A CALL FOR ENTRIES . . .

Nominations invited for 2017 Excellence in Journalism, Journalist of the Year Awards

Through the Excellence in Journalism competition, Detroit SPJ will honor outstanding achievements during 2017 by print,
broadcast, photo and online journalists in southeastern Michigan. Our chapter also will select a Journalist of the Year, a
Young Journalist of the Year and scholarship awardees.
Judges for the Excellence in Journalism competition are working journalists from other SPJ chapters. Proceeds from the
awards banquet and the competition are applied to the Detroit chapter’s Larry Laurain scholarship fund.
Deadline for all entries will be Sunday, February 4, 2018. That includes Excellence in Journalism, Journalist of the Year
and Young Journalist nominations, as well as Laurain Scholarship applications.
Winners in all categories will be honored at the awards banquet on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the San Marino Club,
1685 East Big Beaver Road, Troy. Call (313) 288-9546 for tickets or table reservations.

General Information
1. All entries will be submitted online through Omni contests.
Mailed tearsheets or other materials will not be accepted.
2. Entries must have been published or broadcast in Southeast
Michigan between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2017.
Questions on geographic eligibility may be directed to:
spjdetroit@gmail.com.
3. An entry may be submitted in only one contest category.
4. Entrants do not need to be members of the Society of
Professional Journalists.
5. All contest entries must be the product of original writing,
reporting or production by the entrant(s). This contest is
intended to reward individual achievement. In most cases, the
name of the entrant(s) should be that of an individual or
individuals and the news organization they represent should be
listed under media affiliation. News organizations should be
listed as “entrant” only for categories which require
comprehensive team effort involving more than four
individuals.
6. All entries must be in the correct presentation format. See
information provided with each class. Both broadcast and
print entries may contain online elements.
7. Judges will take into consideration the SPJ Code of Ethics
in evaluating all entries.
8. Entries must include the text of any correction or
clarifications made in connection with that entry. Include a
summary of written challenges concerning the accuracy or
fairness of the entry (including letters to the editor, whether
published or not), or any notice of legal action. As an aid to
judges who might not be familiar with this coverage area,
include an explanation or refutation of any objections.
9. Judges may declare “no winner” in any category at their
discretion. All decisions by the judges, including interpretation
of these rules, are final. Judges reserve the right to disqualify
any entry. In the case of disputes, the Detroit chapter’s board
of directors will make final determinations.
10. Entry fee is $30 for each entry. Payment must be received
by the entry deadline and is non-refundable.
11. Fee for one, single entry is $10 if accompanied by a
completed, new membership form and annual dues payment
for national and local chapter membership. Membership
applications are available at www.spjdetroit.org.
12. Entries must be received no later than midnight, Sunday,
February 4, 2018. See specific attachment requirements for
each class, inside.

Deadline: Sunday, February 4, 2018

This is the deadline for: broadcast, print and online journalism entries
Journalist of the Year and Young Journalist of the Year nominations.
Laurain Scholarship application deadline is Sunday, February 4, 2018
Questions? Call (313) 288-9546 or e-mail spjdetroit@gmail.com.
 BROADCAST
Deadline: Sunday, February 4, 2018
Radio: Upload audio files. Television: Entries should include studio lead-in
Categories:
Spot or breaking news reporting: Single-day coverage of
breaking or developing news produced under deadline
pressure.
General news reporting: A story or series of stories resulting
from a journalist’s initiative, but excluding coverage of
breaking or developing news.
Feature reporting: A report or series of reports on a single
subject not considered “hard” news. This includes profiles,
human-interest pieces, etc.
Sports reporting: A report or series of reports within a regular
newscast or of a sporting event.
Investigative reporting: A single report or series of reports
covering a significant problem or issue. Entries must show
enterprise, initiative, depth and research by a reporter or team.
Automotive reporting: Includes coverage of OEMs, suppliers
or dealers. Entries will be judged on quality, timeliness and
exclusiveness. If being first was important, provide
documentation of how others followed.
Newscast: One single complete, regularly scheduled news
program.
News special and documentary: A program 15 minutes or
longer broadcast outside of a regular newscast and prompted
by breaking news or a major issue of community concern.
This may be a live or taped original broadcast.
Open-government reporting: To individuals or news
organizations for significant, effective coverage promoting
open government in Michigan.
Best videography: Best visual storytelling in a story or
newscast. The winning entry will demonstrate excellence in
the use of videography and sound.
Best news editing: Best editing techniques used to tell a story.
This can be a single story or series including outboarded
elements and graphics.
Best consumer/watchdog reporting: Provides an example of
looking out for citizens’ interests such as saving a family from
losing a home or helping correct an injustice.

PRINT
Deadline: Sunday, February 4, 2018
Class A: Stories/photos published in any newspaper of greater than 100,000 circulation; by wire services; or in
magazines, trade publications and non-daily entertainment/alternative newspapers of greater than 50,000 circulation.
Class B: Stories/photos published in daily newspapers of less than 100,000 circulation. Publications in Class B may
choose to compete in Class A.
Class C: Stories/photos published in any non-daily newspaper, magazine or trade publication of less than 50,000
circulation. Publications in Class C may choose to compete in Class A or Class B.
Class D: This class is for in-house and custom publications such as those produced by universities, membership
organizations or other nonprofits and businesses.
NOTE: Determine an entry’s circulation classification by its publication use. For chains and group publications sharing
editorial or photographic copy across several publications or nameplates, the largest circulation of any single publication
within the group should be used; if the story or photo was used only in one publication, use that publication’s circulation.

Categories:
Spot or breaking news reporting: Single-day coverage of
breaking or developing news written on deadline.
General news reporting: A story or series resulting from a
journalist’s initiative, but excluding coverage of breaking or
developing news. Submit up to 3 examples on a single topic.
Feature reporting: A report or series not considered “hard
news.” Submit up to 3 examples on a single topic.
Personality profile: Multiple sourced, in-depth single story
about a person.
Investigative reporting: A story or series covering a
significant problem or issue. Entries must show enterprise,
initiative, depth and research by a reporter or team. Submit up
to 5 examples on a single topic.
Best consumer/watchdog reporting: Provides an example of
looking out for citizens’ interests, such as saving a family’s
home or helping to correct an injustice. Print and online
resources may be used. Submit up to 3 examples on a single
topic.
Best explanatory story: Helps readers make sense of a
complex topic. Print and online resources may be used.
Submit up to 3 related stories.
Best localization of a national story: Story or series that tells
how a single national trend or issue is affecting the local
community. Submit up to 3 examples on a single topic.
Open-government reporting: To individuals or news
organizations for significant, effective coverage promoting
open government in Michigan. Submit up to 3 examples on a
single topic.
General column writing: Regularly appearing viewpoint,
business, features or news columns by a single writer. Submit
3 columns. No blogs.
Sports column writing: Sports commentary appearing on a
regular basis by a single writer. Submit 3 columns. No blogs.
Sports reporting: A single game, news or feature story
related to sports. No columns.
Print, newspapers only
Sports photography: A single, compelling photo featuring
sports.
Page one design: Newspapers only. Submit a 1-page layout.
Feature page design: Newspapers only. Submit a 1-page or a
two-page layout.
Print, non-daily publications only
Cover design: Magazines and some tabloid newspapers.
(Depending on the format, tabloid newspapers have the option
of entering as page one newspaper or magazine cover, but not
both.) Submit a 1-page layout.
Open print categories
Automotive reporting: Includes coverage of OEMs, suppliers
or dealers. Entries will be judged on quality, timeliness and
exclusiveness. If being first was important, provide
documentation of how others followed.
Car review: Submit 3 reviews from a single writer.
In-house/custom publications only
Feature reporting: A report or series of reports on a subject
not considered “hard news.” This includes profiles and human
interest pieces. Submit up to 3 examples on one topic.
Cover design: Submit a 1-page layout.
ONLINE
Deadline: Sunday, February 4, 2018
All news websites, whether independent or affiliated with print or broadcast news organizations, may enter. But an entry
is eligible in only one class: print, broadcast or online.
How to submit: The website address and directions on how to access the site, including passwords, must be on the
entry form. Include the URL and passwords needed to access the site. Entries that do not supply this information will be
disqualified.
Categories:
Spot or breaking news reporting: Single-day coverage of
breaking or developing news written on deadline.
General news reporting: A story or series of stories resulting
from a journalist’s initiative, but excluding coverage of
breaking or developing news.
Feature reporting: A report or series not considered “hard”
news, including profiles, human-interest pieces, etc. Submit up
to 3 examples on a single topic.
Best localization of a national story: Story or series that tells
how a single national trend or issue is affecting the local
community. Submit up to 3 examples on a single topic.
Editorial writing: An individual editorial that appears on the
editorial or op-ed page. No columns.
Headline writing: An individual (not team) award. Submit 5
headlines by one headline writer. Include stories.
News photography: A single, compelling photo of a breaking-
news event.
Feature photography: A single, compelling photo not of a
breaking-news event.
Inside news page design: Newspapers only. Submit a 1-page
or a two-page layout.
Sports page design: Newspapers only. Submit a 1-page or a
two-page layout.
Magazine spread design: Magazines and some tabloid
newspapers. (Depending on the format, tabloid newspapers
have the option of entering as a newspaper feature or
magazine spread, but not both.) Submit a 1- or 2-page layout.
Criticism: Includes art, music, film, book, theatre and
restaurant reviews or recurring cultural commentary. Submit 3
examples.
Editorial cartoon: Submit 3 cartoons.
Informational graphics: A storytelling graphic that illustrates
an aspect of a news or feature story.
Feature design: Submit a 1- or 2-page layout on a single
subject in JPG or PDF format.
Photo: A single, compelling photo on any topic.
Use of photos/graphics: Submit up to 6 samples in JPG or
PDF format.
Investigative reporting: A story or series covering a
significant problem or issue. Entries must show enterprise,
initiative, depth and research by a reporter or team. Submit up
to 5 examples on a single topic.
Best consumer/watchdog reporting: Provides an example of
looking out for citizens’ interests, such as saving a family’s
home or helping to correct an injustice. Submit up to 3
examples on a single topic.
Blogging: Online commentary. Submit three blogs.
Digital-media presentation: A single entry demonstrating
excellence in blending multiple media into a single online
presentation.
 SPJ Detroit Journalist, Young Journalist of the Year
Nomination deadline: Sunday, February 4, 2018
SPJ Detroit’s Journalist and Young Journalist of the Year
competition is open to all journalists (reporters, editors,
producers, anchors, photojournalists, etc.) in southeastern
Michigan. Nominees will be judged on the overall quality of
their body of work during 2017. Nominations for JoY and
YJoY must be received by Sunday, February 4, 2018.
No entry fee is required.
Judges will consider the nominee’s impact on the practice of
journalism through outstanding work or exemplary service to
or leadership in the profession.
For Young Journalist of the Year: Nominees must be 30
years old or younger. Nominees may have turned 31 in 2017
and still be eligible. Nominees must have at least 1 year of
paid, full-time work experience (or equivalent experience if
freelance). Internships do not qualify.
Each nomination must include the following:
1. Nomination letter from a supervisor stating why the
individual should be considered as the SPJ Detroit Journalist or
Young Journalist of the Year. Freelance nominations must
include letters from two (2) supervisors.
2. A resume/work history.
3. Work samples. For Journalist of the Year, submit minimum
5 and maximum 10 samples. For Young Journalist, submit
minimum 3 and maximum 5 samples. Include a brief
explanation of each. Include context for judges unfamiliar with
the market. Freelancers must submit 10 samples.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Application deadline: Sunday, February 4, 2018
The Detroit chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists classes, or clips published in student or professional
will award a $2,500 Larry Laurain journalism grant to a publications. Financial need is considered.
Southeast Michigan resident who is or will be a sophomore,
junior or senior in 2018. The award may be used at any four- Scholarship winners will be honored at the chapter’s annual
year college in Michigan. Additional grants may be awarded. awards banquet, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the San
Marino Club, 1685 East Big Beaver Road, Troy. Tickets or table
The scholarship honors the late Larry Laurain, former SPJ reservations are available by calling SPJ Detroit at (313) 288-
Detroit chapter president and Oakland Press city editor. 9546. Additional information at www.spjdetroit.org.
Applicants must intend to practice journalism, as evidenced by
enrollment in journalism classes and by work from those

Write a personal narrative addressing these points:

 Tell us why you want to be a journalist.
 Outline your career goals after graduation.
 Describe your journalism-related activities and how they differ from those of your classmates.
 List your educational, campus and social activities. Briefly, tell of their influence on you.
 Describe what you believe is the most important challenge facing journalists today.
 Which person in journalism would you most like to emulate and why?
 And finally, tell us what winning this award would mean to you.

All applications must include:

1. An essay covering all seven points above.
2. A teacher, dean, or adviser’s reference letter, which reviews your work or enrollment in a journalism class, your academic status or
how you have indicated your interest in journalism.
3. At least five clips of any published or classroom-produced samples of your writing.

Deadline: Sunday, February 4, 2018

This is the deadline for: broadcast, print and online journalism entries
Journalist of the Year and Young Journalist of the Year nominations
Laurain Scholarship applications
Questions? Call (313) 288-9546 or e-mail spjdetroit@gmail.com