Spring Competitions
2025-26 General Excellence Critique and Competition Entry period — Dec. 1 - Feb. 1
IMPORTANT: ALL REQUIRED FORMS WILL BE SUBMITTED VIA ONLINE FORMS.
SUBMIT A GENERAL EXCELLENCE PUBLICATION ENTRY HERE
On Dec. 1, 2025, GSPA will begin accepting entries for newspaper, newsmagazine, news websites, and broadcasting published between Feb. 1, 2026 and Feb. 1, 2026. All entries must be be submitted by Feb. 1, 2026.
Please note GSPA membership is required to enter all GSPA competitions.
ENTRY GUIDELINES:
1. Fill out an entry form and submit payment for each publication type.
2. Submit the following:
Newspaper and Newsmagazine- Mail TWO COPIES EACH of your best two issues to GSPA, 120 Hooper St. Journalism 211A, Athens, GA 30602. Please do not mail checks to the College. See #4 below. Digital versions may be emailed to gspa@uga.edu.
News Websites and Broadcasts - Provide links to publications on the entry form.
3. It is optional, but recommended, that the adviser or EIC submit a letter (no more than one-page in length) outlining for the judges any challenges the staff faced or elements that the staff wishes to highlight as their publication is reviewed. This can be mailed along with newspapers or newsmagazines, or emailed to gspa@uga.edu for broadcasts and news websites.
4. The contest fee is $40 per entry. IMPORTANT: If planning to pay by check, please first email gspa@uga.edu to request an invoice. Please do not mail checks directly to the College, as our payment processing system has changed. Or, payments can be made online.
No refunds of GSPA contest entry fees will be given for any reason after the entries have been received by the GSPA office. See full refund policy.
Individual Awards - Broadcast, Newspaper, Newsmagazine and Newspaper
GSPA offers Individual Awards to recognize outstanding student work in journalism. Work published in newspapers, newsmagazines, news websites and video broadcasts may be entered in the spring competition, while yearbook and literary magazine entries are accepted in the summer.
SUBMIT AN INDIVIDUAL AWARD ENTRY HERE
Individual categories are designed to recognize outstanding achievement by individual staff members. The best entry deemed by judges will be recognized as All-Georgia. Other top entries will be designated Superior. Please note the descriptions and outlines for all categories. Some categories require the submission of more than one piece of work. All entries will be reviewed for accuracy, completeness, fairness, creativity, clarity, precision and appropriate form.
Fill out a separate entry form for each individual entry in a newspaper, newsmagazine, news website or video broadcast. Each individual entry is $2.
Entries must be published between Feb. 1, 2025 and Feb. 1, 2026 (one calendar year). ALL REQUIRED FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE. Limit of three entries per category, per staff. We will not accept multiple entries from one individual in the same category.
Be sure to carefully read and follow all instructions on the entry form in order for your submissions to be valid entries.
BROADCAST
For the following categories, please submit the entry url link on the submission form. Include only the individual entry on the recording (not the entire show).
B1. News Package One news story (versus sports coverage or feature stories) produced by a broadcast student may be submitted. Entries will be judged on news value, reporting/writing and format.
B2. In-depth News/Documentary This category is for documentary-style packages with emphasis on research, interviewing and analysis.
B3. Feature Package Acceptable feature package types include human interest, descriptive, personality profiles, informative and how-to stories.
B4. Production This category includes non-news pieces that are heavy in production qualities. Acceptable entries include music videos, mini-movies, TV shows or PSAs.
B5. Sports Package This category can include both broadcast sports news and sports feature packages.
B6. Podcast/Audio-only story A story that has audio but not a video component.
SPECIAL (Broadcast, newspaper, newsmagazine or news website entries permitted.)
S1. Social Justice Reporting This special category highlights outstanding coverage of social justice issues.
S2. Health/Medical Reporting This special category recognizes exemplary coverage of all news related to health and medical issues.
S3. Environmental Reporting - This special category acknowledges exceptional coverage of all news related to climate, natural, and environmental issues as it relates to the school community or public.
NEWSPAPER/NEWSMAGAZINE/NEWS WEBSITE
6. News Story News stories should report but not interpret events that have news value and timeliness to the publication’s readers. This category includes advance and follow-up stories.
7. In-depth News Story Stories should be in-depth and interpretive, characterized by the use of background information and should inform or instruct the reader. The elements “why” and “how” should be examined. Stories may lack the timeliness of news stories and may lack dependence on a specific news event.
8. Feature Story Acceptable feature story types include human interest, descriptive, in-formative and how-to stories. Please note the separate category for profiles (below).
9. Feature Profile Feature stories focusing on one individual’s life, accomplishments, story, etc.
10. Column Writing Columns must carry bylines or other writer identification and appear in every issue or on a regular basis. A series of columns throughout the year in one PDF is considered one entry. All columns (entertainment, humor, etc. that are not sports columns or editorial commentary (see below) may be entered in this category.
11. Opposing Viewpoints Column Opposing Viewpoints Columns represent the opinions of two writers on a singular topic. Exactly two columns by a single writer qualify as one entry. Single column entries will not be accepted.
12. House Editorials House editorials should represent the opinion of the staff, editors or editorial board on a timely news matter of concern to the school, community, state, nation or world.
13. Commentary (Op-Ed Columns) Commentary, or op-ed columns, should represent the opinion of the writer on a timely news matter of concern to the school, community, state, nation or world. Commentary should be bylined or otherwise identified as being the opinion of a particular writer(s).
14. Critical Review Reviews should present opinions, observations and evaluations of films, books, television programs, recordings, concerts, plays, restaurants and other things of interest to the paper’s market.
15. Sports News Story Sports news stories should report but not interpret events that have news value and timeliness to the publication’s readers. This category includes advance and follow-up stories. Please note separate category for sports game coverage.
16. Sports Game Coverage On-the-spot coverage of a single sports event (i.e., game, match or meet) or tournament.
17. Sports Feature Story Stories may include human interest, personality profiles, informative and interpretative (“why”) features related to sports topics.
18. Sports Column Column must be related to sports about a sports-related issue and carry the author’s byline.
19. Headline Writing Headlines should accurately reflect the content of stories without repeating the lead, and should draw readers into the story. Please include the articles for which the entries serve as headlines. Submit at least three headlines written by same student. Please include the articles.
20. Caption Writing Captions should contain sufficient information about the people and action in the photograph, without stating the obvious. Please include the photographs. Submit captions for three photographs, all written by the same student.
21. Editorial Cartoon Original artwork serving as news commentary. Each editorial cartoon counts as a separate entry.
22. Sports Photograph A peak action or reaction image that captures the excitement and tension of athletic competition.
23. News Photograph A candid (non-posed) image of a breaking news event or documentary coverage of an ongoing issue that informs an audience.
24. Feature/Entertainment Photograph A candid (non-posed) image from an event or on-going narrative that explores the arts, culture or non-breaking news issues.
25. Photo Essay A collection of images that, when taken as a whole, deliver an in-depth visual understanding of an event or issue. Images should be predominantly candid moments with each photograph advancing the overall story. Compositional variety, mo-ments and the sequencing of the images will factor into the judging. Submit the full page, including the headlines, copy, photos and captions along with the original photographs. The entry will be judged on the quality of the photographs, copy and layout. Please include the names of all students who worked on the photo essay.
26. Information Graphic This category includes artwork or information graphics used to enhance any news, feature or sports article.
27. Illustration This category is for hand-generated artwork created by a single student. Non-editorial cartoons from newspapers are accepted in this category. Illustrations that are part of information graphics should not be entered.
28. Photo Illustration Images that have been controlled or enhanced for the purpose of illustrating a narrative. Portraits, composites and other alterations are allowed.
29. Double-truck layout/design Centerspread layouts will be judged on content, design, originality and overall use of space.
30. Advertising Design This category includes student-designed and student-written advertisements. Judging will be based on originality, creativity, design, appeal and perceived effectiveness.
NEW MEDIA (Broadcast, newspaper, newsmagazine or news website entries permitted.)
SM31.Social Media Storytelling Submit screenshots on a pdf file showcasing innovative storytelling on a social media platform.
SM32.Social Media Breaking News Submit screenshots on a pdf showcasing breaking news coverage on a social media platform.
SM33. Social Media Promotion Submit screenshots on a pdf showcasing a promotion on a social media platform.
NM34. Emerging Media This category includes unique and innovative ways to tell a story through emerging media platforms. (Submit to this category if others do not seem applicable.)