CT SPJ Excellence in Journalism Contest
The 2025 CT SPJ Excellence in Journalism contest is now open for entries!
CT journalists stand to win awards in dozens of categories, including written sports news and features reporting, digital, broadcast and video journalism, opinion writing, podcasting, photography, print layout and more.
You can now register for an account on our contest site here and start submitting entries of journalism published in 2025, either for your own work or on behalf of your organization’s staff and freelancers.
The deadline to enter is Friday, Feb. 20, at 11:59 p.m.
We’re excited to see the best of what Connecticut journalists produced in 2025 and hand your entries to our out-of-state judges.
If you are a staff member or freelancer for a news organization, we recommend first asking your editor or manager about your organization’s plan to enter on your behalf before entering on your own.
The cost to enter is $25 per entry for news organizations entering on behalf of their employees or freelancers and $10 per entry for individual journalists entering their own work.
Each individual journalist may enter (or have entered on their behalf) up to THREE entries per category.
Entries for the Collins, Driscoll and First Amendment awards cost $50 per entry.
You can find a list of categories and circulation groups below. We have not made any changes this year to contest categories since last year. All entries must have been published in 2025.
Please email spjconnecticut@gmail.com with any questions.
Money raised from the annual Excellence in Journalism Contest supports journalistic causes including the Connecticut Council for Freedom of Information, Connecticut Foundation for Open Government, student SPJ chapters, SPJ’s Legal Defense Fund, the SPJ Region 1 fund and CTSPJ scholarships.
The money also funds administrative costs of the contest and the Connecticut Pro Chapter of SPJ.
Thank you for helping us support Connecticut journalists!
Please email spjconnecticut@gmail.com with any questions.
STEPS TO ENTER
- Register for an account on the contest site here (accounts do not carry over from year to year)
- Log in to the site using your new account.
- Access the 'Your excellent in journalism awards entries' page here to start uploading entries
For each entry, you'll need:
- A working link to each entry, and a login and password the judges can use to access your entry if the link is behind a paywall
- The category for your entry and the division your publication or station falls into. (Large, Medium or Small.
- A credit card number, or a check ready to send to CT SPJ (P.O. Box 5071, Woodbridge CT 06525). If paying by card, you will be redirected to the third-party payment platform Stripe.
- Cover letters and supporting material are required only for the First Amendment, Collins and Driscoll awards
Entries may be submitted in more than one category, but a separate entry fee is required for each category.
The contest categories are:
The Stephen A. Collins Public Service Award
This is a special award open to all media for a story or stories having a significant impact in the public interest. Entries must include supporting documentation such as letters, editorials, evidence of a change in public policy, showing how the entry had an impact.
Theodore Driscoll Award for Investigative Reporting
This is a special award open to all media for a single story or formal series containing information, obtained through reporter initiative not readily available to the news media or public.
First Amendment Award
This is a special award open to all media for a single story, column or series which increases public understanding of the role of the press in a free society.
General reporting
Arts, Entertainment, Food & Leisure – A single entry dealing with the arts, entertainment, food or leisure.
Breaking News – A single story or package of stories and social media updates that involves coverage of a spot news event written under an immediate deadline. Please note if the story has been updated from the time of original publication, and if so, what updates were made.
Business – A single story on a business topic.
Continuing Coverage or Series – A group of no more than 5 articles or broadcasts showing follow-through reporting on a single topic over time. For example, coverage of a trial or controversy. Can also be part of a formal series. Each individual may enter this category up to three times. Each article/broadcast should only be submitted once.
Courts/Crime – Any news article or broadcast dealing with issues of the criminal justice system, except for breaking news coverage.
Data Reporting – Effective use of data for reporting a single story or graphic.
Diversity Coverage – A single story or broadcast with an issue of identity, race, gender, sexual orientation or disability at its center.
Education – A single story or broadcast about educational issues, either local or statewide.
Government – Any news article or broadcast dealing with governmental issues.
Health – A single story or broadcast regarding health issues, either local or statewide.
In-Depth Local Reporting – A single general news story that helps the audience fully understand a situation and impact.
Investigative – A single story containing information obtained through reporter initiative that was not readily available to the news media or the general public.
Religion – A news article or broadcast dealing with religious topics.
Broadcast TV Spot – A single broadcast (TV) spot that shines light on an issue important to a single town or region. Entries will be judged on depth of sourcing, delivery and reporter’s ability to put the news into context for the audience.
Broadcast Radio Spot – A single broadcast (radio) spot that shines light on an issue important to a single town or region. Entries will be judged on depth of sourcing, delivery and reporter’s ability to put the news into context for the audience.
Sports reporting
Sports News Story – A single story on a sports news topic
Sports Feature Story – A single story on a sports news topic, written for a factor other than timeliness.
Sports Column – A single column or commentary piece on a sports topic
Opinion writing
Editorial – A single editorial represents the opinion of the publication, station or news website as an organization. It can be written by one or more than one person.
General Column/Commentary – A single column or commentary piece (other than sports or humorous) that represents an opinion or point of view on an issue or an event.
Humorous Column/Commentary – A single column or broadcast commentary on any topic, with the purpose to entertain.
Photo/video
(All photo entries should include the photographer’s name, and not credited to 'staff,' 'contributed” or similar)
News Photo – A single photo taken for news value.
Feature photo – A single feature photo
Sports Photo – A single sports photo.
Photo Essay – A collection of photos, either in print or online, that together tell one story. Any photo galleries should be entered here as well.
Video storytelling – Excellent use of video for the web or social media to either tell a story alone or bolster written reporting. (Not a TV broadcast spot).
Layout/design/headline writing
Newspaper Layout (1-2 page spread) – This is specifically a newspaper print category. Entry can be an A1 layout + jump or a centerpiece spread. The category is for the person who arranged the text and the illustrations, not for the writers and photographers of the materials on the page. Only the layout person should be listed.??
Magazine Layout (1-2 page spread) – This is specifically a print magazine category. Entry can be the cover or an inside page or spread. The category is for the person who designed the page, not for the writers and photographers of the materials on the page. Only the layout person should be listed.
Headline – A single entry is made up of three headlines as they appeared in print or online. All three headlines must be the work of a single individual but not necessarily from the same publication. Entries involving the work of more than one person are ineligible. If submitting a PDF, please highlight the headlines to be considered. Each individual may submit up to three entries in this category. Each headline should only be entered one time.
Other
Innovative Digital Storytelling – A story or package that uses multimedia tools – including audio, video, social media or interactive graphics – in an innovative way. In the entry, please note if the package should be viewed in mobile or web, and provide an active link to the material. Note: Social media posts from breaking news events should be submitted as part of a Breaking News submission.
Podcasting – A single podcast episode of no more than 30 minutes. Entries can be edited for length. This category is for all podcasts regardless of style, including monologues, interviews, panel discussions and edited field material. Entries should be uploaded to an online hosting site, and submitted with a URL.
Divisions
A (Large) - Any news outlet that covers more than five towns and statewide issues on a regular basis, has more resources and has a staff of more than 10 full-time reporters OR is affiliated with a larger news organization.
Example outlets for this group: Hearst Connecticut, Hartford Courant, Connecticut Public, CT Mirror, NBC Connecticut, WFSB, WTNH, Fox 61, News 12.
B-Medium - Any news outlet that covers more than five towns and statewide issues on a regular basis, has between 5-10 full-time reporters OR is affiliated with a larger news organization. This group is for all magazines or smaller news organizations with fewer resources than those in Group A.
Example outlets for this group: The Day, New Britain Herald, Bristol Press, Hearst CT Dailies, Today Magazine, Connecticut Magazine, Hartford Business Journal, CT Newsjunkie.
C-Small - Any news organization that covers hyperlocal news only, no more than five towns, and has fewer than 5 full-time reporters.
Example outlets for this group: NewCanaanite.com, Shore Publishing weeklies, Westport Journal, NancyOnNorwalk, Valley Independent Sentinel, New Haven Independent.