By Ryan Gunterman
IHSPA Executive Director
Schools may now submit 2017-2018 content in the newspaper and yearbook Harvey Awards contests by visiting the Better Newspaper Contest site here and following these instructions:
-Select 2018 IHSPA Harvey Newspaper Contest or 2018 IHSPA Harvey Yearbook Contest.
-Select your school from the Media Organization list. If it’s not there, let me know so I can create one for you.
-If you have used the site before, the password is the same. However, I can resend the password if needed. Get a hold of me if you have any trouble: rgunterman@franklincollege.edu
The deadline for newspaper entries is Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 and Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 for yearbook. All entries must be from the 2017-2018 school year. For newspaper, there’s no limit to number of entries per school except for the overall online and social media categories. For yearbook, there’s no limit to number of entries per school for the writing, photo, and graphics categories.
Each submission is $5, and contest categories are available below and via PDF here.
2018 Newspaper Harvey Categories
Best Overall Social Media Presence: To determine publications that are most active and engaging on the social media sites Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. Good feeds would cover current events of the school and maintain a strong example of journalistic integrity. Submit up to three URLs or username handles. Entry limit per school: 1
Overall Online Presence: Enter the URL of the online newspaper’s website. Entry limit per school: 1
Online Multimedia Story: Enter the URL of a multimedia story that covers a feature, news or sports using some combination of video or photo and audio or print to tell the story.
Spot News Photo: Send PDF or JPEG of a photo that provides visual representation of a newsworthy event and the PDF of the page where it appears. The photos should not be posed. Do not send sports photos for this category.
Feature Photo: Send PDF or JPEG of a photo and a PDF of the page where it appears. The photo should add interest to coverage by providing a compelling visual element. Feature photos often reflect human interest.
Sports Photo: Send PDF or JPEG of a photo and the page where it appears that portrays dramatic action and/or emotion of an athletic event.
Photojournalism Portfolio: Send three PDF or JPEG photos and the pages where they appear by the same student. They should have captions that display a range of subject matter with each print telling a story.
News Writing: Send PDF of a news story on the page on which it was published that demonstrates journalistic writing style, reporting skills and objectivity. The subject does not have to be school related, but it should have an angle that interests high school readers.
Editorial Writing: Send a PDF of an opinion article on the page on which it was published. It should not have a byline but have been written by the staff. It should focus on specifics rather than generalizations of an issue.
Column Writing: Send a PDF on the page on which it was published of a column that has a byline. It can be a review, sports topic or general observation about an issue. It can reflect the writer’s personal feelings. It should have thoughtful analysis and tangible evidence to support the position
Sports Writing: Send a PDF on the page on which it was published of an advance, follow-up, summary or feature story related to individual, team or recreational sports. The story doesn’t have to be about a sport at the high school, but it should relate to the high school reader’s athletic interests.
Feature Writing: Send a PDF of a feature story on the page on which it was published that demonstrates creativity, variety and human interest. Angles can vary; entries can include in-depth features and personality profiles.
Advertising: Send a PDF of an ad on the page on which it was published. It can incorporate the advertiser’s professional logo but must be designed by a student to sell an idea, product, or service to a high school audience. Criteria for judging include artistic design and persuasive appeal.
Infographics: Send a PDF of a graphic on the page on which it was published that compiles information from a story that is better communicated through art, charts, graphs, photo illustrations or other forms of visual communication.
Cartoon: Send a PDF of a single panel editorial cartoon or a comic strip on the page on which it was published that helps emphasize editorial content and is appealing/entertaining to a high school reader.
Page Design: Send a PDF of a single page or two-page spread that reflects visual impact as a story package and a sense of purpose for the best design to display coverage.
Maestro Package: Send a PDF of a story package that reflects collaboration of three or more staff members (reporters, photographers, artists or page designers). Coverage should be a multi-angled approach to an event or issue.
Civic Journalism: Send PDF or PDF package that covers an issue beyond reporting to possible solution(s). A single story or multiple stories may be submitted to show ongoing concern or effort.
Community Leadership: Send PDF package that shows newspaper leadership for the school or community. Entry should include a 250-300 word statement explaining the editorial position taken by the staff and at least one letter of support from a school official or community leader.
2018 Yearbook Harvey Categories
Overall Theme: Submit three different elements of theme development in addition to the yearbook cover for consideration: end sheets, opening, division pages and closing section. Criteria will include overall presentation (copy, photography and design). Entry limit per school: 1
Student Life Spreads: Submit three representative spreads. Coverage should capture students’ lives inside or outside of school. Subject matter will include quality of photography, copy, headlines and captions. Entry limit per school: 1
Academic Spreads: Submit three representative spreads. Coverage should capture the essence of why students are in school. Emphasis is on the creative coverage of the academic experience. Subject matter will include quality of photography, copy, headlines and captions. Entry limit per school: 1
Sports Spreads: Submit three representative spreads. Coverage should capture the excitement of the sports season and go beyond the actual competition. Subject matter will include quality of photography, copy, headlines and captions. Entry limit per school: 1
People/Album Spreads: Submit three representative spreads. Coverage should display portraits in rectangular panels with creative features toad interest. Subject matter will include quality of photography, copy, headlines and captions. Entry limit per school: 1
Organizational Spreads: Submit three representative spreads. Coverage should emphasize school-related groups that enhance the student experience. Subject matter will include quality of photography, copy, headlines and captions. Entry limit per school: 1
Advertising Spreads: Submit three individual ads on the pages they appear. Advertisements can incorporate professional logos but must be student designs, not submissions from advertisers. Entry limit per school: 1
Writing: Submit the best stories in the yearbook. Judging will be based on thoroughness of presentation, use of multiple sources, appropriateness to the school and quality of reporting and writing. Submit the page/spread where the story appears. Entry limit per school: Unlimited
Spot News Photo: Submit a photo and the page where it appears that displays newsworthy action. The photo should not be posed. Do not enter sports photos in this category. Entry limit per school: Unlimited
Feature Photo: Submit a photo and the page where it appears. The photo should create a mood or relate exciting visual interest about a school activity. Do not enter sports photos in this category. Entry limit per school: Unlimited
Sports Photo: Submit an action photo and the page where it appears from a school-sponsored athletic event. The photo should not be posed. Entry limit per school: Unlimited
Yearbook Photojournalism Portfolio: Submit three photos and the yearbook pages where they appear by the same student. The photos should represent a variety of events or activities from the school year. Entry limit per school: Unlimited
Communication Graphics: Submit the best graphics in the yearbook and the pages on which they appear. Entries in this category may take either form: (1) Information or statistics presented with graphics to inform the reader. Graphics should include art and stats that are easily readable and understandable. (2) Student art, computer-generated or otherwise, which enhances the theme or spread. Entry limit per school: Unlimited
