supporting materials — including editorials, commentaries and sidebars — may be included. (Trade magazines with general circulation, magazine sections of newspapers and Sunday newspaper supplements also should be entered in this category.)

Entrants should submit a link to the online article or a PDF of the magazine page on which the story appeared. The date of publication should be visible. Word documents containing the article will not be accepted.

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Art/Graphics

Breaking News Photography

  — Newspaper Circulation of 1-100,000/Regional Magazine/ Non-Daily Publication/Online Independent
  — Newspaper Circulation of 100,001+ or Affiliated Website/National Magazine

This award recognizes a photographer or team, either staff or freelance. Entry should be a single, compelling image of a breaking news event.

For photographs published in a newspaper or magazine or on an online news site.
Entrant should submit a PDF of the newspaper/magazine page on which the photo appeared, or a link to the photo published on an online news site. The date of publication should be visible.

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Feature Photography

  — Newspaper Circulation of 1-100,000/Regional Magazine/ Non-Daily Publication/Online Independent
  — Newspaper Circulation of 100,001+ or Affiliated Website/National Magazine

This award recognizes a photographer or team, either staff or freelance, for work featuring personality profiles, trends, human interest of any other feature that is not a breaking news story. Entry may be a single photo or a series of no more than three photos on a single subject.

Entrant should submit a PDF of the newspaper/magazine page on which the photo appeared, or a link to the photo published on an online news site. The date of publication should be visible.

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Sports Photography

  — Newspaper Circulation of 1-100,000/Regional Magazine/ Non-Daily Publication/Online Independent
  — Newspaper Circulation of 100,001+ or Affiliated Website/National Magazine

This award recognizes a photographer or team, either staff or freelance, for work featuring a sports event or sports figure. Entry should be a single photo. The photograph will be judged on technical excellence, newsworthiness and evidence that the photographer(s) exercised unusual diligence and ingenuity.

Entrant should submit a PDF of the newspaper/magazine page on which the photo appeared, or a link to the photo published on an online news site. The date of publication should be visible.

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Editorial Cartooning

  — Newspaper Circulation of 1-100,000/Regional Magazine/ Non-Daily Publication/Online Independent
  — Newspaper Circulation of 100,001+ or Affiliated Website/National Magazine

This award recognizes an editorial cartoon published in a newspaper, magazine, newsletter or online news site. They will be judged on craftsmanship, interest, forcefulness, general worth and originality.

Entrants should submit PDFs of five different cartoons on marked newspaper/magazine pages, or links to the cartoons published on an online news site. The date of publication should be visible.

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Informational Graphics

  — Newspaper Circulation of 1-100,000/Regional Magazine/ Non-Daily Publication/Online Independent
  — Newspaper Circulation of 100,001+ or Affiliated Website/National Magazine

This award recognizes newspaper, magazine, newsletter or online news site graphic artist or team for storytelling graphics that bring important information to readers about an event, process or set of statistics. Clarity, originality, impact and quality of execution will distinguish the work. Entry may be a single graphic or a related series of graphics on a single subject.

Entrant should submit a PDF of the marked newspaper/magazine page on which the graphic appeared, or a link to the graphic published on an online news site. The date of publication should be visible.

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Radio

Radio Breaking News Reporting

  — Large Market (1-100 or Network Syndication)
  — Small Market (101+)

This award recognizes resourceful and complete coverage of a major breaking news event, emphasizing both deadline reporting and continuing coverage as the story develops over succeeding days. Entries may include reports broadcast within 24 hours of the event. Maximum running time: 15 minutes. All audio files must be .mp3 (preferred), .wav or .aiff format. Audio in other formats will not be accepted.

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Radio Investigative Reporting

  — Large Market (1-100 or Network Syndication)
  — Small Market (101+)

This award recognizes a reporter or team for investigative reporting of a single event or issue. Entries may be a single broadcast or a series of no more than five parts. Maximum running time: 15 minutes. This category is for short reports; documentaries have a separate category. All audio files must be .mp3 (preferred), .wav or .aiff format. Audio in other formats will not be accepted.

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Radio Feature Reporting

  — Large Market (1-100 or Network Syndication)
  — Small Market (101+)

This award recognizes a reporter or team for features. Entry may be personality profiles, trend stories, human-interest stories or any feature that is not breaking news. Entries may be a single broadcast or series of no more than three parts. Maximum running time: 10 minutes. All audio files must be .mp3 (preferred), .wav or .aiff format. Audio in other formats will not be accepted.

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Radio Documentaries

  — Large Market (1-100 or Network Syndication)
  — Small Market (101+)

This award recognizes reporters and production teams that dramatically show or analyze a news event, issue or feature in a single broadcast. The broadcast may be part of a documentary series but must stand alone in telling its story. Maximum running time: 60 minutes. Documentary series themselves may be considered in the Public Service category, if applicable. All audio files must be .mp3 (preferred), .wav or .aiff format. Audio in other formats will not be accepted.

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Public Service in Radio Journalism

  — Large Market (1-100 or Network Syndication)
  — Small Market (101+)

This award recognizes a radio news organization (station, network or group) that renders public service through extensive coverage of an issue facing the community it serves. Reporting may be conducted by one reporter or a team. Entry may be a single broadcast or a series of no more than five parts. Entry may be a single broadcast or a series of no more than 30 minutes. All audio files must be .mp3 (preferred), .wav or .aiff format. Audio in other formats will not be accepted.

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Television

Television Breaking News Coverage

  — Network/Syndication Service/Program Service
  — Large-Market Station: 1-50 market
  — Small-Market Station: 50+ market

Each award recognizes resourceful and complete coverage of a major breaking news event, emphasizing both deadline reporting and continuing coverage as the story develops over succeeding days. Entries may include reports broadcast within 24 hours of the event. Maximum running time: 15 minutes.

Entrant should upload the work to an online video site and submit the URL (preferred), or upload a video file to the awards site. [50 MB file limit] All video files must be one of the following formats: .wmv, .mov, .mpeg or .mp4.

Video produced for original digital presentation (aired only online) should enter the Online Digital Video Category.

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Television Investigative Reporting

  — Network/Syndication Service/Program Service
  — Large-Market Station: 1-50 market
  — Small-Market Station: 50+ market

Each award recognizes a reporter or team for investigative reporting of a single event or issue. Entry may be a single broadcast or a series of no more than five parts. Maximum running time: 15 minutes. This category is for short reports; documentaries have a separate category.

Entrant should upload the work to an online video site and submit the URL (preferred), or upload a video file to the awards site. [50 MB file limit] All video files must be one of the following formats: .wmv, .mov, .mpeg or .mp4.

Video produced for original digital presentation (aired only online) should enter the Online Digital Video Category.

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Television Feature Reporting

  — Network/Syndication Service/Program Service
  — Large-Market Station: 1-50 market
  — Small-Market Station: 50+ market

Each award recognizes a reporter or team for features. Entry may be personality profiles, trend stories, human-interest stories or any feature that is not breaking news. Entry may be a single broadcast or series of no more than three parts. Maximum running time: 10 minutes.

Entrant should upload the work to an online video site and submit the URL (preferred), or upload a video file to the awards site. [50 MB file limit] All video files must be one of the following formats: .wmv, .mov, .mpeg or .mp4.

Video produced for original digital presentation (aired only online) should enter the Online Digital Video Category.

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Television Documentaries

  — Network/Syndication Service/Program Service
  — Large-Market Station: 1-50 market
  — Small-Market Station: 50+ market

Each award recognizes reporters and production teams that dramatically show or analyze a news event, issue or feature in a single telecast. The telecast may be part of a documentary series but must stand alone in telling its story. Maximum running time: 60 minutes. Documentary series themselves may be considered in the Public Service category, if applicable.

Entrant should upload the work to an online video site and submit the URL (preferred), or upload a video file to the awards site. [50 MB file limit] All video files must be one of the following formats: .wmv, .mov, .mpeg or .mp4.

Video produced for original digital presentation (aired only online) should enter the Online Digital Video Category.

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Public Service in Television Journalism

  — Network/Syndication Service/Program Service
  — Large-Market Station: 1-50 market
  — Small-Market Station: 50+ market

Each award recognizes a television news organization that renders public service through extensive coverage of an issue facing the community it serves. Reporting may be conducted by one reporter or a team. Entry may be a single broadcast or a series of no more than 30 minutes. Commercially sponsored programs are ineligible unless produced and controlled by the news organization.

Entrant should upload the work to an online video site and submit the URL (preferred), or upload a video file to the awards site. [50 MB file limit] All video files must be one of the following formats: .wmv, .mov, .mpeg or .mp4.

Video produced for original digital presentation (aired only online) should enter the Online Digital Video Category.

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Newsletters

Public Service in Newsletter Journalism

This award recognizes a newsletter that renders outstanding public services through extensive coverage of an issue facing the community it serves. Entry may be a single article or a series of no more than five articles. Editorials and commentaries may be added and will count toward the maximum of five pieces. (Entries are limited to independent newsletters that have been issued regularly for more than one year and are supported by advertising, paid subscriptions or non-profit institutions.)

Entrant should submit a PDF of the newsletter, or a link to the site where the newsletter is published online.

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Research

Research about Journalism

This award recognizes an investigative study about some aspect of journalism. The entry must be based on original research, either published or unpublished, and must have been completed during the 2017 calendar year. Entries may relate to any field of journalism. Judges will consider value to the profession, significance of the subject matter, thoroughness of the research, and soundness of the conclusion. All platforms, including broadcast, are eligible. Please submit three copies of each entry. For books, please highlight three sections for judges to review, totaling no more than 15,000 words. Judges may read more than those sections.

Entries must be mailed/shipped to SPJ headquarters. No electronic entries will be accepted in this category. Entrant MUST fill out entry form on the awards site, print out the confirmation form and include it with the entry. [How to print your confirmation form]

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Online

Online Deadline Reporting

  — Affiliated
  — Independent

This award recognizes a reporter or team for online deadline reporting of a single breaking news event. Entries must have been published on the website within 24 hours of the event. The date of publication should be visible.

Entries should consist of one main URL and up to five additional URLs to highlight specific features of the article or package. Entries that do not provide complete and accurate URLs will be disqualified. Entrants must keep their nominated entries intact and accessible until September 30, 2018.

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Online Non-Deadline Reporting

  — Affiliated
  — Independent

This award recognizes a reporter or team for online non-deadline reporting of a single event or issue. Entry may be a single article or series of no more than five articles and may include up to five pages of supporting materials. The date of publication should be visible.

Entries should consist of one main URL and up to five additional URLs to highlight specific features of the article or package. Entries that do not provide complete and accurate URLs will be disqualified. Entrants must keep their nominated entries intact and accessible until September 30, 2018.

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Online Investigative Reporting

  — Affiliated
  — Independent

This award recognizes a reporter or team for investigative reporting of a single event or issue. Entry may be a single article or series of no more than five articles and may include up to five pages of supporting materials. The date of publication should be visible.

Entries should consist of one main URL and up to five additional URLs to highlight specific features of the article or package. Entries that do not provide complete and accurate URLs will be disqualified. Entrants must keep their nominated entries intact and accessible until September 30, 2018.

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Online Column Writing

  — Affiliated
  — Independent

Entry must consist of five different columns.

Entrants should submit links to columns published on an online news site. The date of publication should be visible. Entries that do not provide complete and accurate URLs will be disqualified. Entrants must keep their nominated entries intact and accessible until September 30, 2018.

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Specialized Journalism Site

This award recognizes a journalism website that focuses on a single topic. Judges will consider content, ingenuity, interactivity and use of multimedia tools.

Each entry should consist of one URL. If affiliated, site should have an independent domain name. Entries that do not provide a complete and accurate URL will be disqualified. Entrants must keep their nominated entries intact and accessible until September 30, 2018.

Judging will take place February-April 2018. This category will be judged on content as presented during this time span.

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Digital Media Presentation

Digital Video: A breaking news, feature or investigative report created for original online presentation. Entries must be no more than 15 minutes long and may be edited for length.

Digital Audio: A breaking news, feature or investigative report created for original online presentation. Entries must be no more than 15 minutes long and may be edited for length.

Audio Slide Show: A multimedia presentation that combines still images and audio to tell a story. Entries may be on any topic.

Ebook: A breaking news, feature or investigative report published as an electronic book. Entries may be no more than 15,000 words. If the Ebook exceeds that length, please indicate which portions should be considered.

Judges will consider relevance of topic, content, ingenuity.

Entries should consist of one URL or one PDF. Entries that do not provide a complete and accurate URL will be disqualified. Entrants must keep their nominated entries intact and accessible until September 30, 2018.

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Public Service in Online Journalism

  — Affiliated
  — Independent

This award recognizes a news organization that renders a public service through extensive coverage of an issue facing the society. Commercially sponsored programs are ineligible unless produced and controlled by the news organization.

Entries should consist of one main URL and up to five additional URLs to highlight specific features of the article or package. Entries that do not provide complete and accurate URLs will be disqualified. Entrants must keep their nominated entries intact and accessible until September 30, 2018.

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For more information, contact SPJ headquarters via email.