The Best of Digital News Design is part of SND’s 45th annual creative competition. Judges will recognize journalistic excellence in storytelling, graphics, social media and product design, with a goal of identifying the best visual journalism that pushes the boundaries of design and technology.
- Standard deadline: Friday, Feb. 23, 2024
- Members: $25 for a single page, $40 for multiple-page entries. Requires member code to be included at checkout. (World’s Best Newspaper: free. Must apply code, and should be entered as a separate transaction.)
- Non-members: $50 for a single page, $80 for multiple-page entires. (World’s Best Newspaper: $80)
- Students: $10 for a single page, $15 for multiple-page entries
- Extended deadline: Friday, March 8, 2024
- Members: $30 for a single page, $45 for multiple-page entries. Requires member code to be included at checkout. (World’s Best Newspaper: free. Must apply code, and should be entered as a separate transaction.)
- Non-members: $60 for a single page, $90 for multiple-page entries. (World’s Best Newspaper: $90)
- Students: $20 for a single page, $30 for multiple-page entries
Please include the URL(s) as well as a screenshot to help highlight the most important and relevant parts of the submission.
- Entries will be accepted here starting Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.
- Print categories are also available.
- Previous results can be found here. Judges will meet in person in May with results posted live on snd.org and its social media platforms.
- Frequently asked questions.
- Sign up here to volunteer for the 2024 judging, May 8-10 in Minneapolis!
1. Story Page Design (single URL)
Entries will be judged for excellence in design and presentation (typography, styling, pacing, organization, photo editing, user experience, information architecture, usability, use of color etc.) as well as development (responsiveness, performance, browser compatibility, interactivity, accessibility etc.) and innovation (new tools or experimentation). An entry does not need to check off all items to receive an award. For multiple URL entries, use line of coverage or portfolio. Do not enter the same story in more than two page design categories.
- Features: Arts, Entertainment, Food, Travel & Lifestyle
- Business: Including Finance, Technology & Transportation
- Environment & Science: Including climate change
- Health: Including Coronavirus
- Social Issues: Including Gender/Identity
- Sports
- International: Stories from abroad, about a country or a global subject, wars/conflicts and issues that cross borders
- Politics: Elections, government and policy coverage
- Regional/local: Community events and issues, politics, weather, crime and justice, education, traffic
- Opinion
- Investigative: Deep “watchdog” or “accountability” reporting on a single topic, such as serious crimes, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing
- Breaking (unplanned): This category is for work done on a breaking news cycle. Examples include mass casualties, natural disaster, severe weather, mass conflicts and catastrophes, scientific breakthroughs. Planned coverage around news such as elections and sports events should be submitted in topic categories.
- Other: Human interest or entries that do not fit one of the existing categories
2. Information Graphics Page (single URL)
Entries will be judged for excellence in reporting and content creation (data visualization, information graphics, photography, video, audio, animation, illustration and art direction, etc.) as well as design and presentation, development (programming, coding, applications, database analysis, responsiveness, performance, browser compatibility, interactivity, accessibility etc.) and innovation (new tools or experimentation). An entry does not need to check off all items to receive an award. Entries that have been created with the use of AI text-to-image generating software or platforms are not currently eligible and cannot be accepted in the information graphics categories. (By submitting, you attest that the work was done by the eyes, hands and mind of a human creator.) Graphic credits must be attributed to graphics artists or staff. For multiple URL entries, use line of coverage or portfolio. Do not enter the same story in more than two infographics categories.
- Features: Arts, Entertainment, Food, Travel & Lifestyle
- Business: Including Finance, Technology & Transportation
- Environment & Science: Including climate change
- Health: Including Coronavirus
- Social Issues: Including Gender/Identity
- Sports
- International: Stories from abroad, about a country or a global subject, wars/conflicts and issues that cross borders
- Politics: Elections, government and policy coverage
- Regional/local: Community events and issues, politics, weather, crime and justice, education, traffic
- Opinion
- Investigative: Deep “watchdog” or “accountability” reporting on a single topic, such as serious crimes, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing
- Breaking (unplanned): This category is for work done on a breaking news cycle. Examples include mass casualties, natural disasters, severe weather, mass conflicts and catastrophes, scientific breakthroughs, accidents. Planned coverage around news such as elections and sports events should be submitted in topic categories.
- Other: Human interest or entries that do not fit one of the existing categories
3. Page Design Elements/Format (single URL)
This category is for highlighting a specific element within a page. Judges will consider both the design and content of the element itself and how the element interacts with the rest of the page design. For multiple URLs entries, use line of coverage or portfolio. Do not enter the same story in more than two elements/format categories.
Important: Please note which element(s) on the page should be judged, along with any applicable details.
- Animation design: Including animated illustrations and infographics
- Typographic design: Use of coded type, not static images, within digital storytelling
- Audio design: Use of sound within digital storytelling
- Photography design: Use of photography within digital storytelling
- Video design: Use of video or motion within infographics or digital storytelling
- Data visualization: Including infographics, charts and maps
- Database/interface design: Searchable or filterable application of data within UX/digital storytelling
4. Illustration
For original illustration submissions, judges will consider the art direction of the illustration, the relevance of concept to the story, and how the art is displayed as part of the page. Photography that is manipulated, combined and/or stylized to create an original image (including studio photography) may also be entered as illustration. Entries that have been created with the use of AI text-to-image generating software or platforms are not currently eligible and cannot be accepted in the illustration categories. (By submitting, you attest that the work was done by the eyes, hands and mind of a human creator.) Illustration credits must be attributed to artists or staff. For multiple-URL entries or packages, use the related line of coverage category.
- Commissioned Illustration (single)
- In-House Illustration (single)
- Commissioned Illustration (multiple illustrations on the same page, subject or series)
- In-House Illustration (multiple illustrations on the same page, subject or series)
- Illustrated Reporting: Including comics journalism and panels storytelling.
5. Platform Design
For social media channels and other off-platform or downstream applications, judges will consider the visuals, how they are displayed or advance storytelling within the context of the platform. Submit the URLs or upload a file and please note which element(s) should be judged.
- Single-story design: Including Instagram carousels, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, etc.
- Video stories design: Including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, etc.
- Reader interaction: Use of call-outs or other input from social media within digital storytelling.
- Newsletter design
- Podcasts design: Including key art, episode pages or related storytelling
6. Special Topics
Please submit 1-5 URLs from page design, infographics or social media. Entries will be judged for excellence in design and presentation (typography, styling, pacing, organization, photo editing, user experience, information architecture, accessibility, use of color etc.) or reporting and content creation (data visualization, information graphics, photography, video, audio, animation, illustration and art direction, etc.) as well as development (responsiveness, performance, browser compatibility, interactivity, etc.) and innovation (new tools or experimentation). An entry does not need to check off all items to receive an award.
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Israel-Gaza War
- Artificial Intelligence*
- Women’s World Cup
- King Charles coronation
- Taylor Swift/Beyonce tours
*If you submit work that involves AI, you will need to include a note explaining how AI is being used, why you decided to use it and how it supports or enhances the storytelling without jeopardizing journalism ethics.
7. Line of Coverage (multiple URLs)
For ongoing events or series, please submit 3-5 URLs from page design, infographics or social media. Entries will be judged for excellence in design and presentation (typography, styling, pacing, organization, photo editing, user experience, information architecture, accessibility, use of color etc.) or reporting and content creation (data visualization, information graphics, photography, video, audio, animation, illustration and art direction, etc.) as well as development (responsiveness, performance, browser compatibility, interactivity, etc.) and innovation (new tools or experimentation). An entry does not need to check off all items to receive an award.
Important: Entries should cover a specific story or story theme. For general categories such as features, business, sports etc., entries must be on related topics. For unrelated stories, please use the portfolio category.
- Investigative or public service: Deep “watchdog” or “accountability” reporting on a single topic, such as serious crimes, political corruption or corporate wrongdoing
- Features and Social Issues: Arts, Entertainment, Food, Travel, Lifestyle and Gender/Identity
- Business: Including Finance, Technology & Transportation
- Environment, Health & Science: Including Coronavirus and climate change
- Sports
- Politics: Elections (excluding midterm coverage), government and policy coverage
- Regional/local: Community events and issues, politics, weather, crime and justice, education, traffic
- Opinion
- Breaking (unplanned): This category is for work done on a breaking news cycle. Examples include mass casualties, natural disaster, severe weather, mass conflicts and catastrophes, scientific breakthroughs. Planned coverage around news such as elections, obituaries and sports events should be submitted in topic categories.
8. Product design
Submit work that demonstrates the use of thoughtful or innovative design experiences concentrating on user experience or user interface design. Entries will be judged on design (typography, styling, organization, information architecture, accessibility, use of color etc.), development (responsiveness, performance, browser compatibility, interactivity, etc.). Entries can be submitted as screenshots, video, a URL or a URL to a download page. Please supply us with the materials you think are needed to explain this entry in the best way possible.
- Branding
- Landing page(s)
- New site, page, app or other product
- Redesigned site, page or app – please upload image of previous design
- Multimedia or interactive modules: For elements within a page that allow for custom code, user interface, video, audio or other visuals
- Artificial intelligence tools*: Use of AI within applications or in support of storytelling
- Internal storytelling tools for journalists: Databases, templates or other applications to enhance news gathering, storytelling, editorial workflows, audience engagement and business models, resulting in sustainable, trustworthy journalism that serves the public interest. Examples
*If you submit work that involves AI, you will need to include a note explaining how AI is being used, why you decided to use it and how it supports or enhances the storytelling without jeopardizing journalism ethics.
9. Experimental design
Submit work that does not fit other categories, including augmented and virtual reality as well as artificial intelligence*. Do you have a product that doesn’t necessarily fit with these categories? Did you create something for virtual reality or a wearable product this year? Please submit anything you can to show us your work. This could include a URL to a download page or a video showing it in use. Please include as much pertinent information as possible to give judges the best opportunity to see your work how a reader/viewer would see it.
*If you submit work that involves AI, you will need to include a note explaining how AI is being used, why you decided to use it and how it supports or enhances the storytelling without jeopardizing journalism ethics.
10. Portfolio (3-5 URLs)
Submit a portfolio of work for three to five URLs. An “Individual” portfolio should be designed completely or primarily by a single submitter; for stories with multiple bylines, please note the specific role and contributions for the individual credited on the portfolio. An “Organizational” portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort; organizations may enter more than one portfolio per subcategory but individual URLs should NOT be repeated among entries with the same portfolio category. For entries around a related topic, see line of coverage above.
- Story Page Design (individual)
- Story Page Design (organization, staff or team)
- Information Graphics (individual)
- Information Graphics (organization, staff or team)
- Art direction (individual)
- Art direction (organization, staff or team)
- Social media (individual or organization)
- Combination (individual): Including any from story page design, information, art direction, social media and/or product.
- Combination, (staff or team): Including any from story page design, information, art direction, social media and/or product.
- Student (individual or organization)
World’s Best-Designed Digital News Site, World’s Best-Designed Digital Designer and Best of Show
SND also will recognize a site or publication as World’s Best-Designed Digital News Site, awarded annually since 2010 and selected from among top medal winners. To be eligible, submit entries in any of the line of coverage, product or organizational portfolio categories. The World’s Best-Designed Digital Designer will be selected from top medal winners in the individual portfolio categories.
The judging panel will select three individual medal winners from small, medium and large newsrooms for Best in Show honors. Please be sure to note the size that best describes your organization when entering.