Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Newspaper/News Magazine

Includes newspapers, newsmagazines and magazine supplements published by newspapers.

N1. News writing
Submit an article that presents new information or a new angle on information past events. The story should have ample background information and context with a crisp lead and a well-written nut graph.

N2. In-depth news/feature story
Submit a detailed story with extensive research and several attributed sources designed to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

N3. Editorial writing
Submit an editorial written as a statement of opinion by the staff, not a personal op-ed column. Editorials should be neither bylined nor initialed (enter those opinion columns in categories #N4-N8).

N4. Personal opinion: On-campus issues
Submit either a regularly appearing column or a one-time opinion piece that expresses a viewpoint regarding any issue or incident that affects your campus community. Judged on quality of writing and amount of research and insight provided.

N5. Personal opinion: Off-campus issues
Submit either a regularly appearing column or a one-time opinion piece that expresses a viewpoint regarding any issue or trend that goes beyond your campus community, but how does it relate. Judged on quality of writing and amount of research and insight provided.

N6. General or humor commentary
Submit either a regularly appearing personal opinion column or a humorous column. Columns should be bylined by a single writer. Judged on quality of writing and the amount of research and insight provided. (Staff editorials should be entered in the editorial writing category #N3.)

N7. Sports commentary
Submit personal opinion sports writing modeled after regular columnists for daily professional media. Judged on quality of writing and amount of research and insight provided. (Sports features should be entered in category #N10.)

N8. First person experience
Submit either a regularly appearing column or a one-time opinion piece that describes a personal experience that shaped the viewpoint of the writer. Judged on quality of writing and insight provided. (Not for first person reporting of a news or sports event. Submit such stories in category #N1, #N2 or #N9.)

N9. Sports news
Submit an article that emphasizes timely action such as season summaries and game stories.

N10. Sports features. Submit an article that uses lively details to clarify sports issues, to provide entertainment and insight about sports, or to profile the personality of sports figures, coaches or team members. Also includes season previews.

N11. News feature
Submit an article that provides information supplementing a news story, usually by adding the human element behind a news event or by giving background through interpretation or explanation.

N12. Personality profile
Submit a feature story about an individual's life, interests or accomplishments.

N13. General feature
Submit an article that entertains through material that is interesting but not necessarily news oriented. Emphasis should be on rich detail and liberal use of quotes.

N14. Entertainment reviews
Submit an opinion piece that reviews movies, music, plays, concerts, books, exhibits, performances or other technical gadgets available to the public or to the student community.

N15. Headline writing
Submit one issue of your newspaper as an entry.

N16. Caption writing
Submit one issue of your newspaper as an entry.

N17. Briefs writing
Submit one issue that has at least three briefs. Maximum length of the story should be 200 words.

N18. Sidebar writing
Submit the sidebar along with the main article to show the relationship to the main story.

N19. Art/illustration: Hand-drawn black and white or black and white and one other color
Submit an original illustration that accompanies a news, sports or feature story (include the article as well). Judging is based on originality, ability to capture the content, tone or flavor of a story and artistic values. No photos, photo illustrations or information graphics should be entered in this category.

N20. Art/illustration: Hand-drawn two or more colors
Submit an original illustration that accompanies a news, sports or feature story (include the article as well). Judging is based on originality, ability to capture the content, tone or flavor of a story and artistic values. No photos, photo illustrations or information graphics should be entered in this category.

N21. Computer generated black and white or black and white and one other color art/illustration. Submit an original illustration that accompanies a news, sports or feature story (include the article as well). Judging is based on originality, ability to capture the content, tone or flavor of a story and artistic values. No photos, photo illustrations or information graphics should be entered in this category.

N22. Computer generated two or more colors art/illustration. Submit an original illustration that accompanies a news, sports or feature story (include the article as well). Judging is based on originality, ability to capture the content, tone or flavor of a story and artistic values. No photos, photo illustrations or information graphics should be entered in this category.

N23. Art/illustration: Portfolio of work
Submit three to six pieces of art/illustration by one artist. Judging is based on originality, ability to capture the content, tone or flavor of a story and artistic values. No photos, photo illustrations or information graphics should be entered in this category. (Counts as single entry.)

N24. Editorial Cartoons
Submit cartoon and caption to be judged on originality, appropriateness to subject matter, style and clarity. If cartoon relates to a printed editorial, enclose accompanying editorial.

N25. Sports Cartoons
Submit artwork and caption intended to either illustrate or comment on sports figures or events.

N26. Comic Cartoons
Submit humorous artwork and caption.

N27. Cartoon Portfolio of work
Submit three to six pieces by one artist. (Counts as single entry.)

N28. Black and White Photo story
Submit the full page, including the headlines, copy, photos and captions. The entry will be judged on the quality of photography, copy and layout.

N29. Color Photo story
Submit the full page, including the headlines, copy, photos and captions. The entry will be judged on the quality of photography, copy and layout.

N30. Single spot news photograph black and white
Submit a single photograph. Judged on impact, news value, technique, subject matter, on-the-spot timing, audience impact, and sharp print quality. No posed shots or portraits.

N31. Single spot news photograph color
Submit a single photograph. Judged on impact, news value, technique, subject matter, on-the-spot timing, audience impact, and sharp print quality. No posed shots or portraits.

N32. Single feature photograph black and white
Submit a single photograph. Judged on technique, impact, human interest with emphasis on people in their environment, good cropping, sharp print quality and its ability to convey a story. Photographs that have been altered by means of computer software should be entered in the photo illustration categories #N40-#N42.

N33. Single feature photograph color
Submit a single photograph. Judged on technique, impact, human interest with emphasis on people in their environment, good cropping, sharp print quality and its ability to convey a story. Photographs that have been altered by means of computer software should be entered in the photo illustration categories #N40-#N42.

N34. Single sports photograph black and whiteSubmit a single photograph. Judging is based on technique, sharp print quality, and the degree to which it captures the action and emotion of the sporting event.

N35. Single sports photograph colorSubmit a single photograph. Judging is based on technique, sharp print quality, and the degree to which it captures the action and emotion of the sporting event.

N36. Photography Portfolio of workSubmit three to six pieces by one photographer. (Counts as single entry.) No photo illustrations should be included.

Photo illustration
Judging is based on technique, ease of viewing the image and creativity.
N37. Single black and white image: Submit a single image.
N38. Single color image: Submit a single image.
N39. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one photographer. (Counts as single entry.)

Advertising photography
Judged on originality, effectiveness of communication and overall layout of student produced ads.
N40. Single advertisement colorSubmit a single photo advertisement.
N41. Single advertisement black and white
Submit a single photo advertisement.

Informational graphics
Charted information, lists, timelines, quote boxes, graphs, diagrams or maps using illustration or photography.
N42. Black and white or black and white with one other color.N46. Two or more colors.
N43. Portfolio of work: Submit up to three to six pieces by one artist. (Counts as single entry.)

Typography
N44. Overall look of the entire paper. Submit one issue for an entry.
N45. The look of one page. Submit one page as an entry.
N46. A designed or art headline. Submit the full page to show the use of the headline versus other design elements and the story(ies).

Overall design
Submit three COMPLETE issues tied together with a rubber band, do not mount. (Counts as one entry.) Judged on readability, design, make-up, originality, advertising display and overall balance and appearance. Printing quality will be considered.
N47. Tabloid format
N48. Broadsheet format
N49. Newsmagazine or magazine format

Page one design
Submit the complete front page of one issue.
N50. Tabloid format black and white
N51. Tabloid format color
N52. Broadsheet format black and white
N53. Broadsheet format color
N54. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N55. Newsmagazine or magazine format colorN60. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

News page design
Submit one complete news page. No front pages may be entered in this category. Pages included in this category should include inside pages with or without advertising.
N56. Tabloid format black and white
N57. Tabloid format color
N58. Broadsheet format black and white
N59. Broadsheet format color
N60. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N61. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N62. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Editorial page design
Submit one complete editorial page that includes a masthead.
N63. Tabloid format black and white
N64. Tabloid format color
N65. Broadsheet format black and white
N66. Broadsheet format color
N67. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N68. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N69. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Op-Ed or news analysis page design
These pages should not include a masthead but be stand-alone op-ed pages.
N70. Tabloid format black and white
N71. Tabloid format color
N72. Broadsheet format black and white
N73. Broadsheet format color
N74. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N75. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N76. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Feature page design
Submit one complete feature page.
N77. Tabloid format black and white
N78. Tabloid format color
N79. Broadsheet format black and white
N80. Broadsheet format color
N81. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N82. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N83. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Sports page design
Submit one complete sports page.
N84. Tabloid format black and white
N85. Tabloid format color
N86. Broadsheet format black and white
N87. Broadsheet format color
N88. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N89. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N90. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Photo layout
N91. Full page black and white: Submit one full page.
N92. Full page color: Submit one full page.
N93. Two or more pages black and white: Submit two or more pages.
N94. Two or more pages black and white: Submit two or more pages.
N95. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Advertising layout
Judged on originality, effectiveness of communication and overall layout of student produced ads.
N96. Single advertisement color: Submit a single advertisement.
N97. Single advertisement black and white: Submit a single advertisement.
N98. Advertising page color: Submit an entire advertising page.
N99. Advertising page black and white: Submit an entire advertising page.

Single subject news or feature package, single page.
Submit a single page of one or more stories on a single topic. Stories should analyze or interpret an issue through headlines, copy, photos and captions. The emphasis is on the scope, content, and quality of the reporting and editing. Results of opinion surveys may be included as one of the stories. Photos, information graphics and other art will be considered in judging the overall presentation, but spreads without them will also be considered without prejudice.
N100. Tabloid format black and white
N101. Tabloid format color
N102. Broadsheet format black and white
N103. Broadsheet format color
N104. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N105. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N106. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Single subject news or feature package, two pages, double-truck or special section Submit either a double-truck (two facing pages designed as a visual unit) or a special section (three or more pages) of one or more stories on a single topic. Stories should analyze or interpret an issue through headlines, copy, photos and captions.
N107. Tabloid format black and white
N108. Tabloid format color
N109. Broadsheet format black and white
N110. Broadsheet format color
N111. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N112. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N113. Portfolio of work: Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Magazine

Includes general interest, literary, literary-art, folk and other specialized magazines.

Original pages of the magazine must be provided.

VERBAL CATEGORIES
Poetry
M1. Open (free) form: Submit one free-form poem.
M2. Closed (traditional) form: Submit one traditional poem.

Fiction
M3. Experimental: Submit one piece of experimental fiction.
M4. Traditional: Submit one piece of traditional fiction.

Essays
M5. Submit one critical or personal essay.

Humor
M6. Submit one written piece that addresses a topical subject in a humorous or satirical manner.

Non-fiction
M7. Article
M8. Interview: Submit one feature story on any issue or person relevant to the local or campus community.
M9. Column. Submit one piece from a regular column on any issue relevant to the local or campus community.

Overall design
Submit one COMPLETE issue if publication is produced annually; submit two COMPLETE issues if publication is produced more than once a year.
M10. Literary Magazine
M11. Specialty Magazine
M12. General Interest Magazine

Cover design
Submit only the cover of one issue.
M13. Black and white.
M14. Spot color (black and white and one other color).
M15. Two or more colors.

Typography
Lettering, calligraphy or creative use of letterforms.
M16. Use of typography on one page or spread: Submit one page or spread.
M17. Use of a designed or art headline. Submit one page or spread.
M18. General use of typography throughout magazine: Submit one issue.

ILLUSTRATION
Submit entire page or spread with single illustration circled.

Single illustration not based on photographic material.
M19. Black and white
M20. Color

Single illustration rendering photographic material.
M21. Black and white
M22. Color

Single illustration that complements the content of the accompanying copy. Include copy to which the illustration refers and, indicate on the entry form.
M23. Black and white
M24. Color
M25. Portfolio: Submit six illustrations by the same person. (Counts as single entry.)

Cartoon
M26. Submit artwork and caption.

Photographs
Submit entire page or spread with single photograph circled.
M27. Black and white or black and white and one other color.
M28. Two or more colors.
M29. Single photograph that complements and illustrates the content of the accompanying copy. Include the copy to which the photo refers, and indicate on the entry form.
M30. Portfolio of work: Submit six photos by the same person. (Counts as single entry.)

Informational graphics
Charted information, lists, timelines, quote boxes, graphs, diagrams or maps using illustration or photography.
M31. Color
M32. Black and white
M33. Portfolio of work: Submit up to six pieces by one artist. (Counts as single entry.)

Page design
M34. Literary single spread (submit two facing pages).
M35. Literary Multi-page presentation (submit at least three of or more pages to show how the design is carried through).
M36. Literary portfolio: Submit six different pages or spreads by the same designer (Counts as a single entry).
M37. Special or general interest magazine single page design
M38. Special or general interest magazine single spread (submit two facing pages).
M39. Special or general interest magazine Multi-page presentation (submit at least three of or more pages to show how the design is carried through).
M40. Special or general interest magazine Portfolio: Submit six different spreads by the same designer (Counts as a single entry).

Yearbook

Original yearbook pages must be torn out of the yearbook per entry. DO NOT send one yearbook for all entires.

VERBAL CATEGORIES

Y1. Feature writing: Student Life
Submit a piece of feature writing and reporting on school/college and community from the student life section of the book. Topics can also include in-depth features and current events coverage.

Sports writing
Y2. Sports reporting. Submit copy that makes the reader feel that she/ he is reliving the season.

Y3. Sports feature writing. Submit copy that covers any topic that spotlights an unusual aspect of an event, a coach, a player or any controversy.

Y4. Academic writing
Submit any copy that features a department, a subject or unusual academic direction. Do not include personality profiles of a teacher or other staff member. Enter these in category #49.

Y5. Organization/Greek writing
Submit copy that gives the reader a fresh view of the organization or Greek society.

Y6. Personality profile
Submit copy featuring a teacher, staff member or student that makes the individual three-dimensional.

Y7. Writing basics
Sidebar
Submit any sidebar along with the main spread to show the relationship to the story and page.

Y8. Headline writing
Submit at least three spreads.

Y9. Caption/cutline writing
Submit at least three spreads.

Y10. Theme and concept
Entries will be judged on strength of the book's theme/concept presented throughout the entire book through the cover, opening spreads, divider spreads, closing spreads. Judging will take design and theme copy into consideration. Entries that include the entire book will be disqualified.

VISUAL CATEGORIES

Since this is a student competition, do not submit entries designed by a professional plant artist.

Design essentials
Y11. Cover design. This must be an original design and not a cover created by a design at your printing plant.
Y12. End sheets. Submit front and back end sheets. Do not submit printer's stock end sheets.
Y13. Title page. Submit one title page for an entry.
Y14. Table of contents. Submit one table of contents for an entry.

Sports action photo
Submit one well-cropped, in-focus photograph with excellent tonal quality.
Y15. Black and white
Y16. Color

Sports feature photo
Submit one well-cropped, in-focus photograph with excellent tonal quality.
Y17. Black and white
Y18. Color

Academic photo
Submit one photo that depicts students in a learning situation either in or out of class.
Y19. Black and white
Y20. Color

Feature photo
Submit one human-interest photo with emphasis on people in their environment. Posed shots and portraits are not acceptable.
Y21. Black and white
Y22. Color

Advertising photo
Y23. Black and white
Y24. Color

Photo portfolio
Y25. Submit three to six photos from the same photographer (photo illustrations should not be included) of any sports, academic, feature or advertising photo.

Photo illustration
Judging is based on technique, ease of viewing the image and creativity.
Y26. Single black and white image: Submit a single image.
Y27. Single color image: Submit a single image.

Feature presentation Submit an unusual feature from any section. Judged on subject selection, writing, photography and design.
Y28. Black and white
Y29. Color

Y30. Index
Submit the entire index. Judged on creative use of graphics, typography, screens, photographs and/or short features to enhance the presentation of the index.

Informational Graphics
Submit three charted information, lists, timelines, quote boxes, graphs, diagrams or maps using illustration or photography.
Y31. Color
Y32. Black and White
Y33. Portfolio (three to six pieces)

Opening and closing spread design
Submit all of the opening and closing spreads.
Y34. Black and white
Y35. Color

Division page design
Submit one set of all division pages in the yearbook.
Y36. Black and white
Y37. Color

Student Life spread
Topics can also include in-depth feature and current events coverage.
Y38. One spread Black and White
Y39. One spread Color
Y40. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Black and white
Y41. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Color

Sports spread
Y42. One spread Black and White
Y43. One spread Color
Y44. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Black and white
Y45. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Color

Academic spread
Y46. One spread Black and White
Y47. One spread Color
Y48. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Black and white
Y49. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Color

People spread Spreads that contain mug photos
Y50. One spread Black and White
Y51. One spread Color
Y52. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Black and white
Y53. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Color

People Spreads that do not contain mug
Y54. One spread Black and White
Y55. One spread Color
Y56. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Black and white
Y57. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Color

Advertising spread
All ads should be student produced.
Y58. Single ad page design Black and white
Y59. Single ad page design Color
Y60. Advertising spread design Black and white
Y61. Advertising spread design Color

Organization or Greeks spread
Emphasis on action photography and copy that tells a particular story of the organization/Greeks rather than focusing on general goals, purposes, aims, etc.
Y62. One spread Black and White
Y63. One spread Color
Y64. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Black and white
Y65. Multi-page presentation (three of more pages to cover a subject/topic) Color

Y66. Design portfolio
Submit three to six spreads by one designer. This counts as one entry.

Video

V1. Commercial
Submit an advertisement created for a school club or business outside of school.

V2. PSA
Submit a public service announcement promoting health or safety awareness.

V3. News Package
Submit a news event presenting new information on an angle on previously aired information or past events.

V4. Feature Package
Submit a feature story that contains material that is interesting but not necessarily news oriented. It may include personality profiles or entertainment reviews.

V5. Documentary
Submit issue-orientated coverage with emphasis on research, interviewing and analysis.

Online publications

Online news

W1 Breaking news. Story written within an hour of a developing news event on your campus for the newspaper or online .It needs to go beyond basic reporting to include context and background

W2. Secondary coverage. Stories, info graphics sidebars that demonstrate follow-up reporting to breaking news.

Multimedia
W4. Photos and audio slideshows

W5. Video. Material created for web output only.

W6. Podcast. Regularly produced podcast.

W7. News Online Design Web site. Submit a URL.

W8. News interactive graphic: Submit a URL.

W9. Design for a news digital edition: For downloadable publications, not Web sites. Enter a page or spread, on disk or printed out.

Online Magazine

W10. Magazine Online Design Web site. Submit a URL.

W11. Magazine Design Interactive Graphic: Submit a URL.

W12. Design for a magazine digital edition: For downloadable publications, not Web sites. Enter a page or spread, on disk or printed out.

W13. Multimedia presentation: A package containing video, audio or both. Submit a URL.

Online Yearbook design

W14. Overall Yearbook Web site. Submit a URL.

W15. Yearbook interactive graphic: Submit a URL.

W16. Best design for a digital edition: For downloadable publications, not Web sites. Enter a page or spread, on disk or printed out.

W17. Multimedia presentation: A package containing video, audio or both. Submit a URL.

Download forms

Click to download Gold Circle form for Middle Schools and High Schools.

Click to download Gold Circle form for Colleges and Universities.