Evaluations
SIPA members can participate in evaluative services to receive feedback on their media. Evaluations are conducted by JEA certified judges. To receive an evaluation, please complete the entry form.
Evaluation fees:
$80 – critique of your program (broadcast, literary-arts magazine, newsprint, online or yearbook)
$40 – annotations (available for literary-arts magazine, newsprint and yearbook)
Broadcast, newsprint, and online evaluation materials are due by December 15. Literary-arts magazine and yearbook evaluation materials are due June 15. Please review the information below for more information about SIPA’s rating system and evaluation standards and.
Guide to SIPA ratings:
All-Southern-This is SIPA’s highest evaluation rating. These publications demonstrate excellence in all areas of scholastic journalism production. These publications effectively integrate writing, design, photography, and graphics and cover a wide range of content to give readers an excellent record of the school year.
Superior-These publications demonstrate excellence in most areas of scholastic journalism production. While they consistently integrate writing, design, photography, and graphics into the publications and cover a variety of content, they lack in at least one area of overall execution.
Excellent-These publications demonstrate a basic understanding of general scholastic journalism standards. These publications consistently integrate writing, design, photography, and graphics into their publication and cover a variety of content, but they lack in at least two areas overall execution that makes for a Superior publication.
Merit-These publications demonstrate some general journalistic standards.
Required materials & evaluation standards:
Broadcast
- Required materials: Links to two shows, no more than 20 minutes
- Deadline: December 15
- Programs are evaluated based on the following criteria: verbal elements, camera work, audio, graphics, editing and on-screen talent.
- Broadcast Evaluation Guidebook
Literary-arts Magazine
- Required materials:
- Deadline: June 15
- Evaluation categories: Reader assistance, design, prose fiction, prose nonfiction, poetry, visual content, special touches
- Literary-Arts Magazine Guidebook
Newsprint
- Required materials: Two physical issues
- Deadline: December 15
- Evaluation categories: Advertising, features, news, opinion, sports, photography & graphics, design & presentation
- Newsprint Evaluation Guidebook
Online
- Required materials: Link to site
- Deadline: December 15
- Evaluation categories: Coverage and content, breaking news, interactivity, design, rich media
- Online Evaluation Guidebook
Yearbook
- Required materials: One physical copy of the book
- Deadline: June 15
- Evaluation categories: Reader services, coverage, writing, design, photography, special touches
- Yearbook Evaluation Guidebook