Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Newspaper/News Magazine

Includes newspapers, newsmagazines and magazine supplements published by newspapers.

VERBAL CATEGORIES
N1. News writing
Submit an article that presents new information or a new angle on information about 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. 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.

VISUAL CATEGORIES
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 #N37, N38 or N39.
    
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 #N37, N38 or N39.
    
N34. Single sports photograph black and white
Submit 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 color
Submit 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 work
Submit 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. If more than one person, clearly identify on the form the photographer and illustrator.
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 same creator(s). (Counts as single entry.)

Advertising photography
Judged on originality, effectiveness of communication and overall layout of student produced ads.
N40. Single advertisement color
Submit 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
N43. Two or more colors
N44. Portfolio of work
Submit up to three to six pieces by one artist. (Counts as single entry.)

Typography
N45. Overall look of the entire paper
Submit one issue for an entry.
N46. The look of one page
Submit one page as an entry.
N47. A designed or art headline
Submit the full page to show the use of the headline.

Overall design
Submit three COMPLETE issues. Judged on readability, design, originality, advertising display, and appearance. (Counts as one entry.)
N48. Tabloid format
N49. Broadsheet format
N50. Newsmagazine or magazine format

Page one design
Submit the complete front page of one issue.
N51. Tabloid format black and white
N52. Tabloid format color
N53. Broadsheet format black and white
N54. Broadsheet format color
N55. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N56. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N57. 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.
N58. Tabloid format black and white
N59. Tabloid format color
N60. Broadsheet format black and white
N61. Broadsheet format color
N62. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N63. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N64. 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.
N65. Tabloid format black and white
N66. Tabloid format color
N67. Broadsheet format black and white
N68. Broadsheet format color
N69. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N70. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N71. 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.
N72. Tabloid format black and white
N73. Tabloid format color
N74. Broadsheet format black and white
N75. Broadsheet format color
N76. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N77. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N78. Portfolio of work:
Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Feature page design
Submit one complete feature page.
N79. Tabloid format black and white
N80. Tabloid format color
N81. Broadsheet format black and white
N82. Broadsheet format color
N83. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N84. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N85. Portfolio of work
Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Sports page design
Submit one complete sports page.
N86. Tabloid format black and white
N87. Tabloid format color
N88. Broadsheet format black and white
N89. Broadsheet format color
N90. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N91. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N92. Portfolio of work
Submit three to six pieces by one page designer. (Counts as single entry.)

Photo layout
N93. Full page black and white
Submit one full page.
N94. Full page color
Submit one full page.
N95. Two or more pages black and white
Submit two or more pages.
N96. Two or more pages color
Submit two or more pages.
N97. 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.
N98. Single advertisement color
Submit a single advertisement.
N99. Single advertisement black and white
Submit a single advertisement.
N100. Advertising page color
Submit an entire advertising page.
N101. 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.
N102. Tabloid format black and white
N103. Tabloid format color
N104. Broadsheet format black and white
N105. Broadsheet format color
N106. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N107. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N108. 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.
N109. Tabloid format black and white
N110. Tabloid format color
N111. Broadsheet format black and white
N112. Broadsheet format color
N113. Newsmagazine or magazine format black and white
N114. Newsmagazine or magazine format color
N115. 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.

M5. Essays
Submit one critical or personal essay.

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

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

VISUAL CATEGORIES
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
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 three to six illustrations by the same person. (Counts as single entry.)

M26. Cartoon
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 three to 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 three 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 or more pages to show how the design is carried through).
M36. Literary portfolio
Submit three to 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 or more pages to show how the design is carried through).
M40. Special or general interest magazine Portfolio
Submit three to 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. All Yearbooks are eligible to enter all categories regardless of whether the book follows a sectional or chronological ladder.

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.

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 #Y6.

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.

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

Y8. Headline writing
Submit three spreads with headlines.

Y9. Caption/cutline writing
Submit three spreads with captions.

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.

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

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. Sports action black and white photo
Y16. Sports action color photo

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

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

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

Advertising photo
Submit one photo with emphasis on selling a product or service.
Y23. Advertising photo black and white
Y24. Advertising photo color

Y25. Photo portfolio
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. If more than one person, clearly identify on the form the photographer and illustrator.
Y26. Photo illustration single black and white image
Submit a single image.
Y27. Photo illustration 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. Feature presentation black and white
Y29. Feature presentation color

Y30. Index
Submit the entire index. Judged on creative presentation of the index.

Informational Graphics
Includes charted information, lists, timelines, quote boxes, graphs, diagrams or maps using illustration or photography.
Y31. Informational graphics color
Y32. Informational graphics black and white
Y33. Portfolio (three to six pieces)

Opening and closing spread design
Submit all of the opening and closing spreads.
Y34. Opening and closing spread design black and white
Y35. Opening and closing spread design color

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

Student Life spread
Topics can include in-depth feature or current events coverage.
Y38. Student life spread one spread black and white
Y39. Student life spread one spread color
Y40. Student life spread multi-page presentation black and white
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)
Y41. Student life spread multi-page presentation color
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)

Sports spread
Y42. Sports page one spread black and white
Y43. Sports page one spread color
Y44. Sports page multi-page presentation black and white (three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)
Y45. Multi-page presentation color
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)

Academic spread
Y46. Academic spread one spread black and white
Y47. Academic spread one spread color
Y48. Academic spread multi-page presentation black and white
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)
Y49. Academic spread multi-page presentation color
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)

People spread with mug photos
Y50. People spread with mug photos one spread black and white
Y51. People spread with mug photos one spread color
Y52. People spread with mug photos multi-page presentation black and white
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)
Y53. People spread with mug photos multi-page presentation color
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)

People spreads without mug photos
Y54. People spreads without mug photos one spread black and white
Y55. People spreads without mug photos one spread color
Y56. People spreads without mug photos multi-page presentation black and white
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)
Y57. People spreads without mug photos multi-page presentation color
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)

Advertising spread
All ads should be student produced.
Y58. Advertising single ad page design black and white
Y59. Advertising 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. Organization or Greeks spread one spread black and white
Y63. Organization or Greeks spread one spread color
Y64. Organization or Greeks spread multi-page presentation black and white
(three of more pages to cover a subject/topic)
Y65. Organization or Greeks spread multi-page presentation color
(three or more pages to cover a subject/topic)

Y66. Design portfolio
Submit three to six spreads by one designer from any part of the book. 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-oriented coverage with emphasis on research, interviewing and analysis.

Online media

Online News
W1. Breaking news
Story written within twelve hours of a developing news event on your campus. 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.

W4. Photos and audio slideshows
A slideshow with photos accompanied by audio of interviews or relevant sounds.

W5. Video
Material created for web output only.

W6. Podcast
Student produced podcast created by online staff.

W7. News Online Design Web site
Submit a URL of the home page of your newspaper front page.

W8. News interactive graphic
Submit a URL of the page of an interactive graphic that allows your reader to navigate through the graphic and receive information.

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 of the home page of your magazine front page.

W11. Magazine Design Interactive Graphic
Submit a URL of the page of an interactive graphic that allows your reader to navigate through the graphic and receive information.

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
W14. Yearbook Overall Design Web site
Submit a URL of the home page of your yearbook front page.

W15. Yearbook interactive graphic
Submit a URL of the page of an interactive graphic that allows your reader to navigate through the graphic and receive information.

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 on the PDF icon to download Gold Circle for Newspaper and Magazines form as a PDF file. Deadline is June 15, 2009.

Click on the PDF icon to download Gold Circle for Yearbooks, Video and Online Media form as a PDF file. Deadline is October 30, 2009.