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.
For 2026, entries must have been published between December 15, 2024 and January 15, 2026
Each media staff that enters the contest must be a current 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.
Broadcast, Online and Newsprint – Entries must have been published between February 1, 2025 and January 15, 2026. Media may enter either News Magazine or Newspaper categories, not both. Entries in the Online categories should not have appeared in print.
Literary-arts magazines – You may submit writing from your 2026 edition if it is ready. If your magazine is published once a year and students have not written new pieces for this year’s publication, you may submit writing from the 2025 edition, as long as those designs were not entered in the 2025 SIPA’s Best Visuals competition.
Yearbooks – SIPA’s Best Writing entries should be from your 2025 book.
Entries will be disqualified if they do not meet the established criteria.
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.
Entries to SIPA’s Best Writing Contest will be submitted using the BetterBNC Media Awards Platform. Below are directions for preparing and submitting entries.
