NSPA Clips & Clicks contest
Open to all NSPA 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 NSPA-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 4, 2023, to Dec. 13, 2023, in an NSPA-member broadcast, publication or website.
The spring contest encompasses work published/broadcast from Dec. 13, 2023, to May 8, 2024, in an NSPA-member broadcast, publication or website.
2023-24
2022-23
Spring 2023 results
Congratulations to our 2022-23 Sweepstakes winner —
CCNN Live,
Christopher Columbus High School, Miami, Florida
2021-22
Spring 2022 results
Congratulations to our 2021-22 Sweepstakes winner —
The Shield,
McCallum High School, Austin Texas
2020-21
Spring 2021 results
Congratulations to our 2020-21 Sweepstakes winner —
Christopher Columbus
High School,
Miami, Florida.
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/Newsmagazine Front Page
First page featuring dynamic nameplate and compelling verbal and visual content. Submission: PDF file of printed page(s).
2B. Newspaper/Newsmagazine 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, literary arts and specialty magazines. Submission: PDF file of printed page(s). Newsmagazines should be entered in categories 2A and 2B.
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, literary arts and specialty magazines. Submission: PDF file of printed page(s). Newsmagazines should be entered in categories 2A and 2B.
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. Entries without captions will be disqualified.
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. Entries without captions will be disqualified.
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. Entries without captions will be disqualified.
WRITING
4A. 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 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.
Submitting entries
The BetterBNC award platform is used to submit, track and manage Clips & Clicks. Payment for entries using credit card and PayPal is also handled through this site.
Submit entries to the BetterBNC award platform here.
If you have submitted Best of Show or Individual Awards in recent months, you may use your existing Open Call account. If not, creating an open call account is required and takes only a few minutes for one-time setup.
BetterBNC technical support is available at 360-427-6300 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Pacific or email cody@smalltownpapers.com.