Junior High/Middle School National Media Contest

Contest Information

Contest Dates

• Registration runs April 1 through April 15, 2024. Deadline is noon Central April 15.

Contest Cost

• Each entry is $10 per student, per contest entry. (If multiple students are entered for one item, it is $10 per student for that entry)
• Advisers will be invoiced for the entirety of their submissions after the contest deadline. Awards will be mailed after judging is completed and the registration fees are paid.

Contest Entry Guidelines

• The adviser to entrants must be a current JEA member.
• All entries must be from students in middle school or junior high.
• Work may NOT be from a high school publication.
• Content must have been published in a school publication during the current contest year's academic school year or must be set to be published in the yearbook that covers that contest year's academic school year.
• Items may only be entered in ONE CATEGORY.  See each category for specific instructions.

AWARDS

• The ratings are Superior, Excellent and Honorable Mention. Winners will receive certificates.
• Superior ratings, which also are awarded with a medal, may be given to no more than 10 percent of the entries in any contest. Judges may give as many ratings in Excellent and Honorable Mention as appropriate.

Contest Categories

Photography & Caption Writing

For each entry, submit a photo with a complete, published caption as a JPG. View instructions on photo preparation. Photographs submitted without corresponding captions will be disqualified from award contention.

• P1 -  News/Academic Photo and Caption (LIMIT FOUR ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): The picture captures a person or event at a decisive moment, is dramatic and makes readers think; technical quality — contrast, focus, effective cropping are important too. Caption should explain the photo, identify all the important people and be written in proper journalistic style.
• P2 - Sports Action or Reaction Photo and Caption (LIMIT FOUR ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Like a news photo, the picture should capture a decisive moment, show action, tension or emotion; technical quality is important too. Caption should identify players, jersey numbers and what is happening in the photo.
• P3 - Student Life Photo and Caption (LIMIT FOUR ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Superior student life photos will offer interesting angles and composition techniques to tell a visual story. Focus, effective cropping and technical quality are important too. Caption should explain the photo, identify important people and be written in proper journalistic style.
• P4 - Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption(LIMIT FOUR ENTRIES  PER SCHOOL): This is a human interest or humorous photo with emotional impact. It uses elements of good composition, is artistic and has high technical quality. Captions support the photo by providing extra information that you cannot tell by looking at the photo. Writing shows good journalistic style. Please note: This contest is not designed to honor great photos of the mountains, nature, etc.

Yearbook

Entries will be submitted as PDF files no larger than 20 MB. Items must be submitted as one PDF file in spreads where appropriate. Entries that are double-page spreads should be saved as such (not as two separate pages). View instructions on design entry preparation.

• Y1 - Theme Package (LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER SCHOOL): Include cover, endsheet (if printed), title page, opening spread, closing spread and one divider spread. You may choose to include one additional example demonstrating theme development elsewhere in the book (optional) and a one-page document explaining the development of the theme (optional). Superior entries in this category will show a contemporary idea fitting to the school population for the current year and development with visual unifiers and/or wordplay or verbal spinoffs.

YEARBOOK DESIGN CATEGORIES: For each entry, include a complete double-page spread as one two-page PDF file. Entries with two separate pages will be disqualified from awards contention. Superior entries in this category will include complete coverage of appropriate section-specific topics with storytelling photos in addition to supporting coverage, all while following solid design principles.

• Y2A - Traditional Coverage Spread Design (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Enter double-page spreads that cover a single subject on a Student Life spread (event or lifestyle), Academics, Clubs/Organizations spread, or Sports spread.
• Y2B - Umbrella or Chronological Spread Design (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Enter double-page spreads that use either an umbrella or chronological organizational structure to cover multiple traditional areas of coverage like academics, organizations/clubs, student life, sports, etc.
• Y2C - Yearbook Specialty/Alternative Story Design package (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Enter single or double-page specialty spreads, such as an interrupter, trends page, or any spread that may present information in a non-narrative formats such as a timelines, lists, broken story segments, Q&A sections or the use of infographics.

YEARBOOK WRITING CATEGORIES:

• Y3A - Opening Copy Writing (LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER SCHOOL): Writing throughout the opening spreads that establishes the theme with specific examples as to why the theme is relevant to the year and to your school. Copy should have a clear voice and tone. Entry must include a PDF of the page(s) where the opening copy appears. If needed, clearly indicate the copy that is intended to be judged.
• Y3B - Sports Writing (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Traditional sports writing that covers any topic that spotlights a team or teams and their season.
• Y3C - Yearbook Writing (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Traditional Student Life (event or lifestyle), Clubs/Organizations, Academics or People (personality profile) coverage spreads. For each entry, include a story with its accompanying double-page spread.

News Publication

ONLINE MEDIA CATEGORIES: Submit the URL for the entry.

• O1 - Online Story Package (LIMIT THREE ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): This entry should consist of a news, feature or sports package from an online website. The package should consist of several story elements that are all related to a single story idea connected to a timely event. The online package may consist of text, photos, infographics, sidebars, video, maps, interactive reader items,  linked social media coverage — anything and everything that shows your staff fully engaged using multiple methods to tell the story online.

NEWS DESIGN CATEGORIES: Entry limit varies per category. For Front Page Layout, select N1A or N1B depending on your publication's format.

• N1A - Newspaper Front Page Layout (LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER SCHOOL):  The newspaper uses clean design to grab readers’ attention and guide them from story to story. Superior entries will use strong packaging for visual impact, prioritizing news value by story placement and offering a strong first impression to the issue as a whole.
  N1B - Newsmagazine Front Page Layout (LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER SCHOOL): The newsmagazine uses clean design to grab readers’ attention. Features a dynamic nameplate and compelling verbal and visual content. Superior entries will use strong packaging for visual impact, prioritizing news value by story placement and offering a strong first impression to the issue as a whole.
• N2 - Single Inside Page Design (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Single Feature/Opinion/Sports page layout. Design has a strong center of visual interest, attractive graphics/photos to help tell the stories (when appropriate) and a layout that helps readers understand content. These are intended to be viewed without a facing page.
• N3 - Doubletruck/Two-Page Design (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Normally the center spread of a newsmagazine or newspaper. Facing pages designed as one unit. Design has a strong center of visual interest, attractive graphics/photos to help tell the stories (when appropriate) and a layout that helps readers understand content.

GRAPHIC DESIGN CATEGORIES: For each category, include the PDF of the entire newspaper page/spread or yearbook spread that the item appeared on.

• G1 - Editorial Cartoon (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Include the PDF of the entire page on which the editorial cartoon appears. Both artistic technique and message are important; an editorial cartoon should make a point about something in the school, community or world and be understandable to average readers. Superior entries will demonstrate a high quality illustration and a clear message.
• G2 - Infographic (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Include the PDF of the entire page on which the infographic appears. If more than one infographic appears on the page, indicate which is to be judged. An infographic combines copy and illustrations to make information visual. Superior entries will add meaningful details to the topic with a nicely packaged graphic that includes a source for information collected. Infographics can be stand-alone or part of a story.
• G3 - Illustration (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Include the PDF of the entire page on which the illustration appears. If more than one illustration appears on the page, indicate which is to be judged.  This category includes original artwork — hand drawn or digitally created — used to establish a theme or mood with the intent to enhance an article.

NEWS WRITING CATEGORIES - NOTE: If there is more than one story on the PDF, clearly indicate which story is to be judged.

• N4 - News Writing (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): This story should focus on timely news matters. Superior entries will engage readers with a strong lead, detailed reporting, appropriateness and significance of topic, strong organization, conciseness, factual support, fairness and use of appropriate sources.
• N5 - Feature Writing (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): This story may be a personality profile, human interest piece or general feature story. Story uses expert sources when possible, avoids reporter opinion and leaves no unanswered questions. Features focus more on the personal, and sometimes they are less timely than traditional news stories. Superior entries will engage readers with a strong lead, clear human interest angle, detailed reporting, colorful description and meaningful quotes from a variety of sources.
• N6 - Editorial or Column (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL: A commentary or column is a personal opinion piece and does have a byline. Superior editorials will be clearly articulated positions, without a byline, written on behalf of the entire staff in regard to a timely, newsworthy topic. Superior columns will address timely, reader-relevant topics, conveying the writer’s personal opinion with a clear voice.
• N7 - Review Writing (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL: A signed opinion piece that reviews movies, music, plays, concerts, books, exhibits, performances or anything else available to the student community.
• N8 - Sports Writing (LIMIT TWO ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Sports coverage pieces cover a RECENT sporting event or one that will occur soon. The reporter does so without reporter opinion; coach and player quotes add necessary insight. Sports features go behind the scenes or otherwise find out the “why,” and the reporter conveys a sport’s background or mood, either scholastic, intramural or life sport. Superior entries will engage readers with a strong lead, clear coverage, detailed reporting, colorful description and meaningful quotes from a variety of sources.

Broadcast

Entries must have been broadcast at school or in the community or on the web during this school year. Broadcast packages should be uploaded to Vimeo or YouTube and will be submitted with a link. View instructions on broadcast video preparation.

Video, Music and Image integration into Contests: You must provide documentation that all audio, video and photographic material submitted belongs to the school submitting the work. This can be done by including evidence of subscription, purchase, license agreement or contract in the YouTube or Vimeo video description of your entry or by emailing it to Jr. High/Middle School Contest Coordinator Allie Staub. Failure to do so will result in no award and disqualification. (Example: Big Horns Intro by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music)

• B1 - Broadcast News Story/Short Documentary (LIMIT FOUR ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Total running time 1:30-5:00. Pre-recorded stories contain reporter’s voice-overs, videotaped shots and sound bites. Must adhere to broadcast style (short sentences, present tense, conversational) and contain all necessary information. Sound bites are well shot, varied and relevant. Editing is free of glitches and jump cuts. Natural sound is used effectively. Superior entries have video and script, which complement each other.
• B2 - Broadcast Feature Story (LIMIT FOUR ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Total running time no longer than 1:30. Pre-recorded stories contain reporter’s voice-overs, videotaped shots and sound bites. Must adhere to broadcast style (short sentences, present tense, conversational) and contain all necessary information. Sound bites are well shot, varied and relevant. Editing is free of glitches and jump cuts. Natural sound is used effectively. Superior entries have video and script, which complement each other.
• B3 - Broadcast Sports Story (LIMIT FOUR ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Total running time no longer than 1:30. Pre-recorded stories contain reporter’s voice-overs, videotaped shots and sound bites. Must adhere to broadcast style (short sentences, present tense, conversational) and contain all necessary information. Sound bites are well shot, varied and relevant. Editing is free of glitches and jump cuts. Natural sound is used effectively. Superior entries have video and script, which complement each other.
• B4 - PSA/Commercial (LIMIT FOUR ENTRIES PER SCHOOL): Total running time must be exactly 30 seconds or 1 minute. Commercials must be produced for school announcements or TV programs and should publicize school events, activities and social functions. PSAs should attempt to shed light on an issue or situation of importance to teens. Credits are not included in the 60 seconds. Superior entries use videotaped shots, voiceovers, sound bites and graphics as appropriate. Video and script complement each other.

Please direct all contest questions to:

Contest Chair
Allie Staub stauba@wws.k12.in.us