2025 Contests

The deadline for all 2025 contests (yearbook, print, online) is July 1, 2025.

The contests are judged by experienced advisers from outside New Jersey, and every entry receives feedback.  Winners will announced at our Fall Press Day on Oct. 27.

Criteria for Submission

• You must be a current GSSPA member to enter the contest. Not a member? Download the membership form and join today. Not sure? Contact Sue Everett at <[email protected]> or 201-906-8661.
• For the print and online newspaper contests, content published from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 is eligible
• See categories below for information about number of entries allowed per category
• Category Descriptions – entries must meet the criteria in the category descriptions; entries that do not fall into the proper categories will be disqualifies

Fee Information

• News Media: Newspaper & Online
  • $5 per entry in individual categories (List of categories below)
  • $10 per entry in Social Media category
  • $45 for Overall Excellence
• Yearbook
  • $80 for book
  • $5 for Individual Recognition Categories

Submissions
News Media entry forms and judging sheets are all digital. Yearbook entry forms are digital, books are mailed. (See address on entry form.)

• Yearbook Contest Entry Form
• Print, Online Newspaper, & Broadcast Contest Entry Forms

Questions?

• Yearbook- Staci Toporek – [email protected]
• News Media: Newspaper and Online – Brian Smith – [email protected]
• Membership – Sue Everett – [email protected]

NewsMedia Categories – {up to 5 entries per category, except Overall Excellence}

1. News Writing
2. Feature Writing
3. Sports Writing
4. In-Depth Reporting
5. Editorial Writing (unsigned)
6. Opinion Writing (signed)
7. Personal Narrative
8. Column Writing
9. Review Writing
10. Artwork/Illustration
11. Photography
12. Infographics (New category)
13. Editorial Cartooning
14. Layout and Design
15. Multimedia Package – News
16. Multimedia Package – Features
17. Multimedia Package – Sports
18. Broadcast Segment
19. News Magazine Show (Long form)
20. News Show (Short Form/Episode)
21. Short Documentary
22. Podcast
23. Breaking News
24. Photo Gallery
25. Social Media Presence

Overall Online Excellence **($45)
Overall Print Excellence**($45)

Yearbook Individual Recognition Coverage Categories – {up to 3 entries per category}

• Profiles
• Student Life
• Sports
• Academics
• Clubs and Organizations
• Sidebar mods
• Infographics
• Theme