★ PRINT ★

★ NEWSLETTERS

E-published newsletters fall under a separate category and should be submitted there under category 40. 

Printed newsletters that are published more than once a year. Newsletters are judged by their appearance, editorial quality, usefulness of information, design, originality, readability and other criteria.

Submit one PDF copy of up to three issues. (Only three file uploads allowed.)

Multiple issues are submitted as a single entry and will be judged for their overall quality and value as a group. Only one award will be earned.

If your printed newsletter won a Best of Category last year you may still enter it this year since the content will be different.

1. Printed Newsletter Internal and External: printed for any audience

★ SPECIAL PURPOSE PUBLICATIONS 

2.  Flyer: special purpose publications using a single sheet, unfolded, printed on one or two sides, for any purpose; submit a PDF of the flyer

3.  Brochure: special purpose publications using a single sheet, folded, for any purpose; submit a PDF of the brochure

4.  Booklet: special purpose, bound publications, for any purpose; submit a PDF copy of the booklet; you may also upload jpegs of any specific pages or distinctive features you would like brought to the attention of the judges

5.  Calendar/Planner: calendars or planners using any printed format may be submitted; submit a PDF copy; you may also upload jpegs of distinctive features you would like brought to the attention of the judges.

6.  Program: any printed program format with any number of pages, for any purpose may be submitted; submit a PDF copy of the program; you may also upload jpegs of any specific pages or distinctive features you would like brought to the attention of the judges

7.  Invitation/Announcement/Postcard/Thank You Note: any printed invitation, announcement, postcard or thank you note for any purpose may be submitted; submit a PDF copy of the invitation or announcement; you may also upload jpegs of any specific or distinctive features you would like brought to the attention of the judges

8.  Poster: large, printed placards, bills, or announcements, created to advertise, publicize or promote something; a series of posters may be submitted as one entry and judged as a whole earning one award or individual posters may be submitted as separate entries, each eligible for a separate award; a fee will be charged for separate submissions; submit PDF or jpeg copies of the poster(s)

9.  Holiday: any printed piece relating to a holiday may be submitted, such as greeting cards, party handouts, event flyers, holiday appreciation gifts, etc.; submit a PDF copy of the holiday piece 

10.  Commemorative: any printed piece relating to a commemorative event may be submitted, such as cards, party handouts, event flyers, appreciation gifts, etc.; submit a PDF copy of the holiday or commemorative piece 

11.  Print Materials in a Language Other than English: any printed piece, for any purpose, in a foreign language may be submitted; the entry may be a dual language piece in English and the second language; submit a PDF copy of the non-English speaking audience piece

12.  Annual Report: printed multipage annual reports that provide the public with statistical and financial information, as well as accomplishments of the organization for the previous year may be entered here; submit a PDF copy of the annual report; you may also upload jpegs of any specific pages or distinctive features you would like brought to the attention of the judges

13.  Communication Plan: all types - general, crisis, marketing, special event, etc.; the plan formally defines who should be given specific information, when that information should be delivered and what communication channels will be used to deliver the information; submit a PDF copy of the communication plan.

14. Handbook/Manual: multipage, general information publications regarding policies, procedures, etc. may be submitted; submit a PDF copy of the handbook or manual; you may also upload jpegs of any specific pages or distinctive features you would like brought to the attention of the judges

★ MAGAZINE

15.  Print Magazine: bound periodicals containing feature length articles with one or more issues printed and mailed between July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024; multiple issues may be submitted and they will be judged as a single entry

★ IMAGE/IDENTITY

16.  Image/Identity Package: packages are based around visual devices, used within a set of guidelines that administer how the identity is applied throughout a variety of mediums, using approved color palettes, fonts, layouts, measurements, etc.; these guidelines ensure that the identity is kept coherent, which allows the brand as a whole to be recognisable; the logo is the identity and brand combined into one identifiable mark that is the symbol of the organization as a whole.

Your image/identity package must first include an image (logo) and then three or more other items that use that logo in a variety of sizes and ways, such as stationery, marketing materials (flyers, brochures,etc.), apparel, signage, advertising, messaging, promo items and products. 

Submit your package as a PDF portfolio or as individual PDFs and jpegs.

17. Writing: an article, report, brochure, newsletter piece, speech, blog, guide or script, or other internal writing may be entered; may be published in print or an electronic medium.

18. Published News or Feature: a written and published news or feature story, as in an in-house or local media publication; 100% your work/words may be submitted.

19. Published News Release: a printed news release, press release, media release, or press statement that is a written communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something newsworthy may be submitted here; published and edited by a local media publication; submit copies of the original news release and the edited/published article for comparison 

20.  Specialty/Novelty Writing: as in social media, poetry, greeting cards, or writing for special events

★ PHOTOGRAPHY ★

Include documentation of when and in what publication/medium the photo appeared. The photographer may include camera information and settings.

21. Photo - Sports Subjects

22. Photo - Academic/Classroom Subjects

23. Photo - Other Subjects

★ GRAPHICS ★

Art and designs judged on their own merit, apart from text or quality of the printed materials 

24. Logo, Trademark, Symbol: submit artwork and at least three sample of how this art was used 

25. Original Art: covers or interior art, photoshop collages, using your original art or graphic devices (text only, etc.); no clip art or purchased templates are allowed to be used in this category

 ★ADVERTISEMENTS★

26.  Published Print Advertisement: as published in a newspaper, magazine, newsletter, etc.; submit your advertisement artwork and also include a jpeg of the cover and page of the publication where the ad appeared

27.  Advertisement - Other: non-published ads such as doorhangers, tabletents, billboards, banners, exhibits, etc,; submit jpegs or PDFs of the original art that was used to print the piece; also include a jpeg of the ad while in use, such as hanging on a door, a photo of the billboard, the banner on display, the exhibit set up and in use, etc.

★ VIDEO ★

30.  Documentary: a broad category intended to document some aspect of reality; should be scripted, using a narrative or interview track; includes visual images and an effective soundtrack

31.  General Event: should cover an event planned by a district, association, foundation or oganization who is a member of TSPRA. It should be told in a story format, not live, and should reflect all the happenings surrounding the event. It should be no longer than 3 minutes

32.  Feature Story: A feature story video should be an in-depth, visual analysis of a topic or personal profile, including opinion and interpretation, unlike news stories, which simply provide facts. It focuses on human interest, and has a high level of emotional investment.  It should include all about the details: painting a picture of a person, or place so your topic becomes alive to the viewer. It's not just about facts; feature story videos are more about storytelling and weaving an interesting narrative. It may include human interest stories, personal profiles, video essays using personal narratives, humor pieces that add a funny twist to a story, competition/game show formats; may inform, entertain and persuade; unlike video news which can quickly go out of date, video features have a more general focus and do not go out of date after a few days.

33.  Promotional: Promotional videos are engaging, informative PSA-style spots or short promotion pieces with the intent of promoting products and services that use advertising strategies and bring about awareness to the viewers of an organization and its products. Promo videos introduce or educate persons about a particular product, event or cause of an organization. Generally, a promo video is structured to be precise, direct and to only last for about two minutes in length.

34.  Marketing: A marketing video focuses broadly on the organization itself and advocates for the organization as a whole rather than advocating for a particular product or service. Marketing videos are used to improve and bring about awareness of an organization's brand and transparency. The aim is to get people invested in the vision and goals of the organization, so that they are more likely to engage with that organization. This can be done in a video that shows the history of a company/organization and what shaped it into the organization it is today. This type of video would also not need to be short, as compared to a promotional video. This type of video could demonstrate many traits about a organization and highlight's its strategy and usefulness for the community and stakeholders.

35.  Training/ Instructional: designed to teach its audience; advice on how to do things; stimulating, interesting, and should engage the learner in the subject matter; may be interactive, include animation and other video devices

36.  Live Sports Event: although not required, editing to show the best section of a lengthy, two to three hour sporting event would be effective since the judges are not required to view the entire event

37.  Live Event Non-Sports: submit live newscasts and other live events here; although not required, editing to show the best section of a lengthy, live event would be effective since the judges are not required to view the entire event

38.  Video Production in a Language Other than English: submit all types of videos; although not required, editing to show the best section of a lengthy event would be effective since the judges are not required to view the entire event

★ MISCELLANIOUS★
★ DIGITAL MEDIA ★

Submit a link or a way to access the app or information online.  Do not submit executable files that will attempt to install a program on the judge's computer. Executable files will be disqualified. List the software and version used to produce the entry.

39.  MISCELLANEOUS DIGITAL MEDIA: This is a miscellaneous category for all types of digital media entries that do not fit into any other category. Examples include but are not limited to: podcasts, social media filters, GIFs, toolkits, and virtual presentations. Submit URLs, PDFs, jpegs, etc. If the judge needs an access code or login, be sure to include that information.

40.  E-newsletter Internal and External: a category for non-printed newsletters to a specific audience such as students, parents, staff, donors; submit a PDF; no native files; you may list links to URLs, but also include PDF copies; be sure the URL links are not in areas where the judge will need a login and password.

41.  Digital Magazine: magazines that are only produced digitally may be entered here; they contain feature-length articles with one or more issues printed and mailed between July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024; multiple issues may be submitted and they will be judged as a single entry

42.  Web Site Original Design: use this category to submit a web site that is NOT template driven and NOT created using a company that supplies website design and software services to schools and other entities.

Websites entered here will be judged on their design qualities along with content, audience engagement strategies, feature functionality, usability, standards compliance and cross-browser compatibility.

Submit a URL address. If the judge needs a log in and password to access any areas that are private, be sure to provide that information.

43.  Web Site Template Driven Design: use this category to submit a web site that is template driven or one where a private company was used to supply the code, website design and software services to schools and other entities. Website design will be factored into the judging, but more weight will be given to content, audience engagement strategies, feature functionality, usability, standards compliance and cross-browser compatibility.

Submit a URL address. If the judge needs a log in and password to access any areas that are private, please provide that information.

★ CAMPAIGNS/EVENTS ★

45.  Social Media Campaign: will be judged on originality, creativity, consistency and frequency of updates, interactivity with followers and public, evidence of boost in likes, followers, traffic, use of multimedia, design of dedicated landing pages; include information regarding the social media campaign strategies, measurable goals, overall theme, what social networks were used, frequency of contact with your target audience, time frame for the campaign, methods used to track data, and what were your results? Only 10 pages of information.

46.  Special Event: briefly include information regarding the special event purpose, strategies, goals, overall theme, what media was used (print, web, electronic communication), frequency of contact with your target audience, time frame for event promotion, what resources were utilized, and what were your results? Include images from the event, as well as print, web and social media, if used. Describe how the event was unique, distinctive, and professionally executed. Describe any logistical details that played a role during the planning and/or execution of the event. Only 10 pages of information.

47.  Education Good News Campaign: Submit a PDF portfolio of no more than 10 pages. Include information regarding the reason for your campaign that brought about good news coverage for your district, foundation, organization. What strategies were used to garner media attention? What media was used (print, web, electronic communication)? What was the frequency of contact with your target audience and the time frame for the campaign? What resources were utilized and what were your results? Include images from the print and web as well as screenshots from social media, if used. You may include two links to external videos created by outside media sources.