Writing Contest

Email Deadline: Dec. 5

SIPA offers a writing contest with more than 25 categories for members. Entries are closed for 2024. For 2025, entries must be published between Dec. 1, 2023 and Nov. 30, 2024 . Here are the categories and instructions.

Each individual staff that enters the contest must be a SIPA member. So if the school newspaper is a SIPA member and that same school’s yearbook wants to enter in the writing contest, the yearbook must join SIPA as well. Memberships are by publications not by school or adviser.

Entries are limited to one student per category, but unlimited per staff and publication. So Jane Doe from the Columbia HS newspaper can only enter the Sports Story category once, but other Columbia HS newspaper staff members can enter the Sports Story category as well. Jane Doe can also enter other categories. Jane just can’t submit two stories in one category.

The cost of this contest is $5 per entry or 11 for $50. Entries will not be returned to the school.

Awards will be presented during the closing ceremony Sunday morning at the SIPA Convention, and first place winners will be posted online after the convention.

Categories are by publication type: broadcast script writing, literary magazine, newspaper, photo cutlines and yearbook.

Writing Contest Instructions and Information