• News Story — General: Coverage of a community event or issue with stress on the informative elements of journalism. Should be a timely article either in advance of or coverage of the event.
• News Story — Academic/Class Related or Extracurricular: Coverage of an academic/class related or extracurricular event or issue using the informative elements of journalism. Should be a timely article.
• News Story — Sports: Coverage of a sports event or issue with stress on the informative elements of journalism. Should be a timely article.
• News Story — Stories That Inspire Change (Social consciousness): Includes coverage that makes a difference or impact  in your school, community or state, by calling attention to a problem and thus, causing others to take action.
• Feature Story — Entertaining: Article must, for instance, focus on human interest, description or humorous incidents.
• Feature Story — Personality Profile: Article should be a personal portrait in words of an individual.
• Feature Story — News Based: Article should explore a serious aspect of the news.
• Feature Story — Sports: Article should focus on one of the creative elements of journalism (color, description or emotional appeal) of a sports-related topic.
• Editorial: An expression of opinion or interpretation of a school- or community-related event, issue or policy.
• Column — Humorous: One humorous column. It may be news or feature in nature.
• Column — Serious: One serious column. It may be news or feature in nature.
• Column — Sports: One sports column. It may be news or feature in nature.
• Review: Article should review books, records, concerts, plays, etc.
• In-Depth Reporting I: A single story that requires extensive research and/or investigation including the use of multiple local sources and goes beyond summary-type news.
• In-Depth Reporting II: A series of stories, either from several successive issues or within one issue, all on the same general subject. This series should reflect extensive research and/or investigation including use of multiple local sources.

• Advertisements: Layout, planned and produced by students (may include supplied logo).
• Editorial Cartoons: Any topic.
• Comic Strips: Any topic.
• Illustration: Traditional media or Adobe Illustrator/similar vector-based software.  Photo collages do not qualify.
• Page Design Layout: Photo or Illustration integrated with body of story in full page or spread layout
• Photo Illustration: Adobe Photoshop/similar image editing software. Photo collages do not qualify.
• Logo Design: Masthead, mascots, etc. using specialized typographic treatments, etc.
• Infographics: Creative presentation of charts, graphs, etc. to display statistics, trends and more.

• News Photo: An event focusing on the informative elements of the subject.
• Sports Photo: A sports event which may be news or feature.
• Feature Photo: A photo that emphasizes human interest, mood or emotional appeal rather than storytelling.
• Essay and Series Photo(s): A single photo or sequence of photos which tell a story, and contains strong human interest, appeal or a central theme.
• Open Photo: Any theme.

• Writing: A story written exclusively for the online site.
• Photographs/Graphics: A photo taken or a graphic designed exclusively for the online site.
• Site Design: The overall appearance, including quality, creativeness and ease of use of the online site.
• Social Media: Use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vblogs, etc.) to immediately cover events (news, sports or features) also included in your print or online publications. Must include analytics as part of entry.
• Video (News, Sports or Features):  Entries may be part of a package that also includes a print or online story, or standalone. Videos judged on innovation, technical quality, impact and effectiveness of storytelling.
• Q & A: Interview subject and write a piece utilizing Q & A methods.
• Podcast: An audio broadcast for playback on the computer or mobile device.

Note: A school can only enter the publication division once, for either their print newspaper or website. {MUST submit two consecutive issues for judging.}

• Newspaper, Small School: (699 students & under) Paper published through journalism class.
• Newspaper, Small School: (699 students & under) Paper NOT published through journalism class.
• Newspaper, Medium School: (700-1,199 students) Paper published through journalism class.
• Newspaper, Medium School: (700-1,199 students) Paper NOT published through journalism class.
• Newspaper, Large School: (1,200 students & over) Paper published through journalism class.
• Newspaper, Large School: (1,200 students & over) Paper NOT published through journalism class.
• Website, Small School: (699 students & under) Website published through journalism class.
• Website, Small School: (699 students & under) Website NOT published through journalism class.
• Website, Medium School: (700-1,199 students) Website published through journalism class.
• Website, Medium School: (700-1,199 students) Website NOT published through journalism class.
• Website, Large School: (1,200 students & more) Website published through journalism class.
• Website, Large School: (1,200 students & more) Website NOT published through journalism class.

• Divider: Divider pages introduce theme through photos and copy.
• Academic, Class or Related Story: Coverage of an academic event or class-related activity for the school year.
• Sports Story: Coverage of a sports event or season’s highlights.
• Extracurricular Story: Coverage of club activities, school-sponsored social events or other extracurricular events.
• World, National, State or Local Story: Coverage of a world, national, state or local issue.
• Copy Package: A double-page spread that includes an article, headline, quotes, photo(s) and captions as one entry.
• Double-Page Spread-Academic Life: A two-page spread on academic life that emphasizes events and trends of the school year.
• Double-Page Spread-Sports: A two-page spread on a sports event.
• Double-Page Spread-Clubs or Organizations: A two-page spread on student clubs or organizations.
• Double-Page Spread-Student Life: A two-page spread on student life.
• Opening and Closing Section: One opening page showing how theme relates to school year and one closing page bringing theme to conclusion as one entry.

• Computer Design/Hand-Rendered Illustration: Original student work produced on a computer using Adobe Illustrator/similar image creation software.
• Photo Illustration: Adobe Photoshop/similar image editing software. See guidelines.
• Cover Design: Shows themes of the book.
• Index Design: Provides a continuous listing of each person and topic.
• Advertisement: An ad designed by student(s). May include supplied logo.
• Page Design/Layout: Photo or hand-rendered illustration integrated with body of story in full page or spread layout.

• Sports Photo: A sports event that may be news or feature.
• Candid Photo: Informal, un-posed.
• Open Photo: Any theme.
• Group Photo

Please note: Publication of photo(s) not required

• Yearbook, Small School: (699 students & under)
• Yearbook, Medium School: (700 – 1,199 students)
• Yearbook, Large School: (1,200 students & over)