Last week, we posted information about planned changes to FSPA’s contests.
This week, we’re asking for your help with some of the changes we introduced in that email. Specifically, we want you to help us create the categories for the 2012-13 contests.
Click here for instructions on how to suggest categories.
The form — which you can fill out as many times as your heart desires — asks you to name a category, offer a brief explanation and to suggest five criteria judges could use to evaluate entries in that category.
We want as many suggestions as possible! Please encourage current students, former students, working journalists and other friends of FSPA to help us develop a comprehensive slate of categories that allow our students to showcase their skills in writing, design, photography, video production and multimedia journalism.
For reference, you can access this year’s mail-in and convention carry-in categories here.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
First of all, the fees related to entering contests is bogus. Those were started because districts were unable to contribute funding the year of the three hurricanes EIGHT years ago.
I haven’t participated as much in the photo contests since they went online, but previously there was an issue with photos being picked as winners whether they met the criteria of the category or not. If you want to make it more like an art show format where you pick the winners based on all the same criteria, then represent it that way and get rid of the categories. Otherwise it just isn’t fair.
Really glad the convention moved back to Orlando, hope it stays there.
That was the reason we first began charging for contests. But it’s also important to note that we have not raised the price of convention in several years, though costs have gone up. Thanks for your feedback.
I think you should worry more about how contests are judged and being more organized. Last year I submitted pieces to contests which I don’t believe were even judged. No one could tell me for sure – yet I still had to pay the fee.
Also, you made it ridiculously difficult for one student to be able to participate in multiple contests. There are those who want to succeed and those that are here for the ride . You did a great job accommodating the latter. It’s upsetting to students that really want to compete and earn awards.
Thanks for your feedback. This is part of (a) improving judging and (b) being more organized. By moving all the “carry-in” contests out of the pressure cooker of convention weekend, we will be able to do a better job managing the on-the-spot contests. -Joe Humphrey, FSPA President