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The Society for News Design’s (SND) Creative Competition is a juried contest that recognizes excellence in print and digital storytelling, graphics, illustration, social media, product design and more. The Creative Competition’s goal is to highlight work that pushes the boundaries of design and technology. By submitting, you help define the state of the art for our industry and all storytellers.
All entries must have been published between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025.
If you have questions, check out our FAQs or email us at [email protected].
The entry portal will open on January 14, 2026 and entries will be accepted until February 28, 2026.
Deadlines and Pricing information
There are two entry deadlines: the standard deadline and the extended deadline. Prices increase after the standard deadline has passed, so submit your entries early.
Pricing is also split into two tiers: Single-asset fees and multiple-asset fees. Single-asset fees apply to entries that are a single page or URL. Print spreads (double trucks or two pages designed as a single unit) are considered a single-asset entry. Multiple-asset fees apply to entries that include multiple platforms and/or multiple pages or links per entry.
SND members enjoy a lower price per entry. If you are not already a member, consider joining! In addition to unlocking additional membership benefits, the $55/year membership fee quickly pays for itself if you submit more than two entries. You can find more information and join here.
| Standard deadline: February 14, 2026 | Extended deadline: March 6, 2026 (updated) |
|---|---|
| Members: Single-asset: $25 Multiple-asset: $40 World’s Best-Designed categories: free | Members: Single-asset: $30 Multiple-asset: $45 World’s Best-Designed categories: free |
| Non-members: Single-asset: $60 Multiple-asset: $90 World’s Best-Designed categories: $90 | Non-members: Single-asset: $70 Multiple-asset: $100 World’s Best-Designed categories: $100 |
| Students: Single-asset: $10 Multiple-asset: $15 | Students: Single-asset: $20 Multiple-asset: $30 |
SND also offers different membership tiers: An emerging economies membership, a trust membership and a student membership. Anyone who signs up for one of these memberships also gets one free entry to this year’s competition.
To find the member discount codes:
- Go to SND.org
- Hover over the “Join SND/Log in” menu item and click “Member sign-in”
- After you’ve logged in, hover over the “Join SND/Log in” menu item again and click “SND Members”
- Scroll down to the “SND Creative Competition Member Discount” section of the page and you will find the member codes
Competition guidelines
Who is eligible?
The Creative Competition accepts work from all news organizations. Newspapers, magazines and digital-only publications are all eligible.
Product teams at news organizations (even if not a part of the newsroom) are allowed to submit their work in Category 7, which contains subcategories such as UX/UI design and newsletter design.
Non-editorial publications are eligible to submit entries in Category 8, which contains subcategories such as ad campaigns, corporate reports and presentations. The commercial side of news organizations are also allowed to submit within Category 8, provided their work does not come from the newsroom.
Students are invited to submit work in any category. However, unpublished class work may only be entered in Category 9. Work published for internships should be entered in non-student specific categories.
All entries must have been published between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025.
Categories
The competition is split into eleven parent categories. These categories determine how each piece of work will be judged within the scope of the Creative Competition. Parent categories are labeled numerically.
Each parent category contains multiple subcategories, often divided by topic or platform. Subcategories are labeled alphabetically.
A single piece of work may be submitted across multiple parent categories to be judged on the specific merits awarded within each category. See each parent category rules for specific eligibility and criteria.
You may only submit an entry once per parent category for categories 1-4.
- For example, you may not submit the same entry to both Category 1a: Story Page Design, International and Category 1f: Story Page Design, Climate and Environment
- However, you may submit an entry to multiple parent categories (for example, both Category 1a: Story Page Design, International and Category 2a: Information Graphics, International).
- You may also submit an entry multiple times per subcategory if it is across multiple platforms. For example, you may submit a single page as a print entry for Category 1a, as part of a multiple page print entry for Category 1a alongside other print pages that are part of the story and as part of a multiplatform entry for Category 1a alongside a digital or social media URL.
You may submit an entry multiple times per parent category for categories 5-10.
However, if your entry is not eligible in the category it was entered in, the Competition Committee reserves the right to move it to another category where it would be eligible. The Committee may also reach out to entrants if an entry does not qualify in the category in which it was entered.
Examples for Categories 1-4+
Example 1: You want to submit a single print page in Category 1
You can submit a single print page to only one subcategory in Category. 1. If your piece could fit into more than one subcategory, you can pick whichever subcategory that you would like it to be judged in.
If you want to submit a page in 1a. Breaking News, you cannot also submit the same piece to 1d. Local & Regional.
However, you can include a single page as a part of multiple entries in different platforms within the same subcategory, such as:
- a single print page submission in print: single page
- part of a print: multiple page submission, alongside other pages that are part of the same story
- part of a multiplatform submission, alongside a digital and/or social URL
Example 2: You want to submit a single digital URL in Category 1
You can submit a single digital URL to only one subcategory in Category 1. If your piece could fit into more than one subcategory, you can pick whichever subcategory makes the most sense to you.
If you want to submit a URL in 1a. Breaking News, you cannot also submit the same piece to 1d. Local & Regional.
However, you can include a single digital URL as a part of multiple entries in different platforms within the same subcategory, such as:
- a digital: single URL submission
- part of a multiplatform submission, alongside a print page and/or social URL
Example 3: You want to submit a single social URL in Category 1
You can submit a single social URL to only one subcategory in Category 1. If your piece could fit into more than one subcategory, you can pick whichever subcategory makes the most sense to you.
If you want to submit a URL in 1a. Breaking News, you cannot also submit the same piece to 1d. Local & Regional.
However, you can include a single social URL as a part of multiple entries in different platforms within the same subcategory, such as:
- part of a multiplatform submission, alongside a print page or digital URL
- a social: single URL submission
Platforms
The Creative Competition welcomes submissions on all platforms, including print, digital, social media or across all of these platforms. Each category’s description will specify which platforms are accepted. The platforms are as follows:
Print+
Print entries should be submitted as PDFs. Multiple page print entries should be bundled together into a single PDF unless otherwise noted in the subcategory description. PDF entries should not exceed 100MB regardless of the number of pages. Please consider compressing large PDF files. Categories that require multiple editions of newspapers or sections will allow multiple PDFs to be uploaded, each with a file size limit of 100MB.
- Single page
- This includes section covers, inside pages, spreads and doubletrucks.
- Please note that main front pages (A1 or 1A) should be entered in Category 6a.
- This platform is subject to the single-asset fee.
- Multiple pages
- This includes multiple print pages, which can include both covers and inside pages.
- This platform is subject to the multiple-asset fee.
Examples of previous print winners can be found here.
Digital+
Digital entries should be submitted as a link to a specific webpage, unless otherwise noted. Please do not link to the publication’s homepage (unless required for the category). Entries that are landing pages will only be judged on the URL submitted, and not on any stories linked to from the landing page. If the category requires additional materials to be uploaded, those files should not exceed 100MB.
- Single URL
- One link to a specific webpage.
- This platform is subject to the single-asset fee.
- Multiple URLs
- May include links to multiple webpages.
- This platform is subject to the multiple-asset fee.
REQUIRED: Digital entries must include working paywall information in the entry notes, otherwise the entry may be disqualified.
Examples of previous digital winners can be found here.
Social media+
Social media entries should be a URL to a specific social media post. Please do not link to the publication’s full social media page unless otherwise noted. Standalone videos on social media (TikTok, IG Reels) should be entered in Category 5d.
- Single URL
- One link to a specific social media post.
- This platform is subject to the single-asset fee.
- Multiple URLs
- May include multiple links to multiple social media posts.
- This platform is subject to the multiple-asset fee.
Examples of previous social media winners can be found here.
Multiplatform entries+
Entries can also demonstrate command of a single story across multiple platforms listed above, such as:
- A print PDF and a digital URL
- A print PDF and a social URL
- A social URL and a digital URL
- A print PDF, digital URL and social URL
These entries are subject to the multiple-asset fee.
Examples of previous multiplatform winners can be found here (Last year’s competition only had print and digital platforms, so all multiplatform winners were a combination of print and digital).
Use of artificial intelligence
Images or videos that were created in whole or in part by generative artificial intelligence (AI) software or platforms will not be accepted in the illustration, information graphics or multimedia categories of the editorial competition. By submitting in these categories, you attest that the final work was entirely done by the eyes, hands and mind of a human creator.
In all other categories, entries that contain reader-facing AI-generated content will be accepted if the story concerns AI. These entries may use AI-generated content in their design for purposes of reporting, storytelling or to provide examples. Credits for this content must be clearly marked as generated by AI either in the published work or in the notes attached to the entry.
Entries that otherwise use AI-based tools, software or platforms during the process of work are allowed within the Creative Competition. Permissible uses of AI during the process of work could include but are not limited to:
- brainstorming and idea generation
- conceptualizing illustrations
- automating reporting processes or repetitive tasks
- data processing operations like mining, summarization and analysis
- generating underlying code
- identifying errors
- personalizing user experiences
- translating between languages
- improving accessibility
- simulations and usability testing
Entries may be moved to another category or disqualified if they fail to follow these rules as outlined.
Non-English entries
For non-English entries, please provide a thorough summary in English. SND will try to have a translator if needed, but the more information you give judges about the story and how to navigate the experience, the better. Some organizations have submitted an English language version of their work alongside the original.
If you win
This year’s competition will take place in mid-April. Results are announced live on SND’s website throughout. While winners are announced live, awards are not final until SND verifies all of the winners, which happens shortly after the competition ends. Shareable social cards will be uploaded to our awards database for select winners. Emails will be sent to all winners shortly after the competition and certificates will be available to download on AwardForce.
Major changes
New platform: Social media+
This year, social media has been added as a platform for select categories, including all Story Page Design and Line of Coverage categories, among others. You may submit any social media post in its respective topic category. There is no longer a separate social media subcategory like there was last year in the Platforms and Product category. You can still enter a social media portfolio in the Portfolio categories.
New and streamlined categories+
The Illustration and Use of Multimedia parent category has been split into two different parent categories. The Illustration category features topic subcategories. Use of Multimedia now has subcategories for different types of multimedia elements. Each subcategory explains whether an entry is judged on how the element is integrated into the story presentation or if it’s judged on the standalone media.
The Platform and Product parent category has also been split into two different parent categories: Print-Specific Platforms and News Product. Print-Specific Platforms encompasses print sections, newspaper front page and magazine categories. News Product encompasses branding, redesigned site and UX/UI design categories.
Student categories have been updated to better align with the categories in the rest of the competition.
World’s Best-Designed requires additional details+
We are asking all entrants who are submitting to the World’s Best-Designed Print Newspaper and World’s Best-Designed Digital Presence categories to provide a description introducing your publication, news site or organization. This is an opportunity to share details that can’t be seen within the published work itself, like the size of your staff and the hierarchy/departments that are included within, who your audiences are, which platforms and surfaces you are reaching those audiences on and what types of visual storytelling your teams excel at.
For a fuller explanation of changes to this year’s competition, check out our FAQs.
Categories
All entries will be judged for excellence in various criteria, including design and presentation (typography, styling, pacing, organization, photo editing, user experience, information architecture, usability, use of color etc.) as well as innovation (new tools or experimentation). An entry does not need to satisfy all criteria to receive an award.
Reporting and content creation (data visualization, information graphics, use of visual media, illustration and art direction, etc.) will be considered if applicable.
Development (responsiveness, performance, browser compatibility, interactivity, accessibility etc.) will be considered for digital entries.
For non-English print entries, please include a brief explanation of the content in English.
1: Story Page Design+
This category recognizes excellence in the design and presentation of a single story across print, digital or social media platforms. Entries may include a variety of storytelling techniques, including excellent design, infographics, illustration, animation, video, audio and more. Previous winners in this category can be found here.
For newspaper main front single-page (A1) entries, use Category 6a: Newspaper Front Page. Single main-front pages that are entered in Category 1 will be disqualified.
Use the Line of Coverage or Portfolio categories for multiple-story entries.
Use Categories 6d and 6e for all print magazine entries. All other platforms from magazine-based organizations are eligible to be submitted in this category. Print magazine pages are allowed to be submitted in Category 1 if they’re a part of a multiplatform entry, along with a digital or social magazine URL.
Platform options
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages (Single story that spans multiple pages in print)
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
- Multiplatform
Eligible organizations
- Newsroom
- Student publications
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 1 subcategories. Please note that a single piece of work may only be entered within one subcategory in Category 1. You may also enter that same piece of work as part of a multiple page entry and as part of a multiplatform entry within that subcategory. See a full explanation of entry requirements above.
Subcategories
1a. Breaking News+
Description: Stories covering unplanned, urgent events that demand immediate reporting. Coverage must be within one week or one publishing cycle of when the event occurred. Examples include natural disasters, mass shootings, sudden political developments, major accidents or other unfolding crises. Long-term follow-up stories to breaking news events should be entered in International, Investigative, Local & Regional, National or a Line of Coverage category.
1b. International+
Description: Stories covering news and events that focus on global issues that transcend your country’s borders. Examples include coverage of wars and conflicts, international diplomacy and cultural or economic developments abroad.
1c. Politics & Elections+
Description: Stories focused on government, political processes and voting at any level — local, state, national or international. Examples include election campaigns and results, legislative debates, political scandals, policy proposals and coverage of elected officials or parties.
1d. Business, Economy & Technology+
Description: Stories centered on commerce, markets, industry, labor or innovation. Examples include corporate news, artificial intelligence (AI), Wall Street trends, job markets, trade, consumer issues, startups, tech breakthroughs and the impact of business or technology on daily life.
1e. Local & Regional +
Description: Stories highlighting coverage tied to your newsroom’s city, county, state, province, jurisdiction or region. Examples include community events, schools, crime, development or regional culture.
1f. Climate & Environment+
Description: Stories showcasing coverage of environmental issues and their global or local impact. Examples include climate change, conservation, energy, pollution and sustainability efforts.
1g. Health & Science+
Description: Stories focused on scientific discovery, research and public health. Examples include medical studies, space exploration, disease outbreaks and technological innovation in health and science policy.
1h. Social Issues+
Description: Stories addressing societal debates, disparities and movements. Examples include race and equity, gender and identity, immigration, education, housing, poverty and civil rights.
1i. Sports+
Description: Stories devoted to athletics at any level. Examples include professional, collegiate or local sports, major tournaments, athlete profiles, team dynamics, sports betting and the cultural impact of sports.
1j. Investigative+
Description: Stories featuring in-depth reporting that uncovers hidden information and holds power to account. Examples include reporting on corruption, misconduct, hidden systems, abuses of authority, data-driven investigations and long-form exposés that reveal wrongdoing or systemic issues.
1k. National+
Description: Stories covering events, policies, and issues that affect your newsroom’s country as a whole and do not fit neatly into categories 1a-j.
1l. Opinion+
Description: Stories told through the lens of commentary, perspective and analysis. Examples include editorials, op-eds, guest essays, political cartoons, columns and reviews that interpret events or argue a specific viewpoint.
1m. Arts & Entertainment+
Description: Stories highlighting media and media culture. Examples include film, music, theater, television, visual arts, literature, celebrity profiles, festivals and reviews.
1n. Lifestyle+
Description: Stories focused on everyday life, culture and trends. Examples include food, travel, fashion, wellness, relationships, hobbies, home and human-interest features.
2: Infographics+
This category recognizes visual representations of information or data using a combination of text, images, charts and/or diagrams to present complex ideas quickly and clearly and make the information easier for readers to understand. Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Use Line of Coverage or Portfolio categories for multiple-URL entries.
Platform options
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages (Single story that spans multiple pages in print)
- Digital: Single URL
- Multiplatform
Eligible organizations
- Newsroom
- Student publications
Submission guidelines
- If an individual graphic is to be isolated among a wider presentation, add notes to judges in the entry submission.
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 2 subcategories. Please note that a single piece of work may only be entered within one subcategory in Category 2. You may also enter that same piece of work as part of a multiple page entry and as part of a multiplatform entry within that subcategory. See a full explanation of entry requirements above.
Subcategories
2a. Breaking News+
Description: Stories covering unplanned, urgent events that demand immediate reporting. Coverage must be within one week or one publishing cycle of when the event occurred. Examples include natural disasters, mass shootings, sudden political developments, major accidents or other unfolding crises. Long-term follow-up stories to breaking news events should be entered in International, Investigative, Local & Regional, National or a Line of Coverage category.
2b. International+
Description: Stories covering news and events that focus on global issues that transcend your country’s borders. Examples include coverage of wars and conflicts, international diplomacy and cultural or economic developments abroad.
2c. Politics & Elections+
Description: Stories focused on government, political processes and voting at any level — local, state, national or international. Examples include election campaigns and results, legislative debates, political scandals, policy proposals and coverage of elected officials or parties.
2d. Business, Economy & Technology+
Description: Stories centered on commerce, markets, industry, labor or innovation. Examples include corporate news, artificial intelligence (AI), Wall Street trends, job markets, trade, consumer issues, startups, tech breakthroughs and the impact of business or technology on daily life.
2e. Local & Regional +
Description: Stories highlighting coverage tied to your newsroom’s city, county, state, province, jurisdiction or region. Examples include community events, schools, crime, development or regional culture.
2f. Climate & Environment+
Description: Stories showcasing coverage of environmental issues and their global or local impact. Examples include climate change, conservation, energy, pollution and sustainability efforts.
2g. Health & Science+
Description: Stories focused on scientific discovery, research and public health. Examples include medical studies, space exploration, disease outbreaks and technological innovation in health and science policy.
2h. Social Issues+
Description: Stories addressing societal debates, disparities and movements. Examples include race and equity, gender and identity, immigration, education, housing, poverty and civil rights.
2i. Sports+
Description: Stories devoted to athletics at any level. Examples include professional, collegiate or local sports, major tournaments, athlete profiles, team dynamics, sports betting and the cultural impact of sports.
2j. Investigative+
Description: Stories featuring in-depth reporting that uncovers hidden information and holds power to account. Examples include reporting on corruption, misconduct, hidden systems, abuses of authority, data-driven investigations and long-form exposés that reveal wrongdoing or systemic issues.
2k. National+
Description: Stories covering events, policies, and issues that affect your newsroom’s country as a whole and do not fit neatly into categories 2a-j.
2l. Opinion+
Description: Stories told through the lens of commentary, perspective and analysis. Examples include editorials, op-eds, guest essays, political cartoons, columns and reviews that interpret events or argue a specific viewpoint.
2m. Arts & Entertainment+
Description: Stories highlighting media and media culture. Examples include film, music, theater, television, visual arts, literature, celebrity profiles, festivals and reviews.
2n. Lifestyle+
Description: Stories focused on everyday life, culture and trends. Examples include food, travel, fashion, wellness, relationships, hobbies, home and human-interest features.
3: Line of Coverage+
This category recognizes excellence throughout a line of coverage around singular events, topics/themes and series/packages of stories. Entries may include a variety of storytelling techniques, including excellent design, infographics, illustration, animation, video or audio. Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Coverage must include multiple stories either from a single day or across multiple days. Stories do not have to be on consecutive pages or consecutive publication dates.
Categories 3o-3s are the Special Topics categories, for coverage related to specific news events that were widely covered this year.
Platform options
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Multiple URLs
- Multiplatform
Eligible organizations
- Newsroom
- Student publications
Submission guidelines
- Print: Submit 2–7 stories covering the same event or topic. You may choose to include some or all pages with each story.
- Digital: Please submit 2-7 related URLs covering the same event or topic.
- Social: Please submit 2-7 related URLs covering the same event or topic.
- Multiplatform: Submit 2-7 digital URLs, 2-7 social URLs and/or 2-7 print stories that best demonstrate coverage of one topic across several days.
- You may submit more than one entry per subcategory but individual URLs/pages should NOT be repeated among entries within the same subcategory. You cannot submit the same selection of stories to more than one subcategory.
- For unrelated stories, please use the portfolio category.
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 3 subcategories. See a full explanation of entry requirements above.
Subcategories
3a. Breaking News+
Description: Stories covering unplanned, urgent events that demand immediate reporting. Coverage must be within one week or one publishing cycle of when the event occurred. Examples include natural disasters, mass shootings, sudden political developments, major accidents or other unfolding crises. Long-term follow-up stories to breaking news events should be entered in International, Investigative, Local & Regional, National or a Line of Coverage category.
3b. International+
Description: Stories covering news and events that focus on global issues that transcend your country’s borders. Examples include coverage of wars and conflicts, international diplomacy and cultural or economic developments abroad. Stories related to the conflict in the Middle East, the Russia/Ukraine war or the death of Pope Francis and election of Pope Leo XIV should be entered in categories 3o, 3p or 3q
3c. Politics & Elections+
Description: Stories focused on government, political processes and voting at any level — local, state, national or international. Examples include election campaigns and results, legislative debates, political scandals, policy proposals and coverage of elected officials or parties. Stories related to Donald Trump’s second term should be entered in Category 3s.
3d. Business, Economy & Technology+
Description: Stories centered on commerce, markets, industry, labor or innovation. Examples include corporate news, Wall Street trends, job markets, trade, consumer issues, startups, tech breakthroughs and the impact of business or technology on daily life. Stories related to artificial intelligence should be entered in Category 3r.
3e. Local & Regional +
Description: Stories highlighting coverage tied to your newsroom’s city, county, state, province, jurisdiction or region. Examples include community events, schools, crime, development or regional culture.
3f. Climate & Environment+
Description: Stories showcasing coverage of environmental issues and their global or local impact. Examples include climate change, conservation, energy, pollution and sustainability efforts.
3g. Health & Science+
Description: Stories focused on scientific discovery, research and public health. Examples include medical studies, space exploration, disease outbreaks and technological innovation in health and science policy.
3h. Social Issues+
Description: Stories addressing societal debates, disparities and movements. Examples include race and equity, gender and identity, immigration, education, housing, poverty and civil rights.
3i. Sports+
Description: Stories devoted to athletics at any level. Examples include professional, collegiate or local sports, major tournaments, athlete profiles, team dynamics, sports betting and the cultural impact of sports.
3j. Investigative+
Description: Stories featuring in-depth reporting that uncovers hidden information and holds power to account. Examples include reporting on corruption, misconduct, hidden systems, abuses of authority, data-driven investigations and long-form exposés that reveal wrongdoing or systemic issues.
3k. National+
Description: Stories covering events, policies, and issues that affect your newsroom’s country as a whole and do not fit neatly into categories 3a-j.
3l. Opinion+
Description: Stories told through the lens of commentary, perspective and analysis. Examples include editorials, op-eds, guest essays, political cartoons, columns and reviews that interpret events or argue a specific viewpoint.
3m. Arts & Entertainment+
Description: Stories highlighting media and media culture. Examples include film, music, theater, television, visual arts, literature, celebrity profiles, festivals and reviews.
3n. Lifestyle+
Description: Stories focused on everyday life, culture and trends. Examples include food, travel, fashion, wellness, relationships, hobbies, home and human-interest features.
3o. Special Topic: Russia-Ukraine War+
Description: Coverage related to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Entries may include reporting on military developments, political and diplomatic responses, humanitarian crises, refugee stories, economic impacts or the broader global consequences of the conflict.
3p: Special Topic: Conflict in the Middle East+
Description: Coverage focused on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with particular attention to the Israel-Hamas war and its ramifications. Entries may include reporting on related military operations, political and diplomatic developments, humanitarian crises, displacement of people and the broader impact of escalating tensions across neighboring areas.
3q: Special Topic: Death of Pope Francis & Election of Pope Leo XIV+
Description: Coverage surrounding the death of Pope Francis and the new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV. Entries may include obituary packages, retrospectives on his life and papacy, global reaction, funeral and memorial coverage and the transition to new Church leadership.
3r: Special Topic: AI+
Description: Coverage related to artificial intelligence and its impact. Entries may include reporting on technological breakthroughs, ethics and regulation, workplace disruption, cultural shifts, risks and misinformation or the global economic and social consequences of AI. The full rules around AI can be found at the top of the Call.
3s: Special Topic: Donald Trump’s second term +
Description: Coverage related to Donald Trump’s second term as President of the United States. Entries may include reporting on policies and legislation, administrative actions, political controversies, investigations, public response and the broader national and global impact of his time in office.
4: Illustration +
This category recognizes excellence in illustration and art direction. Entries will be judged for excellence on the concept, creativity and relevance to the story. This category recognizes the illustration(s) entered, not the overall page design. Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Comics should be entered in Category 5h, Illustrated Reporting.
Unlike others, this category is not sorted by platforms. Instead, it is organized by whether the illustration was created in-house or commissioned. In-house illustrations are produced by a member of a publication’s staff. Commissioned illustrations are created by an outside artist that was hired by a publication. For both categories, you may submit a single illustration or multiple illustrations.
Submission options (entries incurring multiple-asset fees are starred*):
- In-house: Single illustration
- In-house: Multiple illustrations*
- Commissioned: Single illustration
- Commissioned: Multiple illustrations*
Eligible organizations
- Newsroom
- Student publications
Submission guidelines
- Single Illustrations: Submit one (1) full page PDF or URL for each entry.
- Multiple Illustrations: Submit 2-7 related illustrations.
- In addition to the PDF or URL, attach JPEGs of the illustrations you’d like judged to your entry, so judges can easily identify the specific work being evaluated. These can be screenshots or smaller versions of the artwork — the original file is not required.
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 4 subcategories. Please note that a single illustration may only be entered within one subcategory in Category 4. However, you can submit an illustration twice within one subcategory if it is entered as a single illustration entry and as a part of a multiple illustration entry. See a full explanation of entry requirements above.
Subcategories
4a. Breaking News+
Description: Stories covering unplanned, urgent events that demand immediate reporting. Coverage must be within one week or one publishing cycle of when the event occurred. Examples include natural disasters, mass shootings, sudden political developments, major accidents or other unfolding crises. Long-term follow-up stories to breaking news events should be entered in International, Investigative, Local & Regional, National or a Line of Coverage category.
4b. International+
Description: Stories covering news and events that focus on global issues that transcend your country’s borders. Examples include coverage of wars and conflicts, international diplomacy and cultural or economic developments abroad.
4c. Politics & Elections+
Description: Stories focused on government, political processes and voting at any level — local, state, national or international. Examples include election campaigns and results, legislative debates, political scandals, policy proposals and coverage of elected officials or parties.
4d. Business, Economy & Technology+
Description: Stories centered on commerce, markets, industry, labor, or innovation. Examples include corporate news, artificial intelligence (AI), Wall Street trends, job markets, trade, consumer issues, startups, tech breakthroughs, and the impact of business or technology on daily life.
4e. Local & Regional +
Description: Stories highlighting coverage tied to your newsroom’s city, county, state, province, jurisdiction or region. Examples include community events, schools, crime, development or regional culture.
4f. Climate & Environment+
Description: Stories showcasing coverage of environmental issues and their global or local impact. Examples include climate change, conservation, energy, pollution and sustainability efforts.
4g. Health & Science+
Description: Stories focused on scientific discovery, research and public health. Examples include medical studies, space exploration, disease outbreaks and technological innovation in health and science policy.
4h. Social Issues+
Description: Stories addressing societal debates, disparities and movements. Examples include race and equity, gender and identity, immigration, education, housing, poverty and civil rights.
4i. Sports+
Description: Stories devoted to athletics at any level. Examples include professional, collegiate or local sports, major tournaments, athlete profiles, team dynamics, sports betting and the cultural impact of sports.
4j. Investigative+
Description: Stories featuring in-depth reporting that uncovers hidden information and holds power to account. Examples include reporting on corruption, misconduct, hidden systems, abuses of authority, data-driven investigations and long-form exposés that reveal wrongdoing or systemic issues.
4k. National+
Description: Stories covering events, policies, and issues that affect your newsroom’s country as a whole and do not fit neatly into categories 4a-j.
4l. Opinion+
Description: Stories told through the lens of commentary, perspective and analysis. Examples include editorials, op-eds, guest essays, political cartoons, columns and reviews that interpret events or argue a specific viewpoint.
4m. Arts & Entertainment+
Description: Stories highlighting media and media culture. Examples include film, music, theater, television, visual arts, literature, celebrity profiles, festivals and reviews.
4n. Lifestyle+
Description: Stories focused on everyday life, culture and trends. Examples include food, travel, fashion, wellness, relationships, hobbies, home and human-interest features.
5: Use of Multimedia and Design Elements+
This category recognizes excellence in specific types of multimedia and design elements, including photography, video, audio, animation, typography and illustrated reporting. Judges will consider both the design and content of the element itself and how the element interacts with the rest of the page design unless otherwise specified. For multiple URL entries, use Line of Coverage or Portfolio. Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Platform options
Platforms will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for platform information.
Eligible organizations
- Newsroom
- Student publications
Submission guidelines
Submission guidelines will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for submission information.
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 5 subcategories.
Subcategories
5a. Photo Story Design (single date)+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the design and presentation of a photo-driven story published on a single date. Entries may include news, features, sports or cultural coverage where photography is the primary storytelling element.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages (Single story that spans multiple pages in print)
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a URL, print page or story package from a single publication date.
5b. Photo Series Design (multiple dates)+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the design and presentation of a photo-driven story or project published across multiple dates. Entries may include news, features, sports or cultural coverage where photography builds a continuing narrative.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Multiple URLs
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit pages or URLs from an entire series spanning more than one day.
5c. Use of Video+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in story page design that highlights the use of video. Video should be integral to the submission. Entries may include news reports, features, sports or cultural coverage.
Platforms accepted
- Multiplatform
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
5d. Video Production+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the production of video storytelling across formats. Entries may include documentaries, special reports or standalone videos uploaded to platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok. This category also encompasses all animation that is fully integrated within a video.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
Submission guidelines: Please note which element(s) on the page should be judged if it is part of a broader presentation, along with any applicable details.
5e. Use of Animation +
Description: This category recognizes excellence in story page design that uses animation as a primary design element. Entries may include explanatory graphics, motion illustrations or animated visualizations. Longer-form videos that include animation or are fully animated should be submitted in the Video Production category.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Please note which element(s) on the page should be judged, along with any applicable details.
5f: Use of Audio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the design and presentation of a story that uses audio as a primary design element.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Please note which element(s) on the page should be judged, along with any applicable details.
5g. Use of Typography+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the use of typography as a storytelling tool. Entries may include headline treatments, custom lettering or data presentations.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Single page
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Please note which element(s) on the page should be judged, along with any applicable details.
5h. Illustrated Reporting+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in reporting conveyed primarily through illustration, comics or sequential art. Entries may include explanatory stories, narrative features or cultural coverage where the story cannot exist without the illustrations. For stories where the text can stand alone and illustrations are supplemental, submit in the regular Illustrations category instead.
Platforms accepted
- Multiplatform
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages (Single story that spans multiple pages in print)
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
5i. Experimental+
Description: Submit work that pushes the boundaries of design and storytelling in innovative ways. Entries may include new print formats, interactive experiences, unconventional layouts or other experimental approaches that enhance audience engagement, visual impact or narrative clarity.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Single URL
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Single URL
- Social: Multiple URLs
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: If relevant, include a URL to a download page or a video showing the entry in use. Please include as much pertinent information as possible to give judges the best opportunity to see how a reader/viewer would see the work.
6: Print-specific Platforms+
This category recognizes excellence in storytelling specifically in the print medium. While other categories evaluate the content on a story-by-story basis, this category rewards excellence in balancing multiple stories in the same space, with the exception of Category 6d. This can be through single pages like the front page, through regularly-published sections or through special sections. Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Platforms
In all subcategories, the entire platform/product will be judged; individual stories or packages cannot be isolated within a broader platform or project, with the exception of Category 6d. Platforms will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for platform information.
Eligible organizations
- Newsroom
- Student publications
Submission guidelines
Submission guidelines will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for submission information. For non-English entries, please include a brief explanation of the content in English.
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 6 subcategories.
Subcategories
6a. Newspaper: Front Page+
This category recognizes excellence in the design of the front page of the newspaper, commonly known as A1 or 1A. Pages may be entered that have breaking news, creative design of enterprise work and strong hierarchy and news value.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Single page
6b. Newspaper: Section+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the design across a single edition of a regularly published print section devoted to a specific area of coverage such as daily news, local/regional/metro, business, sports, features or opinion.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Multiple pages
Submission guidelines: Entries should consist of one complete section from the past year. Upload as a single PDF in the entry portal. Sections should be submitted in full, including any advertisements.
6c. Newspaper: Special Section+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the design of a standalone section produced specifically for a special event, topic or story.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Multiple pages
Submission guidelines: This category is for sections that appear fewer than four (4) times a year. Single pages from special sections should be entered in the page design category. Entries should consist of a complete section from the past year. Upload as a single PDF in the entry portal. Sections should be submitted in full, including any advertisements.
6d. Magazine: Story Page+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in design for a single story within a magazine.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
Submission guidelines: A single page can be entered twice within this category, once as a single page entry and once as a part of a Multiple pages entry.
6e. Magazine: Publication +
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the design of a regularly-published magazine.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Multiple pages
Submission guidelines: Entries should consist of a complete section from the past year, uploaded as a single PDF in the entry portal. Sections should be submitted in full, including any advertisements.
6f. Magazine: Special Edition+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the design of a single, one-time magazine produced around a special theme or event. Examples include anniversary issues, year-in-review magazines or commemorative editions.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Multiple pages
Submission guidelines: Entries should consist of a complete section from the past year, uploaded as a single PDF in the entry portal. Sections should be submitted in full, including any advertisements.
7: News Product+
This category recognizes the use of thoughtful or innovative design experiences concentrating on user experience, user interface design and digital products. Entries will be judged on design (typography, styling, organization, information architecture, usability, use of color etc.) and development (responsiveness, performance, browser compatibility, interactivity etc.). Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Platforms
Platforms will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for platform information.
Eligible organizations
- Newsroom
- Student publications
- Product teams within a news organization
Submission guidelines
- Entries can be submitted as screenshots, 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, including mockups or user journeys. Entrants can also upload a PDF explaining how certain designs and features work, especially if there is functionality not accessible from the URL, along with details of the process and user journey.
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 7 subcategories.
Subcategories
7a. Podcast Design+
Description: Work that demonstrates the use of thoughtful or innovative design and presentation of a single podcast or podcast series, including branding, episode layouts, cover art and promotional materials that enhance storytelling and audience engagement.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Digital: Single URL
7b. UX/UI Design+
Description: Submit work that demonstrates thoughtful or innovative design focused on user interaction, experience or interface within a news platform. Entries may include interactive tools such as polls, surveys, quizzes, mapping features or other elements that allow readers to actively engage with content while enhancing clarity, usability and storytelling impact.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Digital: Single URL
7c. Newsletter Design+
Description: Submit work that demonstrates excellence in the design and presentation of newsletters, including daily, weekly or special editions.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Digital: Single URL
7d. New Site, App or Landing Page+
Description: Submit work that showcases the design and launch of a new digital platform, including websites, apps or landing pages. Entries may be judged on user experience, interface design, navigation, visual design, content organization and how effectively the product meets audience needs and storytelling goals.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Digital: Single URL
7e. Redesigned Site, App, Homepage or Print Product+
Description: Submit work that demonstrates excellence in the redesign of an existing website, app, homepage or print product.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Multiple URLs
Submission guidelines: Enter two editions, pages or versions from before the redesign and enter two editions, pages, versions from after the redesign. In the description, include any additional details you think the judges should know.
7f. Branding Identity for Series, Section, Vertical or Product+
Description: Submit work that demonstrates creativity and consistency in branding for a series, section, vertical or product. Entries may include logos, color palettes, typography, iconography and overall visual identity that strengthens recognition, cohesion and storytelling across multiple platforms.
Platforms accepted
- Multiplatform
- Digital: Single URL
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
8: Non-Editorial+
This category recognizes excellence in materials produced by non-editorial publications or non-editorial teams within a news organization including advertorials, ad campaigns, corporate reports or posters. Entries will be judged on the design, web development, quality of execution and how effective the messaging is. Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Platforms
Platforms will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for platform information.
Eligible organizations
- Non-Editorial publications
- Non-Editorial teams within a news organization
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 8 subcategories.
Subcategories
8a. Advertorial Magazines & Publications+
Description: This category recognizes published work that blends editorial-quality storytelling with brand-driven messaging. Examples include stand-alone brand sponsored magazines or publications and sponsored content sections within an editorial publication.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
8b. Advertising & Ad Campaigns+
Description: This category recognizes a coordinated series of advertisements that share a common idea, visual style and message, all created to promote a product, service, brand or initiative.
Platforms accepted
- Multiplatform
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Single URL
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Single URL
- Social: Multiple URLs
8c. Branding & Identity Campaigns+
Description: This category recognizes a series of work that expresses the visual identity of a brand across multiple platforms and/or materials.
Platforms accepted
- Multiplatform
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Single URL
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Single URL
- Social: Multiple URLs
8d. Brochures & Catalogs+
Description: This category recognizes work created to promote and explain a company, product, service or event.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Multiple pages
8e. Corporate Reports+
Description: This category recognizes publications that combine information design and brand storytelling to communicate information about an organization’s performance, impact or operations. Examples include annual reports, corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and financial reports.
Platforms accepted
- Multiplatform
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Single URL
8f. Data Visualization & Infographics+
Description: This category recognizes data-driven visuals and visual graphics with elevated design and presentation. Examples include charts and graphs, timelines, flow charts and diagrams.
Platforms accepted
- Multiplatform
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Single URL
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Single URL
- Social: Multiple URLs
8g. Email Marketing+
Description: This category recognizes email communication that promotes a company’s brand, service or product. Examples include promotional, informational and automated emails.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Single URL
- Digital: Multiple URLs
8h. Posters+
Description: This category recognizes posters created to promote a brand or company values or share information about a company, event or campaign.
Platforms accepted
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
8i. Presentations+
Description: This category recognizes slide decks, videos and interactive reports created for the purposes of presenting information or promotions.
Platforms accepted
- Multiplatform
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Single URL
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Single URL
- Social: Multiple URLs
8j. Social Media Campaign+
Description: This category recognizes a series of marketing and advertisements designed for social media platforms. Examples include static advertisements, animations and videos.
Platforms accepted
- Social: Multiple URLs
8k. UX/UI Design+
Description: Submit work that demonstrates thoughtful or innovative design focused on user interaction, experience or interface within a platform. Entries may include interactive tools such as polls, surveys, quizzes, mapping features or other elements that allow readers to actively engage with content while enhancing clarity, usability and informational impact.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Single URL
8l. Events+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in designed materials for corporate, nonprofit or news-related events. Examples include programs, presentations and signage. Submit packaged work that represents how the materials are coordinated for an event.
Platforms accepted
- Multiplatform
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Multiple URLs
8m. Use of Multimedia+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in multimedia and design elements, including photography, video, audio, animation or typography.
Platforms accepted
- Digital: Single URL
9: Student Work+
This is for work published in a student publication and non-published assignments from classes. Work from internships should be entered in the other respective categories. Please include a note on any relevant factors to help judges understand the objectives and how success was measured. Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Categories 9g and 9i are the only categories in the competition where unpublished work may be entered.
Students may also opt to submit work that was published in a student publication in the professional categories if they want their work to be judged alongside and to the same standards of excellence as professional pieces. Students should submit their work in this category if they want their work judged alongside and to the same standards of excellence as other student work.
Platforms
Platforms will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for platform information.
Eligible organizations:
- Student classwork
- Student publications
Submission guidelines
Submission guidelines will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for submission information.
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 9 subcategories.
Subcategories
9a. Story Page Design+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the design and presentation of a single story across print, digital or social media platforms. Entries may include a variety of storytelling techniques, including excellent design, infographics, illustration, animation, video, audio and more.
Platforms accepted:
- Multiplatform
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages (Single story that spans multiple pages in print)
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
9b. Infographics+
Description: This category recognizes visual representations of information or data using a combination of text, images, charts and/or diagrams to present complex ideas quickly and clearly and make the information easier for readers to understand.
Platforms accepted:
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages (Single story that spans multiple pages in print)
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: If an individual graphic is to be isolated among a wider presentation, add notes to judges in the entry submission.
9c. Line of Coverage+
Description: This category recognizes excellence throughout a line of coverage around singular events, topics/themes and series/packages of stories. Entries may include a variety of storytelling techniques, including excellent design, infographics, illustration, animation, video or audio. Coverage must include multiple stories either from a single day or across multiple days. Stories do not have to be on consecutive pages or consecutive publication dates.
Platforms accepted:
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Multiple URLs
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines:
- Multiplatform: Submit 2-7 digital URLs, 2-7 social URLs and/or 2-7 print stories that best demonstrate coverage of one topic across several days.
- Print: Submit 2–7 stories covering the same event or topic. You may choose to include some or all pages with each story.
- Digital: Please submit 2-7 related URLs covering the same event or topic.
- Social: Please submit 2-7 related URLs covering the same event or topic.
9d. Illustration+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in illustration and art direction. Entries will be judged for excellence on the concept, creativity and relevance to the story. This category recognizes the illustration(s) entered, not the overall page design. Unlike others, this category is not sorted by platforms. Instead, it is organized by whether the illustration was created in-house or commissioned. In-house illustrations are produced by a member of a publication’s staff. Commissioned illustrations are created by an outside artist that was hired by a publication. For both categories, you may submit a single illustration or multiple illustrations.
Submission options (multiple asset fees are starred):
- In-house: Single illustration
- In-house: Multiple illustrations*
- Commissioned: Single illustration
- Commissioned: Multiple illustration*
Submission guidelines:
- Attach JPEGs of the illustrations you’d like judged directly to your entry, so judges can easily identify the specific work being evaluated. These can be screenshots or smaller versions of the artwork — the original file is not required.
- Single Illustrations: Submit one (1) PDF or URL for each entry.
9e. Use of Multimedia+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in specific types of multimedia and design elements, including photography, video, audio, animation, typography and illustrated reporting. Judges will consider both the design and content of the element itself and how the element interacts with the rest of the page design.
Platforms accepted:
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a story that highlights the use of multimedia Please note which element(s) on the page should be judged if it is part of a broader presentation, along with any applicable details.
9f. Non-Editorial+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in non-editorial work, including ads, posters, flyers, social media campaigns and more.
Platforms accepted:
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Single URL
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Social: Single URL
- Social: Multiple URLs
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit print work, digital URLs or social media posts of any non-editorial designs.
9g. Individual Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in the body of work designed by a single designer across any topic and skill. This can include work done for a student publication, unpublished class work or non-editorial design.
Platforms accepted:
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit an individual portfolio of exactly five (5) URLs and/or print pages. 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. Individuals may enter more than one portfolio but individual URLs/pages should NOT be repeated among entries.
9h. Staff Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in a staff portfolio produced for a student publication. Submit a body of work across any topic.
Platforms accepted:
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a staff portfolio of exactly eight (8) URLs and/or print pages. A Staff Portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort; organizations may enter more than one portfolio but individual URLs/pages should NOT be repeated among entries.
9i. Unpublished Class Work+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in work done for class assignments that were not published in student news publications. Examples may include recreating a professional design, designing a faux-magazine or newspaper cover, non-narrative story formats and creating logos or illustrations.
Platforms accepted:
- Print: Single page
- Print: Multiple pages
- Digital: Single URL
- Social: Single URL
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a JPG, PDF or URL of the final product, along with a description of the class assignment.
10: Portfolios+
This category recognizes excellence in the body of work designed by a single designer or staff across various topics and skills. Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Platforms accepted
Platforms will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for submission information.
Eligible organizations
- Newsrooms
- Student publications
- Students may opt to submit portfolios with work that was published in a student publication in this category if they want the work to be judged alongside and to the same standards of excellence as professional portfolios. They may opt to submit a portfolio in category 9g if they want the work to be judged alongside and to the same standards of excellence as student portfolios.
Submission guidelines
Individuals and staff may enter more than one portfolio per subcategory but individual URLs/pages should NOT be repeated among entries within the same subcategory.
To ensure a fair and unbiased judging process, please refrain from including an individual contributor’s full name in the title of an entry or in the filename of any attachments. This allows our judges to review each piece without any preconceptions or biases, and ensures that every entry is evaluated solely on its own merits.
Submission guidelines will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for submission information.
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 10 subcategories.
Subcategories
10a. Individual: Single Topic Story Page Design Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in an individual designer’s page design portfolio of a single topic.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit an individual portfolio of exactly five (5) URLs and/or print pages. 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.
10b. Individual: Multiple Topics Story Page Design Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in an individual designer’s page design portfolio spanning multiple topics. Coverage can span a range of subjects such as news, business, sports, features or science.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit an individual portfolio of exactly five (5) URLs and/or print pages. 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.
10c. Individual: Infographics Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in an individual infographic designer’s portfolio. Submit a collection of work that may contain data-driven graphics, charts, maps or explanatory visualizations.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit an individual portfolio of exactly five (5) URLs and/or print pages. 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.
10d. Individual: Illustration Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in an individual illustrator’s portfolio. Submit a collection that may include editorial illustrations, explanatory visuals or sequential artwork.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit an individual portfolio of exactly five (5) URLs and/or print pages. 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.
10e. Individual: Art Direction Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in an individual art director’s portfolio. Submit a collection of commissioned editorial visuals across any topic that the designer helped conceptualize or edit.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit an individual portfolio of exactly five (5) URLs and/or print pages. 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.
10f. Individual: Visual Editing Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence of an individual visual editor, where the editor plays a central role in shaping the narrative through visual media. Submit a body of work that showcases editorial decision-making across formats — photo, video, illustration, graphics and text — and how these choices enhanced the storytelling. The focus is on the integration of content and visuals to create compelling, multiplatform journalism.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit an individual portfolio of exactly five (5) URLs and/or print pages. Please include any additional documents that are necessary to explain to judges how you shaped storytelling, including before and afters or in progress visuals. You must enter a description explaining your role in each project or your entry will be disqualified. An individual portfolio should be edited 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.
10g. Individual: Social Media Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in an individual social media designer’s portfolio on any social platform. Submit a collection that demonstrates creative storytelling, visual and effective design across social platforms, including interactive posts and multimedia.
Platforms accepted:
- Social: Multiple URLs
Submission guidelines: Submit an individual portfolio of exactly five (5) 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.
10h. Individual: Product Design Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in an individual product designer’s portfolio. Submit a collection that demonstrates the use of thoughtful or innovative design experiences concentrating on user experience or user interface design.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
Submission guidelines: Submit an individual portfolio of exactly five (5) URLs. Entrants can also upload a PDF explaining how certain designs and features work, especially if there is functionality not accessible from the URL, along with details of the process and user journey. 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.
10i. Staff: Single Topic Story Page Design Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in a staff page design portfolio of a single topic.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a staff portfolio of exactly eight (8) URLs and/or print pages. A staff portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort.
10j. Staff: Multiple Topics Story Page Design Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in a staff page design portfolio covering any combination of topics.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a staff portfolio of exactly eight (8) URLs and/or print pages. A staff portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort.
10k. Staff: Infographics Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in a staff portfolio of infographics. Submit a collection of work that may contain data-driven graphics, charts, maps or explanatory visualizations.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a staff portfolio of exactly eight (8) URLs and/or print pages. A Staff Portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort.
10l. Staff: Illustration Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in a staff portfolio of original illustrations. Submit a collection that may include editorial illustrations, explanatory visuals or sequential artwork.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a staff portfolio of exactly eight (8) URLs and/or print pages. A staff portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort.
10m. Staff: Art Direction Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in a staff portfolio of art direction. Submit a collection of commissioned editorial visuals across any topic that designers helped conceptualize or edit.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a staff portfolio of exactly eight (8) URLs and/or print pages. A staff portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort.
10n. Staff: Visual Editing Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in a staff’s editors portfolio of visual editing, where the editors play a central role in shaping the narrative through visual media. Submit a body of work that showcases editorial decision-making across formats—photo, video, illustration, graphics and text—and how these choices enhanced the storytelling. The focus is on the integration of content and visuals to create compelling, multiplatform journalism.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
- Print: Multiple pages
- Multiplatform
Submission guidelines: Submit a staff portfolio of exactly eight (8) URLs and/or print pages. Please include any additional documents that are necessary to explain to judges how you shaped storytelling, including before and afters, in progress visuals. You must enter a description explaining your role in each project or your entry will be disqualified. A staff portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort.
10o. Staff: Social Media Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in a staff portfolio of social media work on any social platform. Submit a collection that demonstrates creative storytelling, visual engagement, and effective design, including interactive posts, multimedia, and campaigns.
Platforms accepted:
- Social: Multiple URLs
Submission guidelines: Submit a staff portfolio of exactly eight (8) URLs. Do not link to the publication’s full social media page. A staff portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort.
10p. Staff: Product Portfolio+
Description: This category recognizes excellence in a staff portfolio of product work. Submit a collection that demonstrates the use of thoughtful or innovative design experiences concentrating on user experience or user interface design.
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
Submission guidelines: Submit a staff portfolio of exactly eight (8) URLs. Entrants can also upload a PDF explaining how certain designs and features work, especially if there is functionality not accessible from the URL, along with details of the process and user journey. A staff portfolio should be designed by different people as a staff effort.
11: World’s Best Designed+
This is the highest honor within the Creative Competition for publications, news sites or organizations and is awarded for overall visual excellence. The World’s Best-Designed winners set the standard for our industry.
In this category, entries will be evaluated on visual storytelling across multiple disciplines, including but not limited to:
- Use of visuals (photography, illustration, infographics, etc.)
- Harmony between visuals and text
- Cohesion between storytelling and product
- News judgment
- Creative range and variety in approach
- Level of execution
- User experience and user interface
- Responsiveness across all surfaces and devices
- Accessibility and technical performance
- Voice
- Size of the organization
The work that you submit in this category should showcase the breadth and depth of work produced throughout the year and demonstrate a mastery of all of the disciplines that are awarded in other categories of the Creative Competition.
As part of this entry, you are asked to provide a description introducing your publication, news site or organization. This is an opportunity to share details that can’t be seen within the published work itself, like the size of your staff and the hierarchy/departments that are included within, who your audiences are, which platforms and surfaces you are reaching those audiences on and what types of visual storytelling your teams excel at.
Judges should come away from your entry with a strong sense of the priorities of your organization, the collective strengths of your staff, how different visual departments collaborate and which audiences you are serving.
Historically, the best-designed publications:
- Tell stories clearly, powerfully and beautifully.
- Balance artistic ambition with editorial integrity.
- Treat every page, screen and surface as important.
- Provide a reader-first experience that is informative, immersive and inspiring.
This category is not mandatory. Only “staff” will be allowed as a credit when entering. Only one entry per organization is allowed in each of these categories. All World’s Best-Designed categories are free for members.
Previous winners in this category can be found here.
Platforms
- Platforms will vary; please refer to each subcategory’s description for platform information.
Eligible organizations
- Newsrooms
The above guidelines are applicable to all Category 11 subcategories.
Subcategories
11a. World’s Best-Designed: Print Newspaper+
Platforms accepted:
- Print: Multiple pages
Submission guidelines: Submit five (5) complete editions from 2025 as individual PDFs (one edition per file) via the digital entry portal. All five editions should come from different weeks – more than seven days apart. No magazines may be entered in this category.
11b. World’s Best-Designed: Digital Presence+
Platforms accepted:
- Digital: Multiple URLs
Submission guidelines:
Submit URLs or links to download for the following from your organization:
- Homepage
- Mobile app
- Social media feed of your choosing
- Default article template
And at least five but no more than 15 additional URLs to show your organization’s mastery of disciplines recognized in other categories of the Creative Competition, including story page design, infographics, line of coverage, art direction, illustration, multimedia (photo story, video, animation etc.) and news product.
If you do not have examples of any of the above requirements, you can still enter this category, but must explain why some items are missing in your submission
Because of the difficulty in evaluating work from the previous year for a homepage, mobile app, social media feed or standard article page, judges will assess the current look and content of the pages as it appears during the competition. If your organization has made – or is planning to make – any major updates in 2026 ahead of the competition, please explain what changes were made in your submission and include screenshots of the previous version of the websites/apps, if possible.
Additional awards+
After all other winners are chosen in categories 1 through 10, the entire jury will revisit all Gold medals that were given throughout the Creative Competition. These medal-winning entries will then be evaluated against one another for these additional honors and judges will vote on elevating the work above the Gold medals that were already received.
World’s Best Designer
This is the highest honor that an individual designer can receive in the Creative Competition and will be chosen from the highest medal winners among individual portfolio categories. Individual portfolio winners will be automatically eligible for World’s Best Designer. You do not need to enter separately. If not enough Gold medals were awarded in portfolio categories, additional medal winners may also be deemed eligible by the competition chair.
World’s Best Emerging Designer
This is the highest honor that an early-career designer can receive in the Creative Competition, recognizing designers who are students or have five or fewer years of professional experience. Eligible designers need to have started full-time work in 2021 or later. To enter, individual portfolio entrants must check a box in AwardForce confirming their eligibility for this award. If not enough Gold medals were awarded for eligible portfolios, additional medal winners may also be deemed eligible by the competition chair.
Best in Show
This is the highest honor that an individual entry can receive in the Creative Competition. All gold medal winners from the competition are automatically eligible for this award. You do not need to enter separately.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About the competition and eligibility | Categories | How to enter | Judging | Other
About the competition and eligibility
Who can enter and how do I get a discount?+
The Creative Competition is open to all media and non-editorial publications. Student work created for student publications or classes is also eligible. You do not need to be a member of SND to participate in the competition. However, SND members and students receive a discount on entries. Becoming an SND member for just $55 per year allows you to join a community of peers for networking opportunities and your membership makes it possible for us to continue initiatives that celebrate and support our industry.
SND also offers these membership tiers: an emerging economies membership, a trust membership and student membership. Anyone who signs up for one of these memberships also gets one free entry to this year’s competition.
To find the member discounts codes:
Scroll down to the “SND Creative Competition Member Discount” section of the page and you will find the member codes
- Go to SND.org
- Hover over the “Join SND/Log in” menu item and click “Member sign-in”
- After you’ve logged in, hover over the “Join SND/Log in” menu item again and click “SND Members”
Do I need to be a member of SND to enter?+
No, the competition is open to everyone.
What kind of entries are eligible?+
This year’s competition accepts print, digital, social media and more from all news organizations. Newspapers, magazines and digital-only publications are all eligible.
Product teams at news organizations are eligible to submit entries to Category 7.
Non-editorial publications and non-editorial teams at news organizations are eligible to submit entries in Category 8, such as ad campaigns, corporate reports, presentations and more.
For students, work done for student publications is eligible in all categories, along with the student-specific category. Students may opt to submit work that was published in a student publication in the professional categories if they want the work to be judged alongside and to the same standards of excellence as professional pieces. Students should submit their work in the student category (Category 9) if they want their work judged alongside and to the same standards of excellence as other student work. Editorial work done for a class assignment should only be entered in Category 9g or 9i. Work done for internships should be entered in non-student specific categories.
All entries must have been published between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025.
Is AI-generated work allowed?+
Categories
What categories are new this year?+
This year, there are several major updates to categories. Categories 1-4 are streamlined so they all contain the same topic subcategories. This should make it easier to submit stories/infographics/lines of coverage and illustrations.
The Illustration parent category is no longer broken down by platform. Instead, it is broken down by whether or not the illustrations were created in-house or commissioned from an outside illustrator. There are still options for single illustration and multiple illustrations.
Portfolio categories have also changed this year. Instead of several different topic subcategories for individual and staff story page design portfolios (news and business, sports, features, etc.), there are “single topic” and “multiple topic” portfolio categories. You can still submit multiple portfolios to the single topic or combination categories, so long as none of the pages are duplicated within either subcategory. There are also new product design portfolio categories for individuals and staff.
The video subcategory from last year has also been split into two different subcategories in the Use of Multimedia parent category: Use of Video and Video Production. Use of Video is for the design of an article that uses video as the main visual element on the page. Video Production is for standalone videos, documentaries and short-form social videos that are meant to be judged separate from an article.
Print section categories have also been streamlined this year. Instead of topic categories for different sections and special sections, there are single Newspaper: Section and Newspaper: Special Section categories. Newspaper: Front Page and Magazine: Story Page was also moved from the Story Page Design parent category to the Print-specific Platforms category. Single front pages that are entered in Category 1 will be disqualified.
The Experimental subcategory was moved to the Use of Multimedia parent category and now accepts entries from any platform.
Can I enter a piece as both a single URL/page and in Line of Coverage?+
Yes! You may enter a single piece of work in single page categories and as a part of an entry in the Line of Coverage categories. Remember that judges will evaluate portfolios and line of coverage entries on the strength of the entire package.
I want to submit a single story that jumps across multiple pages in print. Where can I submit that?+
A multiple page entry that is just one story can be submitted in categories 1-5, 8 and 9 that accept the platform Print: Multiple pages. These entries will be at the Multiple Asset entry fee.
Can I enter the same story or page more than once, and is there any reason to do so?+
Yes! It is quite common to see the same story, URL or print page repeated in multiple categories where appropriate. This gives your strongest work from the year an opportunity to be evaluated by different groups of judges and in different contexts.
A URL can be entered as a single URL and as part of a multiplatform entry within one subcategory. A print page can be entered once as a single page, once as part of a multiple page entry and once as part of a multiplatform entry within one subcategory. But for Categories 1-4, the same URL/page cannot be repeated across multiple subcategories. So if you submit a URL/page to Story Page Design: International, you can’t submit it to any other subcategory in Story Page Design. You may submit an entry multiple times per parent category for categories 5-10. See a full explanation of entry requirements at the top of the Call.
How to enter
How do I log into AwardForce?+
If you are entering the competition for the first time this year, you will need to make an account with AwardForce. If you entered last year, you can log in with the same account information. These credentials are different from what you use on SND.org.
What is required to include with my entry?+
Print: If you are submitting print pages, please upload as PDFs. PDFs may not exceed 100MB in size, regardless of the number of pages. To make things easier for judging, consider compressing large PDF files. Categories that require multiple editions or multiple sections of a newspaper may ask that you upload multiple PDFs, each with a file size limit of 100MB. Entries must appear as they were published and cannot be edited; for example, if an entry was published in black and white, the PDF must also be entered in black and white. PDFs that have been altered after publication will be disqualified. Most multiple page print entries should be bundled together into a single PDF. In some categories, such as illustration or graphics, an individual element within the entry will be evaluated instead of the entire page. If only one element from a broader page is to be judged, clearly identify this in the notes field when entering. Do not mark or comment directly on the PDFs.
Digital: If you are submitting digital work, please upload a URL to the story or social media post. For the required screenshots, submit as a JPG or PNG. When submitting entries, it’s important to remember that technology continues to evolve with this competition, and submitting a URL does not always give judges a complete impression of how your site/product/story felt to the reader. In other words, we want to experience your entry as a reader would have experienced it. If the site had live aspects, show us a video of it in play. If we are comparing redesigns, before/after images are necessary. If judges need specific hardware to view the story, please say so. The judges understand this tricky dilemma and will look at an assortment of materials before making their decisions. Judges will always prioritize overall user/reader experience.
The description field is critical in helping judges understand what they are being asked to review. What is the intent behind the design, who was the target audience and was there any impact from the work (were you successful in what you set out to do with the story)? This is also the place to note the size of your organization and any limitations around resources.
What if my entry is not in English?+
For non-English entries, please provide a thorough summary of the story/project in English. SND will try to have a translator if needed, but the more information you give judges about the story and how to navigate the experience, the better. Some organizations have submitted an English language version of their work alongside the original.
Who do I include in credits?+
Please include all of the people who had a part in creating the project. Please include names and job titles, separated with semicolons. For example “Jane Doe, developer; John Doe, illustrator.” It’s not necessary to list every contributor, but consider who made the biggest impact on the piece in terms of design, development, editing and visual storytelling. For credits with more than 15 contributors, please use “staff.”
How should I format my organization name?+
Please write out your full organization name, including “The,” if your organization name includes it. Do NOT use abbreviations or a shortened version of the name. Example: “The Washington Post,” not “Washington Post” or “WaPo.” “The New York Times,” not “New York Times.”
How do I get my discount code?+
To access discount codes:
- Go to SND.org
- Hover over the “Join SND/Log in” menu item and click “Member sign-in”
- After you’ve logged in, hover over the “Join SND/Log in” menu item again and click “SND Members”
Scroll down to the “SND Creative Competition Member Discount” section of the page and you will find the member codes
What if my entry was submitted in the wrong category?+
The Competition Committee reserves the right to disqualify any entry that fails to meet the rules governing the category in which it was entered. In some cases, SND may try to move an entry to another category if it would be eligible there and/or reach out to entrants if an entry does not qualify in the category in which it was entered.
What happens if I want to modify my entry?+
After submitting, you will receive an email from AwardForce. If you need to make a change, please use that email to log back in and update your entry as needed until the entry deadline.
How long can I leave entries in my cart in AwardForce?+
Your AwardForce cart will reset after 24 hours of inactivity and entries will need to be added back into the cart. Entries cannot be submitted in bulk because of the required validation process. If you are not ready to process for payment, we recommend holding off on moving entries to the cart, or for larger orders, breaking up your entries into multiple transactions.
Judging and awards
Who will be judging the work?+
Teams of judges selected by the SND Competition Committee will evaluate each entry on how well it accomplishes its editorial and design objectives. Judges for the competition are journalism, news media and design experts from around the world encompassing a wide variety of experience and skillsets. If judges have any conflicts of interest on particular entries, they will not evaluate those entries. Judges assemble in person during the first half of the year, with results announced live throughout the three-day competition. See previous year’s winners here. You can nominate someone to be a judge using this form.
What are the awards?+
Winning entries will receive Awards of Excellence, Bronze, Silver or Gold medals for outstanding work. There are also World’s Best Designed, World’s Best Designer and Best in Show awards. At their discretion, judges may choose to give no awards in one or more categories.
How many winners will be selected in each category?+
SND recognizes excellence in news design beyond technical or aesthetic competency. Entries are not judged against one another but only on their own merits, so there is no cap to the number of entries that can receive awards. Historically, judges have given awards to 20-30% of entries and medals to less than 10% of entries. Judges are asked to be tough but fair. Award of Excellence winners are not expected to be “perfect” and may be honored for daring or innovative work.
When do I find out if I won and how do I get a certificate?+
Judging for all categories will take place in April and the results will be announced during and directly after judging.While winners are announced live, awards are not final until SND verifies all of the winners, which happens shortly after the competition ends. Award certificates will be available for downloading or printing through the AwardForce portal (via the same account that was used to submit entries). On your list of entries, the winners will include a tag with the type of award along with a button to download a certificate.
Other
What is the Federal tax ID number for SND?+
23-2129331
What will get my entry disqualified?+
Reasons for disqualification include: Duplicate entries, incomplete entry forms, not following directions for subcategories and lack of working paywall information. We may attempt to contact you if there are questions.
Can I nominate someone to be a judge?+
Yes! You can nominate a judge using this form.
Can I volunteer to help during judging?+
Yes! The competition is entirely run by volunteer members, so support is essential. Many opportunities are available, from posting live results to assisting judges with medal discussions. Fill out this form if interested.
More questions?
Email us at [email protected]