Spring contests details revealed – start here

Postmark – March 10

February 12, 2014

The snow is deep and it might be hard to think spring, however it is
time to gather the best work from the journalism students working
on your newspapers, website and yearbooks. IHSPA spring contests
seek the best work of Iowa high school publications for the past
year.
IHSPA has several new rules and features this year, please review
the rules and forms. These are all presented online at
www.ihspa.org. The hyperlinks will assist you in finding all the
contests.

IHSPA offers awards for:

Writing, reporting & opinion –
Photos –
Art & illustrations & Design – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM.
Online – (Note: the broadcast contest has been merged into the
Online contest and categories added) – CLICK HERE TO FOR ENTRY FORM.
Photographer of the year – this completion is based on a collection
of work. – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM.
IHSPA Scholar – an academic honor for the state’s top journalism
students. (Typically awarded to high school seniors) – CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM.
A new honor this year:
Emerging Journalists – IHSPA seeks to identify and acknowledge
emerging talent in newspaper, yearbook and digital media students
in member high schools in grades 9, 10 and 11. These students will
be the backbone your school’s future publications for next year. –
CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM.

Contest period

All work must have been published between – March 1, 2013 and
March 9, 2014

Deadlines

The postmark deadline is Monday March 10, 2014. Items hand
delivered to the IHSPA office must arrive by 4 p.m. March 11, 2014.
Please make the deadline. These are important to making the
results available. If you are waiting for the check, please send the
entry forms and entries to make the deadline. Send the check in a
future mail. If necessary IHSPA will bill your school. The contests
submitted online you will see a confirmation form that should be
printed and serve as your invoice.

School size classification

The news magazine and newspaper contests have three major
classifications – small, medium and large school based on
enrollment. In an effort to achieve similar sized competition pools,
IHSPA is using a new system to classify enrollment. Please indicate
your 9-12 official enrollment. When all the entries have arrived the
classes will be determined by dividing those entered into thirds.
All School Publication classes include schools that print either an
insert or pullout section in the local paper or print a separate
student newspaper or newsmagazine.

Sweepstakes and how do I enter?

IHSPA Newspaper and Newsmagazines entering the Newspaper &
Magazine contests are automatically entered into the sweepstakes
competition. If your students/school places in a contest your school
is awarded points based on first, second, third and honorable
mentions.
Sweepstakes are awarded in Writing, Photography and
Art/Illustration/Design. Sweepstakes are awarded in each of the
school size classifications.
If a school enters a category, you pay for the category, consider
entering more to improve your chances in Sweepstakes.
Entry fees:
Advisers report a challenge getting the entry fee check from school
in a timely manner. Please submit your entries on time and send the
check to follow. Contests that are entered online generate a report
that will serve as your invoice.