For Immediate Release:
11/3/08

Contact:
Lauren Rochester, Awards Coordinator, (317) 927-8000 ext. 210, lrochester@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists, the nation’s largest journalism-advocacy organization, is now accepting entries for the collegiate Mark of Excellence Awards.

Annually, the Society recognizes the best in student journalism in 39 categories, including print, radio, television and online. Entries are first judged on the regional level. Regional award winners will be recognized at SPJ’s spring conferences. First-place regional winners advance to the national competition. National winners will be honored at the 2009 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference in Indianapolis.

To be eligible, work must have been published or broadcast during the 2008 calendar year. All entries must be in English and postmarked by Jan. 21, 2009. Each submission must include a completed entry form, entry fee and other requested information. Student members of SPJ are eligible to enter the Mark of Excellence Awards for $9. The non-member fee is $18.

For more information on or to obtain an entry form, please visit SPJ's Mark of Excellence Awards page. Direct questions to Awards Coordinator Lauren Rochester at (317) 927-8000 ext. 210.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, and based in Indianapolis, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed public, works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists, and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

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