FAQs

Frequently asked questions on entering the creative competition

The Best of News Design includes both print and digital categories as part of SND’s annual creative competitions. Judges will recognize journalistic excellence in storytelling, graphics, art direction and social media to identify the visual journalism that pushes the boundaries of design.

Standard deadline: Friday, Feb. 23, 2024

  • Members: $25 for a single page, $40 for multiple-page entries. (World’s Best Newspaper: free)
  • Non-members: $50 for a single page, $80 for multiple-page entires. (World’s Best Newspaper: $80)
  • Students: $10 for a single page, $15 for multiple-page entries

Extended deadline: Friday, March 8, 2024

  • Members: $30 for a single page, $45 for multiple-page entries. (World’s Best Newspaper: free)
  • Non-members: $60 for a single page, $90 for multiple-page entries. (World’s Best Newspaper: $90)
  • Students: $20 for a single page, $30 for multiple-page entries

Who can enter and how do I get a discount?

The creative competition is open to all media publications. 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 allows you to join a community of peers for networking opportunities, and your membership also makes it possible for us to continue initiatives that celebrate and support our industry.

To find the member discounts codes, make sure you are logged in to the snd.org site and check under SND members for details.

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. You cannot use your SND log in information.

Who will be judging the work?

Team of judges selected by SND print and digital competition committees will evaluate each entry on how well it accomplishes its editorial and design objectives. Judges for the competition are journalism, new media and design experts from around the world. If judges have any apparent conflicts of interest on particular entries, they will not be assigned to 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. Email snd@snd.org to nominate judges for future contests.

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 10-30% of entries and medals to less than 5% 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 innovation. 

What if my entry is not in English?

For non-English entries, give 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. See examples of previous winning entries here.

What if my entry was submitted in the wrong category?

The competition retains the right to move an entry into another category if they think it would fare better in another category or disqualify an entry if it fails to meet the rules.

When do I find out if I won and how do I get a certificate?

Judging for all categories will take place in May and the results will be announced in conjunction with the annual workshop. Award certificates will be available for downloading or printing through the AwardForce portal (via the same account that was used to submit entires). On your list of entries, the winners will include a tag with the type of award along with a button to download a certificate.

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”

How to format your 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.”

Do I need to be a member of SND to enter?

No, the competition is open to everyone.

What is the Federal tax ID number for SND?

23-2129331

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. 

What will get my entry disqualified?

Reasons for disqualification include: Duplicate entries, incomplete entry forms, not following directions for subcategories. We will attempt to contact you if there are questions.

Can I volunteer to help during judging?

Yes! The competition is entirely run by members, so volunteer support is essential. Many opportunities are available, from posting live results to assisting judges with medal discussions. Email snd@snd.org if interested.

Sign up here to volunteer for the 2024 judging, May 8-10 in Minneapolis!

How to reach us

Email us at snd@snd.org

Best of Print News Design

The Society for News Design Best of Print News Design competition has provided the opportunity for newsrooms to share their work and to be recognized for excellence and innovation in news design. The competition also provides a valuable learning experience for judges and volunteers through thoughtful discussion. We understand that many journalists do not have access to their newsrooms and/or print newspapers. We will be accepting all print entries as PDFs this year through the same digital judging platform we used last year. 

Eligibility

The 45th Edition of the Best of Print News Design is open to all general-circulation newspapers and magazines. All entries must have been published between Jan. 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2023. Specialty publications, advertising, publicity and promotional materials are ineligible. Entries using AI are not accepted in the Illustration (7) or Information Graphics (9) categories. In other categories, entries containing AI 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 example. Credits for this content must be clearly marked as generated by AI. Entries may be moved to another category or disqualified if they fail to follow the rules as outlined.

PDFs

The Best of Print News Design competition will accept only PDF entries this year, except in Category One where both physical newspapers as well as PDFs must be entered. Entries must not be edited and must appear as they were published. 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. 

How to enter

You must enter the competition using Award Force, which is an effective and simple platform to host this year’s competition. This platform allows entrants to create a profile, upload entries and pay for entries all in one place. If you’ve entered the competition in the past, you will no longer need your tearsheet, scissors and tape to put together those long entries. Instead, multipage entries should be bundled together into single PDFs. In some categories, such as illustration or graphics, entries will be viewed for the individual element, not the entire page. If only one element is to be judged, identify it when entering in the notes field. Do not mark on the PDFs.

Judging

Judging for all categories will take place in-person this year. A team of judges selected by SND will evaluate each entry on how well it accomplishes its editorial and design objectives. In some categories, such as illustration or graphics, entries will be viewed for the individual element, not the entire page. If only one element is to be judged, identify it when entering. Do not mark or leave comments on the PDFs.

Awards

Winning entries will receive Awards of Excellence, Silver or Gold medals, for outstanding work. At their discretion, judges may choose to give no awards in one or more categories. Judges may also select a single Best of Show award from all Gold medal winners, if any.

How to reach us

Greg Mees, Best of Print News Design Competition Committee Chair

Email: snd@snd.org or greg.mees@gmail.com  

Tyler Remmel, 45th Edition Competition Coordinator

Email: snd@snd.org or snd45@tylerremmel.com

Best of Digital News Design

Important tips for entering: What is required to include with my entry?

You must include the URL(s) as well as a screenshot to help highlight the most important and relevant parts of the submission. Select the appropriate category and use the headline as the entry name. Also required: relevant or key credits (up to 15) — 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.

Description is another required field and 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)? Also, other key aspects for judges to consider: the size of your organizations and any limitations around resources.

What should I do if I don’t have a URL?

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. The key is always going to be overall user/reader experience.

Can I enter the same story or page more than once, and is there any reason to do so?

Yes! It is not uncommon to see the same story or URL repeated in multiple categories when appropriate. This may give an entry the opportunity to be evaluated by different groups of judges or in an alternative context. However, there are limitations. Single-URL entries should not be submitted in more than two subcategories within page design, infographics or page elements. For multiple-URL entries, the same page should not be repeated within a subcategory (line of coverage or portfolios).

If I enter a single URL with links to additional pages (such as a landing page), will judges consider those as part of the entry as well?

No. Please submit each URL to be judged individually. Judges cannot be expected to determine which additional links within a page should be included as part of an entry, even when a note is included. As a reminder, line of coverage and portfolios are limited to a maximum of five URLs per entry. If a landing page is submitted, judges will only be asked to consider that individual page as an entry on its own merits.

What is the difference between single pages and line of coverage?

Entrants may enter a single piece of work in as many “single page” categories as make sense and also as part of “line of coverage” submissions. Remember that judges will evaluate portfolios and “line of coverage” submissions on the strength of the entire package. Be selective and enter your strongest pieces.