FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Things you will need before entering:
What is the entry deadline for the Utah Headliners contest?
Monday, April 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. (Mountain Time) Entries submitted outside of the contest time frame will not be accepted. If you have an issue with the deadline, please contact us at utahspj@gmail.com.
Who can enter?
The contest is open to any work published or broadcast by journalists in Utah. Freelance and student work is eligible. Entries must have been published or broadcast in the state during 2023.
Do I have to submit a cover letter?
Cover letters are only required for nominations in our Honors categories. (Good news, Honors nominations are free!) Some additional contest categories allow cover letters to support the entry.
Can I enter the same work in two different categories?
No. Each entry may be submitted in only one category with the exception of samples of work provided for best reporter, best videographer and multimedia journalist categories.
The entry was a team effort. How many names can be on the entry?
Up to four individuals may be named on a team entry; otherwise, the entry must be submitted in the name of the staff of the newspaper, magazine, station or online news site.
What about artificial intelligence (AI)?
Content generated primarily or entirely by artificial intelligence is not eligible to be entered as a contest submission. Use of AI in the news gathering process is permitted. Individual story elements generated using AI should be clearly labeled.
What is the entry fee?
To claim the $10 member fee, you must supply your personal SPJ member number. If it is a team entry, claim the $10 fee if at least one member of the team is a member of SPJ. You must provide the member's name and SPJ member number. To join SPJ and the Utah Headliners chapter, go to SPJ.org. One payment may be used to cover several entries. No refunds issued.
I want to enter in the newspaper categories. Which division am I in?
Some categories are divided between two divisions — Division A for large publications and Division B for small and student publications. All entrants are welcome in Division A, but those who choose to do so may not enter other items in Division B (the only exception is entries for "Headline writing," which is a Division A category only).
Can I mail my entry to SPJ?
Only select categories can be mailed in. Categories with a mail in option:
Entries must be postmarked by April 15, 2024.
All mailed entries should include a copy of the online award confirmation. To print your award confirmation: 1. Complete the payment and checkout process, 2. Click on the “Your Award Entries” tab and select the entry you will mail in. 3. Print out the confirmation page to submit with your entry.
Mail confirmation form and entries to:
SPJ Utah Headliners
C/O McKenzie Romero
P.O. Box 65202
South Salt Lake, UT 84165
When will I be notified if I win? / How are winners recognized?
Finalists will be announced in May 2024 and honored at the SPJ Utah Headliners annual banquet in June 2024. Date and location to be announced. Awards for winners who cannot attend the banquet will be mailed to their respective newsrooms.
Do entries have to be in English?
With the exception of designated Spanish-language categories, entries must have been published/broadcast in English.
Uploading and / or linking your entry:
Audio Requirements:
All audio files must be .mp3 (preferred), .wav, .aiff. Audio in other formats will not be accepted. A script or transcript with lead-in is strongly recommended, but not required.
Video Requirements:
Entrant should upload the work to an online video site and submit the URL (preferred), or upload a video file to the awards site. [50 MB file limit] — All video files must be one of the following formats: .wmv, .mov, .mpeg or .mp4. — A script or transcript with lead-in is strongly recommended, but not required.
Linking Files:
Linking Websites: If your category requires you to submit a link to a website, please check the "This is my primary submission" box after providing your link. You may still provide additional links.
Public Service Award: An article, a package or series of stories on one topic that demonstrates exceptional coverage that benefits the community. Nominations should describe the impact the work had on the community.
Don Baker Investigative Reporting Award: Honors the late Don Baker, a respected journalist who reported for the Standard-Examiner and Deseret News. Submit a single story, single-issue package or multi-issue series on any topic. Work must demonstrate exceptional investigative effort. Entry also may include a one-page synopsis of difficulties faced and overcome.
Josephine Zimmerman Pioneer in Journalism Award: This award is given to someone who broke ground in journalism for a particular group or in a particular area. This award is named for Josephine Zimmerman, a long-time political reporter at The Daily Herald in Provo.
Quintus C. Wilson Ethics Award: Honors Quintus C. Wilson, past chair of the University of Utah journalism department and founding member of Utah Headliners. Nominee’s work should demonstrate outstanding concern for journalism’s ethics or pursuit of ethics.
Roy B. Gibson Freedom of Information Award: Honors the late Roy B. Gibson, who was a pioneer in TV broadcasting, a University of Utah communications professor and an ardent First Amendment advocate. Nominee’s work should demonstrate outstanding efforts to raise awareness of and protect access to government records and meetings, expose abuses of freedom of information laws, or use those laws to produce significant public service reports.
Clifford P. Cheney Service to Journalism Award: Honors the late Cliff Cheney, who served as Utah Headliners president in 1978. This award honors an individual for an outstanding contribution to Utah's journalism industry. Accomplishments could include work as an educator or academic, mentoring young journalists, advocating for the industry, or other like actions.
Lifetime Achievement Award: This award honors an individual for exceptional lifetime dedication to journalism. Selection is based on the nominee's lifelong commitment to the profession and to the values of the Society of Professional Journalists including the tenacious pursuit of the truth; adherence to high ethical standards; service to the community as a watchdog; advocacy for freedom of information and a free press; and the inclusion of diversity in coverage and in the workplace.
Best single-page design: Best single-page design in a printed publication. Single work example or package.
Graphics: Best use of graphics, open to all media. Single work example or package.
Best newspaper, Division A: Three complete editions from 2023, published during the second weeks of March, July, and October.
Best newspaper, Division B: For weeklies: fourth week of February, second week of May and fourth week of November. For twice weeklies: one edition only from weeks listed above. For monthlies: January, June and October. For quarterlies: second, third and fourth editions.
Newspaper feature page design, Division A: Single section front or feature page design.
Newspaper feature page design, Division B: Single section front or feature page design.
Newspaper front-page design, Division A: Single A1 (front page) design.
Newspaper front-page design, Division B: Single A1 (front page) design.
Newspaper headline writing: Up to seven headlines written by the same person. All entries in this category will compete in Division A.
Best cover design: Single cover from any issue published in 2023.
Best magazine: Submit editions from these months in 2023: March, July, and November.
Feature story: Single feature story on any topic.
News story: Single news story on any topic.
Solutions journalism: Single enterprise or feature story focusing on a response to a social problem that offers insight, uses evidence and acknowledges limitations.
Arts and entertainment: Single story pertaining to the arts or entertainment industries, including music, dance, acting, singing, art galleries, etc. Does not include reviews.
Best news reporter: Portfolio of five stories published in 2023 and a nomination letter from an editor or manager.
Business/consumer: Single enterprise or feature story.
Continuing coverage: Up to five samples/days of continuing coverage of a single subject. Entry may include a one-page synopsis of efforts at continuing coverage of the subject.
Criminal justice: Single enterprise or feature story.
Diversity and equity: Single enterprise or feature story focusing on an underrepresented community.
Editorial: Single editorial on any topic.
Education: Single enterprise or feature story.
Environment: Single enterprise or feature story.
General feature: Single enterprise or feature story on any topic not covered in specialty categories.
General news: Single story covering a specific news event. May include a one-time event (not spot news) or be part of a regular beat assignment.
Government: Single enterprise or feature story.
Humor/lifestyle column: Single column on any topic.
Medical/science: Single enterprise or feature story.
Military: Single enterprise or feature story.
Multimedia journalist: At least two types of media used to report on the same story, all within a 24-hour period, by an individual journalist. Submit links to articles, video, audio, social media or other online content.
Opinion column: Single column on any topic.
Personality profile: Single enterprise or feature story.
Religion/values: Single enterprise or feature story.
Review/criticism: Single example focusing on an entertainment or consumer issue: i.e., restaurants, food, wine, movies, concerts, plays, books, computer software, etc.
Series: Formal series (excluding continuing coverage) published in more than one issue, or a single-issue special project package.
Sports column: Single column on any sports-related topic.
Sports deadline reporting: Single sports-related story reported on a same-day deadline.
Sports non-deadline reporting: Single sports-related enterprise or feature story.
Spot news: Initial story or group of stories about a breaking-news event, published within 24 hours of the event.
Best photographer: Submit a portfolio of up to 10 single photographs and up to two photo essays, and a nomination letter from an editor or manager. (Photo essays can be up to 12 photographs, total "Best Photographer" entry should be no more than 34 photographs.
Feature photo: Single photo published with a feature story or package.
General news photo: Single photo of a non-breaking news event.
Photo essay: Single-issue group of photos on a single subject, up to 12 photographs.
Sports action photo: Single, sports-related action photo.
Sports feature photo: Single sports photo published with a feature story or package.
Spot news photo: Single photo of a breaking news event. Spot news photo entries must have been published within 24 hours of the event for dailies. For non-dailies, the photo must have been published in the edition immediately following the breaking news event.
Best radio newscast: Example of one radio newscast that aired during 2023.
Best radio reporter: Portfolio of five stories aired in 2023 and a nomination letter from an editor or manager.
Best use of sound: Single report on any subject that demonstrates proficiency in using natural sound to enhance the story.
Continuing coverage: Up to five samples of continuing coverage of a single subject. Total time should not exceed 20 minutes.
Documentary: Single in-depth report or package of reports on a single issue or topic.
General feature: Single enterprise or feature story.
Government reporting: Single enterprise or feature story.
Public affairs/talk show: One episode of a public affairs or news talk show that aired during 2023.
Series: Formal series (excluding continuing coverage and documentary) aired over several days.
Sports reporting: Single sports-related enterprise, feature or game story.
Spot news: Initial story, or group of same-day stories, about a breaking-news event — aired within 24 hours of the event.
Best sports show: One complete sports show that aired during 2023.
Best TV newscast: One complete newscast that aired during 2023.
Best TV reporter: Portfolio of five stories aired in 2023 and a nomination from an editor or manager. On-camera reporter must have done 80 percent of the research and writing.
Continuing coverage: Up to five samples of continuing coverage of a single subject.
Criminal justice reporting: Single enterprise or feature story.
Editing: Example of editing in a single news or feature story.
Education reporting: Single enterprise or feature story.
General feature: Single feature story.
General news: Single story covering a specific news event- can include a one-time event (not spot news) or be part of a regular beat assignment.
Military reporting: Single enterprise or feature story.
Series: Formal series (excluding investigative, continuing coverage and documentary) aired over multiple days.
Spot news: Initial story or group of same-day stories about a breaking news event, aired within 24 hours of the event.
Best videographer: Portfolio of five stories shot by a single videographer and aired in 2023 and a nomination letter from an editor or manager. Videographer must have shot at least 80 percent of the footage.
Feature: Single feature story.
Sports: Single sports-related story.
Spot news: Initial story, or group of same-day stories, about a breaking-news event — aired within 24 hours of the event. Videographer must have shot 80 percent of the footage. Entry must not exceed 30 minutes in length.
Best multimedia online: Online story that uses multimedia elements to expand or enhance coverage.
Best news-oriented website: Website whose primary purpose is reporting news. Submit a link to your website's homepage, judges may evaluate the site at any time for approximately one month after the submission deadline.
Best newsletter: Up to three editions of a newsletter from the contest year. Entries may span a wide array of newsletter formats, such as providing a digest of news or events, sharing analysis from writers or columnists, offering insight on topical issues or containing original reporting and exclusive content. Entries should showcase a distinct or collective voice.
Best podcast: Single episode of a news-related podcast.
Best use of news-oriented social media: Best use of social media for journalism purposes. Submit links to social media accounts used for journalistic purposes.
Spanish-language journalism
Best general news: A general news story culturally relevant to Spanish-speaking audiences. Entry must be in Spanish.