Open to all ACP members, Clips & Clicks offers multiple categories for student achievement in broadcast, design, photojournalism and writing. 

With a name that merges historic clips contests for print publications with current digital clicks, the competition is offered per semester. Fall-semester and spring-semester results then determine the annual Sweepstakes Award going to the publication with the most and highest individual winners.

The cost is $10 per entry, with no limit on entries. Any student on staff at an ACP-member publication is eligible, with shared bylines of up to five students per entry.

Contest categories, as well as specific dates and deadlines, are below.

Contest dates & categories

The fall contest encompasses work published/broadcast from May 2, 2023, to Dec. 6, 2023, in an ACP-member broadcast station publication or website.

The spring contest encompasses work published/broadcast from Dec. 7, 2023, to May 1, 2024, in an ACP-member broadcast station, publication or website.

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Contest categories

BROADCAST 

1A. Broadcast News Story
Reporting on breaking news or an issue of importance to your audience that demonstrates strong news-gathering skills and delivers concise information. Submission: Website URL link.

1B. Broadcast Feature Story
Personality profiles or human-interest general features. Submission: Website URL link.

1C. Broadcast Sports Story
Coverage of past or present games or a seasonal summary, may also include profiles of sports personalities or human-interest sports features. Submission: Website URL link.

1D. Broadcast Commentary
An editorial segment designed to inform and persuade an audience. Submission: Website URL link.

DESIGN

2A. Newspaper Front Page
First page featuring dynamic nameplate and compelling verbal and visual content. Submission: PDF file of printed page(s).

2B. Newspaper Page/Spread
Single-page entries including news, sports, opinion, feature, photo or entertainment that are intended to be viewed without facing pages or two facing pages that together display a single verbal/visual story or a package of related content. Submission: PDF file of printed page(s).

2C. Magazine Cover
First page featuring dynamic nameplate and compelling verbal and visual content from feature, news, literary arts and specialty magazines. Submission: PDF file of printed page(s).

2D. Magazine Page/Spread
Single-page entries including news, sports, opinion, feature, photo or entertainment that are intended to be viewed without facing pages or a collection of two or more pages that together display a single verbal/visual story or a package of related content. Page/spread designs may be submitted from feature, news, literary arts and specialty magazines. Submission: PDF file of printed page(s).

2E. Yearbook Spread
Facing pages that together display a single verbal/visual story or a package of related content. Submission: PDF file of printed page(s).

2F. Informational Graphic
Combines illustration and information in an easy-to-read presentation. Popular formats include factoids, lists, quizzes, bar charts, line charts, pie charts, tables, ratings, timelines, step-by-step guides, diagrams and maps. Submission: PDF file of printed page(s) or website URL link.

PHOTOJOURNALISM

3A. News Photo
Captures a timely visual story and displays news value and evidence of on-the-spot coverage. Submission: An image file (JPG, TIF, PNG) is required along with a caption. Do not submit URL link or PDF file.

3B. Feature Photo
Delivers a human-interest story with the emphasis on people in their environment. Submission: An image file (JPG, TIF, PNG) is required along with a caption. Do not submit URL link or PDF file.

3C. Sports Photo
Captures the competitive action and emotion of athletes on school teams competing in games, matches and meets or in personal, non-team sports. Also shows emotional reaction by athletes, fans, officials or others at a school sporting event. Submission: An image file (JPG, TIF, PNG) is required along with a caption. Do not submit URL link or PDF file.

WRITING

Reporting on breaking news or an issue of importance to your audience that demonstrates strong news-gathering skills and delivers concise information. Submission: Website URL link or PDF file of printed page(s). Do not submit both.

4B. Feature Story
Personality profiles or human-interest general features. Submission: Website URL link or PDF file of printed page(s). Do not submit both.

4C. Sports Story
Coverage of past or present games or a seasonal summary, may also include profiles of sports personalities or human-interest sports features. Submission: Website URL link or PDF file of printed page(s). Do not submit both.

4D. Editorial
The statement of the publication’s opinion supported by fact. Editorials generally do not have bylines. Submission: Website URL link or PDF file of printed page(s). Do not submit both.

4E. Opinion
Columns, reviews or bylined opinion pieces providing research and personal insights and anecdotes. Submission: Website URL link or PDF file of printed page(s). Do not submit both.