{"id":616428,"date":"2023-01-10T13:21:16","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T19:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/?page_id=616428"},"modified":"2026-03-16T20:31:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T01:31:00","slug":"awards-3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/awards-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Contest overview & rules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The contests of National Scholastic Press Association are the most-competitive, most-honored prizes in scholastic journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prestigious Pacemaker<\/strong><\/a> recognizes overall excellence and distinguishes the top student media produced during a school year.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual Awards<\/strong><\/a> recognize the outstanding achievements of individual students and small teams of journalists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clips & Clicks<\/strong><\/a> is an open competition each semester, with an annual Sweepstakes Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Best of Show contest<\/strong><\/a> ranks the best student media represented at the twice-yearly National High School Journalism Convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Leadership Award in Student Journalism<\/strong><\/a>, formerly the NSPA Honor Roll, honors journalistic contributions and leadership in student media. Award recipients are eligible to compete for the Leadership Award in Student Journalism Scholarship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wikoff Scholarship for Editorial Leadership<\/a><\/strong> honors a high school senior on the staff of a NSPA-member newspaper\/newsmagazine or online site. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Contest rules below<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Contests at a glance<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacemakers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual Awards<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best of Show<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clips & Clicks<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership Award<\/strong>
in Student Journalism<\/strong>
& Scholarship<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wikoff Scholarship for Editorial Leadership<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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NSPA links<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Membership<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critiques<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacemaker 100<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hall of Fame<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A<\/a>wards archive<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The National Scholastic Press Association has presented scholastic journalism\u2019s preeminent award \u2014 the Pacemaker \u2014 since 1927.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winners are announced at JEA\/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention, both fall and spring. NSPA membership qualifies a publication for participation in the Pacemaker competition. Entries must have been published or broadcast during the dates specified on each entry form. High school and junior high\/middle school student media are both eligible and compete in separate categories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participation in the Pacemaker contest is a benefit of NSPA membership. There aren\u2019t additional entry fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacemaker entries compete directly against each other. There are no written critiques or scoring rubrics. Student media staffs seeking a comprehensive evaluation including detailed feedback, a scoring rubric and an honor rating of Third Class to All-American are encouraged to participate in the NSPA Critique Service.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are currently seven Pacemaker competitions for scholastic media:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broadcast<\/strong>
<\/strong>Innovation<\/strong>
<\/strong>Literary Arts Magazine<\/strong>
<\/strong>Newspaper\/Newsmagazine<\/strong>
<\/strong>Online<\/strong>
<\/strong>Specialty Magazine<\/strong>
<\/strong>Yearbook<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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PACEMAKERS \/\/ announced spring 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Innovation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

OPEN NOW<\/strong>
DEADLINE: Jan. 9, 2026<\/strong>
TO ENTER: Visit <\/strong>the membership portal<\/strong><\/a> under the Contests tab.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Innovation Pacemaker is designed to encourage out-of-the-box thinking and reward student media for the courage to take chances to improve service to their customers, readers and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a PDF packet, a website, a video, a podcast \u2014 whatever works best to deliver your story and supporting information. Provide examples and documentation as appropriate. Careful editing and visual packaging are important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finalists will be announced in February 2026. Winners will be announced at the JEA\/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention, April 16-18, 2026, Minneapolis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Literary Arts Magazine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

OPEN NOW<\/strong>
DEADLINE: Nov. 24, 2025<\/strong>
TO ENTER: Visit <\/strong>the membership portal<\/strong><\/a> under the Contests tab.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submit a complete PDF file containing all of the pages and the cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following should be entered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n