Yearbook Contests
12: YEARBOOK COPY/CAPTION: SPORTS
You will be given a fact sheet from which you will write a primary headline, secondary headline, two captions and a copy block of no more than 250 words. There is no limit on the caption length. Additional facts and quotes are included with the photos and caption information. You may intermix the information to make the best copy and captions. You may add description to your story (as if you were an eyewitness), but you may not make up facts or quotes. All these items would appear on a single DPS.
SUPPLIES NEEDED: Pen (erasable ink acceptable). Optional: correction fluid, eraser, electronic spell checkers, dictionary, thesaurus, Associated Press Stylebook. If you will be using a reference application on your cellphone (dictionary, thesaurus AP Stylebook only) you must ask for permission and set your phone on the table where the moderators can see it. No other reference/guidebook materials may be used. For example, no staff manuals or yearbook publisher materials may be used. Online sources may be used on a cellphone to access a dictionary, thesaurus or AP Stylebook, but contestants may ONLY access specific apps designated for those purposes, not general search engines like Google or Safari.
WHAT THE JUDGES WILL LOOK FOR: Good judgment in fact and quote selections; well-written active-verb copy that appeals to the reader; interesting lead; quotations used correctly and effectively; colorful details; good use of transitions; avoids cliche; original angle, focus; intriguing and inviting headline that reflects the dominant photo and directs reader to the story; minimum two-sentence captions state more than the obvious, are varied in beginnings and add to the body of reader knowledge; correct AP style; contains few convention errors.
13: YEARBOOK COPY/CAPTIONS: ACADEMICS
You will be given a fact sheet from which you will write a primary headline, secondary headline, two captions and a copy block of no more than 250 words. There is no limit on the caption length. Additional facts and quotes are included with the photos and caption information. You may intermix the information to make the best copy and captions. You may add description to your story (as if you were an eyewitness), but you may not make up facts or quotes. All these items would appear on a single DPS.
SUPPLIES NEEDED: Pen (erasable ink acceptable). Optional: correction fluid, eraser, electronic spell checkers, dictionary, thesaurus, Associated Press Stylebook. If you will be using a reference application on your cellphone (dictionary, thesaurus AP Stylebook only you must ask for permission and set your phone on the table where the moderators can see it. No other reference/guidebook materials may be used. For example, no staff manuals or yearbook publisher materials may be used. Online sources may be used on a cellphone to access a dictionary, thesaurus or AP Stylebook, but contestants may ONLY access specific apps designated for those purposes, not general search engines like Google or Safari.
WHAT THE JUDGES WILL LOOK FOR: Good judgment in fact and quote selections; well-written active-verb copy that appeals to the reader; interesting lead; quotations used correctly and effectively; colorful details; good use of transitions; avoids cliche; original angle, focus; intriguing and inviting headline that reflects the dominant photo and directs reader to the story ; minimum two-sentence captions state more than the obvious, are varied in beginnings and add to the body of reader knowledge; knowledge of AP style; contains few convention errors.
14: YEARBOOK COPY/CAPTIONS: CLUBS
You will be given a fact sheet from which you will write a primary headline, secondary headline, two captions and a copy block of no more than 250 words. There is no limit on the caption length. Additional facts and quotes are included with the photos and caption information. You may intermix the information to make the best copy and captions. You may add description to your story (as if you were an eyewitness), but you may not make up facts or quotes. All these items would appear on a single DPS. Online sources may be used on a cellphone to access a dictionary, thesaurus or AP Stylebook, but contestants may ONLY access specific apps designated for those purposes, not general search engines like Google or Safari.
SUPPLIES NEEDED: Pen (erasable ink acceptable). Optional: correction fluid, eraser, electronic spell checkers, dictionary, thesaurus, Associated Press Stylebook. If you will be using a reference application on your cellphone (dictionary, thesaurus AP Stylebook only) you must ask for permission and set your phone on the table where the moderators can see it. No other reference/guidebook materials may be used. For example, no staff manuals or yearbook publisher materials may be used.
WHAT THE JUDGES WILL LOOK FOR: Good judgment in fact and quote selections; well-written active-verb copy that appeals to the reader; interesting lead; quotations used correctly and effectively; colorful details; good use of transitions; avoids cliche; original angle, focus; intriguing and inviting headline that reflects the dominant photo and directs reader to the story; minimum two-sentence captions state more than the obvious, are varied in beginnings and add to the body of reader knowledge; knowledge of AP style; contains few convention errors.
15: YEARBOOK COPY/CAPTION: STUDENT LIFE
You will be given a fact sheet from which you will write a primary headline, secondary headline, two captions and a copy block of no more than 250 words. There is no limit on the caption length. Additional facts and quotes are included with the photos and caption information. You may intermix the information to make the best copy and captions. You may add description to your story (as if you were an eyewitness), but you may not make up facts or quotes. All these items would appear on a single DPS. Online sources may be used on a cellphone to access a dictionary, thesaurus or AP Stylebook, but contestants may ONLY access specific apps designated for those purposes, not general search engines like Google or Safari.
SUPPLIES NEEDED: Pen (erasable ink acceptable). Optional: correction fluid, eraser, electronic spell checkers, dictionary, thesaurus, Associated Press Stylebook. If you will be using a reference application on your cellphone (dictionary, thesaurus AP Stylebook only) you must ask for permission and set your phone on the table where the moderators can see it. No other reference/guidebook materials may be used. For example, no staff manuals or yearbook publisher materials may be used.
WHAT THE JUDGES WILL LOOK FOR: Good judgment in fact and quote selections; well-written active-verb copy that appeals to the reader; interesting lead; quotations used correctly and effectively; colorful details; good use of transitions; avoids cliche; original angle, focus; intriguing and inviting headline that reflects the dominant photo and directs reader to the story; minimum two-sentence captions state more than the obvious, are varied in beginnings and add to the body of reader knowledge; knowledge of AP style; contains few convention errors.
16: YEARBOOK LAYOUT: THEME (ONLINE SUBMISSION)
Prepare materials before the convention and upload a PDF to the National Student Media Contest site. The day NSMC registration opens, the contest prompt and materials, including downloadable photos, for the contest will be available. Be careful not to download the material for the prior convention. All contestants must attend the mandatory critique session Friday at the convention or the entry will be disqualified.
This is a general overview of the contest. Read all the instructions/rules on the prompt carefully.
Use any available software and the template size and any grid/column structure your school’s yearbook uses. Design a division spread in color or black-and-white for the pages/section assigned on the prompt. You must have a minimum of one block of copy, but multiple copy blocks are acceptable.
Do not write a story. Fill copy blocks with placeholder text. Write and place headlines/subheads onto the layout. Use placeholder text for caption blocks, photo credits and bylines. If you use pull quotes, quote collections, etc., use details from the material given rather than placeholder text. Use any fonts, styles and sizes that you deem appropriate. You may create pull quotes or illustrations.
You may create original artwork by hand or with available software. Use ONLY the photos, stories and information provided for Contest 16. You may use as much or as little as you choose. Crop, size and place the photos to fit your design. Do not flip photos. If you use image-editing software to alter an image beyond the bounds of what is journalistically acceptable, ensuring that the image could not be mistaken for a photojournalistic image, label it as a photo illustration.
The entry is being evaluated on design. Writing will not be evaluated, but use correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and AP style on any elements you create.
REMINDERS:
- Entries that use images or material other than what JEA provides and/or original artwork by the contestant will be disqualified.
- Do not include your name or school name on the design.
- Entry must be submitted as a single PDF file.
WHAT THE JUDGES WILL LOOK FOR: Adhering to instructions; designed as a double-page theme spread; impact of photos; adhering to design rules; using dominant photo; effective positioning of headlines, copy and captions; using current design trends; using point sizes for copy, headlines and captions that indicate visual hierarchy and guide reader through page; effectively balancing photos and copy; using creative graphics; effective cropping of photos; including essential layout elements such as page numbers and folio design.
17: YEARBOOK LAYOUT: INSIDE PAGES (ONLINE SUBMISSION)
Prepare materials before the convention and upload a PDF to the National Student Media Contest site. The day NSMC registration opens, the contest prompt and materials, including downloadable photos, for the contest will be available. Be careful not to download the material for the prior convention. All contestants must attend the mandatory critique session Friday at the convention or the entry will be disqualified.
This is a general overview of the contest. Read all the instructions/rules on the prompt carefully.
Use any available software and the template size and any grid/column structure your school’s yearbook uses. Design a division spread in color or black-and-white for the pages/section assigned on the prompt. You must have a minimum of one block of copy, but multiple copy blocks are acceptable.
Do not write a story. Fill copy blocks with placeholder text. Write and place headlines/subheads onto the layout. Use placeholder text for caption blocks, photo credits and bylines. If you use pull quotes, quote collections, etc., use details from the material given rather than placeholder text. Use any fonts, styles and sizes that you deem appropriate. You may create pull quotes or illustrations.
You may create original artwork by hand or with available software. Use ONLY the photos, stories and information provided for Contest 17. You may use as much or as little as you choose. Crop, size and place the photos to fit your design. Do not flip photos. If you use image-editing software to alter an image beyond the bounds of what is journalistically acceptable, ensuring that the image could not be mistaken for a photojournalistic image, label it as a photo illustration.
The entry is being evaluated on design. Writing will not be evaluated, but use correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and AP style on any elements you create.
REMINDERS:
- Entries that use images or material other than what JEA provides and/or original artwork by the contestant will be disqualified.
- Do not include your name or school name on the design.
- Entry must be submitted as a single PDF file.
WHAT THE JUDGES WILL LOOK FOR: Adhering to instructions; designed as a double-page spread; using a dominant photo; effective positioning of headlines, copy blocks and captions; using current design trends; adhering to design rules; using effective fonts and point sizes for copy, headlines and captions; adhering to visual hierarchy and guiding reader through the spread; effectively balancing photos and copy blocks; using graphics that add to design; effective cropping of photos; including essential layout elements such as page numbers and folio design.
18: YEARBOOK COVER/ENDSHEETS (ONLINE SUBMISSION)
Prepare materials before the convention and upload a SINGLE PDF that combines the facing pages of the two required entry components to the National Student Media Contest site. The day NSMC registration opens, the contest prompt and materials, including downloadable photos, for the contest will be available. Be careful not to download the material for the prior convention. All contestants must attend the mandatory critique session Friday at the convention or the entry will be disqualified.
This is a general overview of the contest. Read ALL the instructions/rules on the prompt carefully.
Use any available software and the template size and any grid/column structure your school’s yearbook uses. Design the front and back covers with a 1-inch-wide spine for any size yearbook. The cover should include the school name, city and state, volume, year, publication name and the theme.
In addition, design the front endsheets which should enhance and evoke the theme through text and/or graphics.
Do not write a story. Fill any copy blocks with placeholder text. Write and place any headlines/subheads onto the layout. Use placeholder text for caption blocks, photo credits and bylines. Use any fonts, styles and sizes that you deem appropriate. You may create pull quotes or illustrations.
You may create original artwork by hand or with available software. Use ONLY the photos provided for Contest 18. You may use as much or as little as you choose. Crop, size and place the photos to fit your design. Do not flip photos. If you use image-editing software to alter an image beyond the bounds of what is journalistically acceptable, ensuring that the image could not be mistaken for a photojournalistic image, label it as a photo illustration.
The entry is being evaluated on design. Writing will not be evaluated, but use correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and AP style on any elements you create.
REMINDERS:
- Entries that use images or material other than what JEA provides and/or original artwork by the contestant will be disqualified.
- Do not include your name or school name on the design.
- The cover and endsheet should be saved as facing pages.
- Entry must be submitted as a PDF that combines the front/back cover and front endsheets into one file.
WHAT THE JUDGES WILL LOOK FOR: Cover and endsheets reflect visual and verbal representation of the theme; design conveys theme; spine includes school name, city and state, volume, year, publication name; cover includes theme, publication name, year; instructions and rules followed; graphics add to theme; effective cropping of photos (if used); creative and visually attractive.