SIPA’s Best Writing Contest
Category descriptions and more are below. Or, go straight to the entry instructions.
Cost: $5 per entry
For 2025, entries must have been published between Dec. 1, 2023 and Nov. 30, 2024.
Each media staff that enters the contest must be a SIPA member.
For example, 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 media and not by school or adviser.
Entries are limited to one student per category, but unlimited per staff and publication.
For example, a student may enter the Sports Story category once, and other students from the same staff may enter the Sports Story category as well. Individual students may not submit multiple stories in one category.
Awards will be presented during the closing ceremony Sunday morning at the SIPA convention, and winners will be posted online after the convention.
Email [email protected] with any questions.
Deadline for 2025 awards is Dec. 15, 2024.
Category descriptions
Audio/video
Academic – A fully produced audio or audio-visual story about a course, program or students involved in an academic pursuit at your school. These entries should be scripts indicating the visual treatments along with complete directions for audio and timing. These should be scripts that could be followed by someone else to edit the fully produced story. Submit the script and a link to the produced piece.
Commentary – A fully produced individual or staff commentary about your school community or the world outside of school in a way that relates to your school community. These entries should be scripts indicating the visual treatments, if any, along with complete directions for audio and timing. These should be scripts that could be followed by someone else to edit the fully produced commentary. Submit the script and a link to the produced piece.
Feature – A feature story may be written to entertain or inform. It may be tied to news but should not be a hard news story. This entry should be a fully produced audio or audio-visual story. These entries should be scripts indicating the visual treatments, if any, along with complete directions for audio and timing. These should be scripts that could be followed by someone else to edit the fully produced story. Submit the script and a link to the produced piece.
Human interest – A story told in human terms that puts viewers and listeners into the drama of the moment or a situation. Human interest stories are personal and follow the writing advice to “show, not tell.” These stories are not required to be written in an inverted pyramid format, but rather in the story structure that best fits the nature of the individual story being told. This entry should be a fully produced audio or audio-visual story. These entries should be scripts indicating the visual treatments, if any, along with complete directions for audio and timing. These should be scripts that could be followed by someone else to edit the fully produced story. Submit the script and a link to the produced piece.
News – A story that informs the student body of events or developments that are timely, factual and important to the school community. This entry should be a fully produced audio or audio-visual story. These entries should be scripts indicating the visual treatments, if any, along with complete directions for audio and timing. These should be scripts that could be followed by someone else to edit the fully produced story. Submit the script and a link to the produced piece.
Podcast – A scripted podcast with complete directions for audio and timing. This should not be a transcript of an unscripted podcast. Submit three scripts and links to the three produced episodes.
Public Service Announcement – A short, scripted piece that raises awareness about an issue of public interest. This may be about a cause at your school or on behalf of a community or service agency. These entries should be scripts indicating the visual treatments, if any, along with complete directions for audio and timing. These should be scripts that could be followed by someone else to edit the fully produced PSA. Submit the script and a link to the produced piece.
Short film – An original scripted documentary film with a total run time, including credits, that does not exceed 10 minutes. These pieces should explore a variety of perspectives on an issue or situation and should employ the deeper storytelling techniques allowed by the format and length. Submit a script indicating the visual treatments and complete directions for audio and timing. These should be scripts that could be followed by someone else to edit the fully produced film. Submit the script and a link to the produced piece.
Sports – A story that informs the student body of events or developments in sports that is of interest to your school community. Sports news or sports features are accepted. This entry should be a fully produced audio or audio-visual story. These entries should be scripts indicating the visual treatments, if any, along with complete directions for audio and timing. These should be scripts that could be followed by someone else to edit the fully produced story. Submit the script and a link to the produced piece.
Portfolio – A portfolio containing four examples of writing audio or audio-visual stories by one student. These entries should be scripts indicating the visual treatments, if any, along with complete directions for audio and timing. These should be scripts that could be followed by someone else to edit the fully produced story. Submit the scripts and links to the produced pieces.
Literary magazine
Drama — This should be a script such as would be used to produce a play or short film. It should include stage directions, dialog and other narrative devices. The script should be written so that someone unfamiliar with the piece could use it to produce the drama. Submit a PDF of the script as published in the magazine.
Essay nonfiction— This may be, but does not have to be, a persuasive essay and should include engaging detail and logical organization. Autobiographical essays should be entered in the personal essay category. Submit a PDF of the essay as published in the magazine.
Flash fiction — An original piece of fiction 150 words or fewer. Submit a PDF of the piece as published in the magazine.
Interview/spotlight — A non-fiction Q&A or interview story on any issue or person relevant to the school, publication or student body. Submit a PDF of the piece as published in the magazine.
Personal essay — An autobiographical piece that holds universal truths. Submit a PDF of the piece as published in the magazine.
Poetry — Features rhythm in lines and form and explores different literary devices. Submit a PDF of the piece as published in the magazine.
Poetry free verse — Does not have to rely on a particular rhyme scheme. Submit a PDF of the piece as published in the magazine.
Prose fiction — Original and thought-provoking fiction. Submit a PDF of the piece as published in the magazine.
Review — A piece that effectively details the pros and cons of something in pop culture (book, movie, show, music, restaurant, etc.) Submit a PDF of the piece as published in the magazine.
Satire — A piece that uses humor and/or irony to expose and/or ridicule. Submit a PDF of the piece as published in the magazine.
Song lyrics/music composition — Original, creative musical piece. Can include a link to performed piece. Must include the lyrics; if an original musical composition, must include the score. Submit a PDF of the piece as published in the magazine.
Portfolio — Four examples from any of the writing categories within literary-arts magazine by a single student. Submit a PDF of the pieces as published in the magazine.
News magazine
Editorial column — A bylined, opinion piece with a distinct voice. Submit three examples from one student. Submit a PDF of the columns as published in the magazine.
Feature — A story that focuses on human interest topics. A feature story may be written to entertain or inform. It may be tied to news but should not be a hard news story. Feature stories follow the timeless advice to “show, not tell.” Submit a PDF of the story as published in the magazine.
Entertainment/feature column — A column that may include opinion and appeals to reader emotion through sharing an autobiographical moment or insight of human conditions. Submit three examples from one student. Submit a PDF of the columns as published in the magazine.
Headline — Three examples of headline writing by a single student. Submit a PDF of the headlines as published in the magazine.
Investigative story — A story that delves into a certain topic with thorough reporting and well-researched sources/facts. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the magazine.
News — A story that covers a timely topic with sources and pertinent information. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the magazine.
News feature — A story that has a news component but delves into human interest topics as well. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the magazine.
Personality feature — A feature story that focuses on a person and what makes that person special. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the magazine.
Review — A piece that effectively details the pros and cons of something in pop culture (book, movie, show, music, restaurant, etc.) Submit a PDF of the review as published in the magazine.
Sports news — A story that covers sports news: game advances, game coverage, etc. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the magazine.
Sports column — A writer’s opinion about a sports topic. Submit three columns by one student. Submit a PDF of the stories as published in the magazine.
Sports feature — A story that focuses the behind-the-scenes of sports and and/or conveys the mood of the team. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the magazine.
Staff editorial — An unbylined opinion piece that reflects the view of the staff about a specific issue. Submit a PDF of the editorial as published in the magazine.
Portfolio— Four examples from any of the categories within news magazine by a single student. Submit a PDF of the pieces as published in the magazine.
Newspaper
Editorial column — A bylined, opinion piece with a distinct voice. Submit three examples from one student. Submit a PDF of the columns as published in the paper.
Feature — A story that focuses on human interest topics. A feature story may be written to entertain or inform. It may be tied to news but should not be a hard news story. Feature stories follow the timeless advice to “show, not tell.” Submit a PDF of the story as published in the paper.
Entertainment/feature column — A column that may include opinion and appeals to reader emotion through sharing an autobiographical moment or insight of human conditions. Submit three examples from one student. Submit a PDF of the columns as published in the paper.
Headline — Three examples of headline writing by a single student. Submit a PDF of the headlines as published in the paper.
Investigative story — A story that delves into a certain topic with thorough reporting and well-researched sources/facts. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the paper.
News — A story that covers a timely topic with sources and pertinent information. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the paper.
News feature — A story that has a news component but delves into human interest topics as well. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the paper.
Personality feature — A feature story that focuses on a person and what makes that person special. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the paper.
Review — A piece that effectively details the pros and cons of something in pop culture (book, movie, show, music, restaurant, etc.) Submit a PDF of the review as published in the paper.
Sports news — A story that covers sports news: game advances, game coverage, etc. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the paper.
Sports column — A writer’s opinion about a sports topic. Submit three columns by one student. Submit a PDF of the stories as published in the paper.
Sports feature — A story that focuses the behind-the-scenes of sports and and/or conveys the mood of the team. Submit a PDF of the story as published in the paper.
Staff editorial — An unbylined opinion piece that reflects the view of the staff about a specific issue. Submit a PDF of the editorial as published in the paper.
Portfolio— Four examples from any of the categories within news magazine by a single student. Submit a PDF of the pieces as published in the paper.
Online storytelling
Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print).
Alternative storytelling — Nontraditional written element such as lists, notebook style writing and rankings that includes a substantial, unique narrative. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the piece.
Blog — A series that displays a strong voice, entertains and informs. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the blog.
Column — Pieces that appeal to reader emotion through sharing significant auto-biographical moments or insights of human conditions. Submit three examples of the writer’s work or a link to their ongoing column. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the columns.
Features — A piece that focuses on human interest topics; can include various online aspects including a photo gallery, sidebar, video, etc. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the piece.
Investigative story — A story that delves into a certain topic with thorough reporting and well-researched sources/facts. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the piece.
News — A story that covers timely topics and can include other online aspects like photo galleries or video. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the piece.
Personality feature — A feature story that focuses on a person and what makes that person special. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the piece.
Review — A piece that effectively details the pros and cons of something in pop culture (book, movie, show, restaurant, etc.). Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the piece.
Sports column — A writer’s opinion about sports topics. Submit three examples of the writer’s work. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the columns.
Sports feature — A story that focuses the behind-the-scenes of sports and and/or conveys the mood of the team. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the piece.
Sports news — A story that covers sports news: game advances, game coverage, etc. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the piece.
Portfolio— Four examples from any of the categories within online by a single student. Entries should include multimedia elements and be published to the web only (not in print). Submit a link to the pieces.
Photo cutlines
Students submit a SINGLE original photograph with a cutline at least two sentences long in three categories – except for portfolio category. Captions may be from any media.
Feature Photo Cutline – Submit a single original photograph with a caption at least two sentences long. Printed publications should submit a PDF. Online publications may submit a link. A feature photo should be unposed, may show a slice of life and may be but is not necessarily tied to a news event.
News Photo Cutline – Submit a single original photograph with a caption at least two sentences long. Printed publications should submit a PDF. Online publications may submit a link. A news photo should be unposed and may be about a breaking news event or news developments in your school or community.
Sports – Submit a single original photograph with a caption at least two sentences long. Printed publications should submit a PDF. Online publications may submit a link.
Portfolio – Four examples from one student from any of the photo cutline categories or a combination of the categories. Submit the photographs captions at least two sentences long. Printed publications should submit a PDF. Online publications may submit a link.
Yearbook
Academics — A story that focues on an academic program or class at your school. Submit a PDF as published in the book.
Community — A story on the broader community outside of your school walls. Submit a PDF as published in the book.
Alternative storytelling — Copy that is presented in a format other than traditional narrative text and is used in place of a dominant story on the spread. Submit a PDF as published in the book.
Groups — A story that focues on a group at your school and its interactions with the school or community. Submit a PDF as published in the book.
Headline — Three examples of headline writing by a single student. Submit a PDF of the headlines as published in the book.
People — A story that captures the experiences, contributions or goals of a student or students. Submit a PDF as published in the book.
Sports — A story that highlights the contributions of players, coaches or fan at your school. Submit a PDF as published in the book.
Student life — A story that focuses on students and what they do during the school day or after it ends. Submit a PDF as published in the book.
Theme — The verbal aspects of your theme. The theme itself and any copy in the book that is specifically presented to carry out the theme. Submit a PDF as published in the book.
Portfolio— Four examples from any of the categories within yearbook by a single student. Submit a PDF as published in the book.