What are the eligibility requirements for entering?
You must be an undergraduate journalism major attending an ASJMC accredited program at the time your entry was published or aired. An Exception to the major rule is made for students entering the photo competitions. Please see RULES for more information.
What's the ASJMC?
The ASJMC is the acronym for the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication. Journalism schools are accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).
My school does not have an accredited journalism department. Can I enter?
No, you must attend a school that has an accredited journalism unit. An exceptions is made for students entering the photo competitions. The accrediting process is through the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas.
How do I get an application?
All of the entry materials are sent to the journalism schools of the participating universities each fall. Contact your journalism department for more information.
How many competitions are there?
There are six writing competitions (Feature, Editorial, In-Depth, Sports, Personality/Profile, Spot News), three photo competitions (Portrait/Feature, News & Sports, Picture Story/Series), one radio (Features) and two television competitions (Features & News) and two multimedia competitions throughout the school year, with Championship rounds in each category.
How many students from each school can enter each competition?
Up to two students per university can enter each competition. The students to be entered are selected by the schools.
How many times can I enter?
In writing, if you do not win first place or place twice in the top 5 of two competitions, you may enter again. In photo, if you do not place in the top 4 of a competition, you may enter again. In broadcast, if you do not place in the top 5 of a competition, you may enter again.
Can I enter the same work twice?
A competition entry may only be submitted once.
Can graduates enter their work?
If you graduated in the spring or summer, you may enter the next year's competitions but you would not be eligible to participate in the Championship. Fall graduates are eligible to participate in that school year's competitions and in the Championship.
Can I enter work from an internship?
Yes. However, any entry published or aired in off-campus media must be accompanied by a letter from the editor attesting to minimum editor rewriting.
Can I enter work that was published on a website?
Yes, if it is an online version of the school's magazine or newspaper, or a professional publications' website. Entries from personal or professors' websites are not eligible.
How much professional experience can an entrant have?
An entrant may have participated in one or multiple internships as long as the total adds up to less than one year.
Who judges the work?
Nine media professionals--working journalists/editors--judge the students' work (3 writing judges, 3 photo judges, 3 broadcast judges, 3 multimedia judges). The judges rotate every 3 years. For a current list, please see the judges page.
How is the work judged?
The judges are sent the entries separately by the Hearst Foundation. They review the submissions and assign points to the top 10 (10 for 1st place through 1 for 10th place). The scores are then sent back to the Hearst office, where they are tabulated and the students are ranked.
What do I win?
First through fifth place winners in each competition receive certificates and scholarship checks ranging from $2,600 through $1,000, with matching grants to their journalism departments. Top winners receieve medallions and may qualify for the Championship.
What is the Championship?
The Championship is the culminating event of the competitions, where the top winners from the monthly writing, photojournalism, broadcast and multimedia competitions are flown out to San Francisco for on-the-spot assignments and additional scholarship awards.
Who qualifies for the Championship?
In writing, the first-place winners in the six monthly competitions and the two highest-scoring non-first place winners qualify. In photo, the top four from the three monthly competitions and the two highest-scoring finalists qualify for a semi-final round from which six are chosen to come to San Francisco. In radio broadcast, the top five in competition I qualify. In television, the top five in competitions I and II qualify for a semi-final round of judging from which five in TV are chosen to participate in the Championship. In multimedia, the two first-place winners and the highest-scoring second-place winner qualify for the Championship.
Can I enter again if I won first place at the Championship?
You may not enter again once you have won first place at the Championship. However, you may enter in a different category.
