WHAT ARE THE STATE CONTESTS?
VISUAL CATEGORIES
Sixteen categories allow students to work on creating photographs, videos, multimedia, illustrations and designs in advance of the February submission deadline. Using a prompt provided below by KSPA, the students create their journalism and then submit it online. Comments from judges are returned to advisers via email after the contest results are final.
WRITING CONTESTS
Nine additional contests of writing include categories like feature writing, copyediting and cutline writing. Using notes or prompts provided by KSPA in February, students have a couple of days to craft stories, editorials and cutlines that are judged by local professionals. Students receive feedback through rubrics and notes on their writing.
KEY CHANGES TO THIS YEAR'S CONTEST
NO IN-PERSON CONTESTS FOR THE 2021 STATE CONTEST
The KSPA board voted to move all State Contest categories to online competition for 2021. The decision was made to ensure student and teacher safety, in addition to the logistical concern that the University of Kansas would not be hosting outside groups like KSPA for events.
WORD COUNT INCREASES
Many advisers have requested that KSPA increase the word count for the Writing Categories. So, we have increased the allowable number of word in an entry — in some cases by doubling the allowable number of words.
For all writing categories except Feature Writing, we are now allowing 400 words per entry. For the Feature Writing category, we are now allowing 500 words. We hope this gives students a more authentic writing experience and provides our judges with a solid sample of each student’s writing.
ONLINE PHOTO GALLERY
Due to precautions surrounding COVID, we have eliminated the Online Photo Gallery from both the Regional and State contests for 2021. The KSPA board will reconsider this contest for 2022 and advise the KSPA staff about whether to resume the category in coming years.
NEW CATEGORIES
We added a handful of new categories for the Regional Contests. All of these categories will be State Contests as well. Here is a rundown of the new categories that we added to Regionals and State:
VISUAL CATEGORIES
Social Media
Multimedia Storytelling (previously offered only in the State Contest)
Video News
Video PSA
Video Sports Promo
WRITING CATEGORIES
Review Writing (previously offered only in the State Contest)
You can find descriptions for all of these contests below, including the prompts for the Visual Categories
A NEW SEASONAL CATEGORY
For the 2021 contest, the KSPA staff was unsure about student access to creating photos in academic situations. So, we eliminated “Academics Photography” in favor of “A Winter in the Heartland.” For the state contest, we will continue that seasonal theme with a new prompt: “At One with Nature.” Please see the prompt below for more details.
TWO MAIN DIVISIONS OF COMPETITION
The contest categories are now divided into two main divisions:
1. THE VISUAL CATEGORIES: These categories include photography, design, video and illustration entries. Previously, most of these categories were called “digital submission” categories. One notable move here is that Editorial Cartooning has moved to this group of categories. Students competing in these contests can begin work on these entries starting March 12.
2. THE WRITING CATEGORIES: These categories include writing and copyediting categories that previously were proctored during the on-site competition. Similar to the 2020 State Contest, these entries will be submitted online. Students will have from 3 p.m. on April 16 until 11 p.m. on April 19 to complete work on these entries.
TWO DIFFERENT SUBMISSION PLATFORMS
Each of our contest divisions — Visual and Writing — have their own submission platforms.
THE VISUAL DIVISION will use BNC (Better Newspaper Contests) for contest submission. When that system is open for submission, we will email all participating schools with login details. This is the same contest software that we have used for years at KSPA for Regionals and State digital submissions.
THE WRITING DIVISION will be submitted using an online form linked to each prompt below. This form is powered by Qualtrics and will allow students to submit regardless of the device they are using. They won’t need a sign-in or password either.
KEY STUFF TO KNOW ABOUT STATE
NO ADDITIONAL “WILD CARD” ENTRIES
The Regional Contest allowed for “Wild Card” entries for the first time this year. All “Wild Card” entries that placed at Regionals have advanced to State. However, for the State Contest, there will be no additional “Wild Card” entries. All entries for the State Contest must have qualified through the Regional Contest.
DEADLINES
- Release of Visual category prompts: March 12, 2021.
- Deadline for contest registration: 11 p.m. April 14, 2021.
- Deadline for State T-shirt orders: April 20, 2021.
- Release of Writing category prompts: 3 p.m. on April 16, 2021.
- Deadline for submission of all Visual & Writing entries: 11 p.m. on April 19, 2021.
- State Contest Award Ceremony online: 11 a.m. May 1, 2021.
WRITING CATEGORIES
(previously “On-Site Contests”)
Contest W1
Copyediting
Contest materials & submission
To Do:
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 3 p.m. April 16: contest materials available
- 11 p.m. April 19: contest submission due
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest W2
Sports Writing
Contest materials & submission
To Do:
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 3 p.m. April 16: contest materials available
- 11 p.m. April 19: contest submission due
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest W3
Yearbook Copy Writing
Contest materials & submission
To Do:
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 3 p.m. April 16: contest materials available
- 11 p.m. April 19: contest submission due
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest W4
Feature Writing
Contest materials & submission
To Do:
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 3 p.m. April 16: contest materials available
- 11 p.m. April 19: contest submission due
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest W5
News Writing
Contest materials & submission
To Do:
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 3 p.m. April 16: contest materials available
- 11 p.m. April 19: contest submission due
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest W6
Cutline Writing
Contest materials & submission
To Do:
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 3 p.m. April 16: contest materials available
- 11 p.m. April 19: contest submission due
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest W7
Editorial Writing
Contest materials & submission
To Do:
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 3 p.m. April 16: contest materials available
- 11 p.m. April 19: contest submission due
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest W8
Yearbook Sports Writing
Contest materials & submission
To Do:
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 3 p.m. April 16: contest materials available
- 11 p.m. April 19: contest submission due
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest W9
Review Writing
Contest materials & submission
To Do:
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 3 p.m. April 16: contest materials available
- 11 p.m. April 19: contest submission due
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
VISUAL CATEGORIES
(previously “Digital Submission Contests”)
Contest V01
At One With Nature
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V02
Advertising Design
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V03
Digital Illustration
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V04
Editorial Cartoon
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V05
Headline Writing & Design
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V06
Infographic Design
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V07
Multimedia Storytelling
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V08
News Page Design
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V09
Social Media
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V10
Sports Photography
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V11
Student Life Photography
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V12
Video News
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V13
Video PSA
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V14
Video Sports Promo
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V15
Yearbook Design
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
Contest V16
Yearbook Theme & Graphics
To Do:
- March 12: review the prompts and start your work
- 11 p.m. April 14: register for contest
- 11 p.m. April 19: deadline for entry submission
Who:
- students who qualify through Regionals
COMMON CONTEST QUESTIONS
Number of awards
KSPA will urge judges in all contests and classifications to award 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place.
However, some judges will decide to award fewer than six places. In the past, some judges have cited these reasons for not awarding all six places:
- a small number of entries in a specific category and division
- entries that did not follow instructions
- lack of quality from entries
This circumstance — with fewer than six award winners — is more common in Regional Contests than the State Contest. Advisers should be aware that it is possible and that we will follow up with judges to request they submit six award winners unless one of bullet points above applies to the category they are judging.
Authentic Captions
Regarding all photography and multimedia contests: when writing captions for the images or completing the multimedia coverage, there is no need to change the name of the school or the people in the photo to make the entry anonymous. Jerseys, t-shirts and signs in the photos often make it obvious to the judge what school is entering the contest. Students: please write the coverage and caption as you would for your publication. Also, students and advisers should know that captions are part of the judging criteria.
Regional Contest contact information
click on arrow for more infoQuestions about registration, payment or substitutions?
The University of Kansas and KSPA’s office in Stauffer-Flint Hall are operating with modified and unpredictable hours due to the pandemic. Our staff is working remotely, except for occasional visits to campus. However, please continue mailing any checks to our mailing address below:
- KSPA, 1435 Jayhawk Boulevard, Lawrence KS 66045
And you can reach executive director Eric Thomas and administrative assistant Kerry Navinskey by phone at (785) 864-0605 or via email at staff@kspaonline.org.
Getting organized
click on arrow for more infoPlease refer to the 2021 Regional Contest Results to find students who qualified for the State Contest. Only entries that qualified through Regionals can participate in the State Contest.
Writing Categories
click on arrow for more infoNine Writing Categories, most of them previously called “on-site” contests, will be offered. Prompts will be published at 3 p.m. on April 16 and remain available for submission until 11 p.m. Monday, April 19. Submission of entries will occur through an online form that will open Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. This form is different from the BNC submission website used for Visual categories.
- Category W1: Copyediting
- Category W2: Sports Writing
- Category W3: Yearbook Copy
- Category W4: Feature Writing
- Category W5: News Writing
- Category W6: Cutline Writing
- Category W7: Editorial Writing
- Category W8: Yearbook Sports Writing
- Category W9: Review Writing
Visual Categories
click on arrow for more infoSixteen Visual Categories, previously called “digital submission” contests, will be offered. The prompts for all Visual Categories were published March 12. All entries are due — through submission to the BNC contest system — by 11 p.m. Feb. 21.
- Category V01: At One With Nature (previously, Academics Photography)
- Category V02: Advertising Design
- Category V03: Digital Illustration (previously, Photo Illustration)
- Category V04: Editorial Cartoon (previously, an “on-site” category)
- Category V05: Headline Writing & Design
- Category V06: Infographic Design
- Category V07: Multimedia Storytelling (previously, a “state-only” category)
- Category V08: News Page Design
- Category V09: Social Media (can be a team of up to four, or an entire staff)
- Category V10: Sports Photography
- Category V11: Student Life Photography
- Category V12: Video News (can be a team of up to four)
- Category V13: Video PSA (can be a team of up to four)
- Category V14: Video Sports Promo (can be a team of up to four)
- Category V15: Yearbook Design (previously, “Yearbook Layout”)
- Category V16: Yearbook Theme & Graphics (can be team of up to two)
Entries to Visual Categories are submitted using BetterBNC Media Awards Platform. The system will allow for secure submissions, quick judging and high-quality feedback. This document provides in-depth instructions, including video tutorials.
Judging Rubrics
click on arrow for more infoDuring a normal State Contest, judges use paper copies of rubrics to provide feedback to students about Writing categories. That will not be possible this year. However, you can reference the rubrics to see the qualities that judges usually seek. Here are rubrics and some comments that judges often make. (Please note that some rubrics are still being developed for newly added categories.)
For the Visual categories, you can reference our pre-written judging comments. These comments are used by judges to provide feedback to students on their entries through the BNC submission website. You can use the tabs at the bottom of the document to choose the Visual category that you would like to learn about.
Entry limit
click on arrow for more infoA particular student may only participate in five total categories, whether individually or as a team.
Fees & Costs
click on arrow for more infoThe fee for each entry is $12.
KSPA understands that statewide school closures mean that finances and contest payments will be unpredictable. During these extraordinary times, KSPA is dedicated to encouraging journalists through contests. Schools will receive their feedback even if payment is pending. However, awards will be withheld until payment is received.
- Payment may be made online by credit card at the time of registration.
- For payment by check, please make checks payable to “KSPA” and send the check to KSPA, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 318, Lawrence, KS 66045.
Writing Categories: Rules & Tips
click on arrow for more info- Cutline Writing: Students will write cutlines for five photos provided. Students may use dictionary, thesaurus and AP Stylebooks.
- Copyediting Contest: Students will complete two different tasks in this contest (a previous example can be found here). First, students will respond to 25 different multiple choice questions with possible errors in AP style, accuracy, libel, attribution, grammar, spelling and redundancy. Students will respond with the best answer, which could be “no change” to the existing sentence. Students will also read a sample story. In response to the sample story, the student will provide feedback, coaching, notes of caution and encouragement to the writer. Students may use dictionary, thesaurus and AP style manuals.
- Other Writing Contests: (Yearbook copy, yearbook sports, feature, news, sports and editorial writing contests). Students will write a story based on information provided on a fact sheet. Students may use dictionary, thesaurus and AP Stylebooks.
Past Regional & State Prompts
click on arrow for more infoWant a preview of what the Writing Category prompts will be like? Want a classroom activity for your students? Need an emergency lesson plan?
KSPA has a page of prompts from previous state and regional contests for you. We will continue to add to the collection as we search through our archives. ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: please notice that some of the rules and formats for the contests have changed (most notably for the Copyediting On-Site Contest). Be sure to read all directions for this year’s contest for guidance.
Simply Better
click on arrow for more infoCheck out our “Simply Better” pages, a showcase of the award-winning entries from previous Regional and State competitions. These examples can be used as classroom examples for students who will compete in State.
- 2020 KSPA State Contest
- 2019 KSPA State Contest
- 2018 KSPA State Contest
- 2018 KSPA Regional Contest
- 2017 KSPA State Contest
- 2016 KSPA State Contest
- 2015 KSPA State Contest
- 2014 KSPA State Contest
- Largest file size :: (NO PREVIEW available, must download) best for printing and reading clarity, but slower download (115 MB)
- Smaller file size :: better for fast download, but graphics may not print well (4.1 MB)
Thanks
The KSPA staff and board look forward to gathering together like “normal” in upcoming years. And we commend the students and advisers participating in the contest for their energy and strength during the pandemic.
Sincerely,
