Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Membership Form

CSPA requires a completed Membership Form from every publication and website entering our contests. The three-page form is available on our website as a fillable PDF; follow the link on this page for more information.

Hard copy publication / Digital site submissions

News media can be critiqued as print only, digital only or as a hybrid (print/digital).

HYBRID = Print publication that provides live coverage via website between print editions. Can include expanded content for stories already covered in print. Could also include updates or completely new coverage via website.

DIGITAL = Online news reporting only; no print component.  If a print edition co-exists with the digital news site, then it’s a hybrid publication.

PRINT = News reporting in print only; no digital (online) component.  If a digital edition co-exists with the print component, then it’s a hybrid publication.

Print Newspapers/Newsmagazines (High School/Middle School)
Regular Members: Two (2) sets of six (6) issues from the 2011-2012 academic year.
Associate Members: One (1) set of six (6) issues from the 2011-2012 academic year.

Print Newspapers/Newsmagazines (College/University)
Please note: Fall and Spring semesters must enter as two separate memberships; fees assessed accordingly.

Regular Members: Two (2) sets of ten (10) issues from either/both Fall 2011 Spring 2012 semesters.
Associate Members: One (1) set of ten (10) issues from either/both Fall 2011 Spring 2012 semesters.

(If fewer issues were published than the number suggested, send a copy of every issue published.)

A note about digital sites: To be critiqued/evaluated as a digital media publication and/or hybrid, your website must include material adding web features. Sites offering only PDFs of the existing print publications do not qualify for online news site critique consideration.

Digital
Regular & Associate Members: Be sure to include your site's URL when completing your Membership Form.

Hybrid
Regular & Associate Members: Be sure to include your site's URL when completing your Membership Form as well as:
For High School/Middle Schools
Regular Members: Two (2) sets of six (6) issues from the 2011-2012 academic year.
Associate Members: One (1) set of six (6) issues from the 2011-2012 academic year. 
For Colleges/Universities
Regular Members: Two (2) sets of ten (10) issues from either/both Fall 2011 Spring 2012 semesters.
Associate Members: One (1) set of ten (10) issues from either/both Fall 2011 Spring 2012 semesters.

Magazines
Regular Members: Two (2) copies of the 2011-2012 issue.
Associate Members: One (1) copy of the 2011-2012 issue.

Yearbooks
Regular Members: Two (2) copies of the 2011-2012 edition.
Associate Members: One (1) copy of the 2011-2012 edition.

What to include in your package

For Basic Members:
Please include a signed hard copy of your membership form and your payment. You can also include your completed, assembled Gold Circle entries as well.

For Associate & Regular Members:
Please include a signed hard copy of your membership form, your payment and the appropriate number of publications (see above). Clearly mark each publication (with a Post-it note, for example) as the Crown entry and/or Critique entry. You can also include your completed, assembled Gold Circle entries as well.

Payment

CSPA accepts checks payable in U.S. funds payable drawn on a U.S. bank. Checks should be payable to Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

CSPA does not accept credit cards at this time.

Where to send your entries

To send your entries via US Mail, please use the following address:

CSPA
Columbia University
Mail Code 5711
New York, NY 10027

To send your entries via FedEx/UPS, please use the following address:

CSPA
90 Morningside Drive
Basement
New York, NY 10027

CSPA Membership

Membership Overview

Membership Types Available

Professional Membership

What to submit

Membership FAQ

Membership Form

Click on the PDF icon to access the fillable CSPA 2011-2012 Membership Form.

Click on the PDF icon to download information about CSPA membership and FAQs.