By Erik Hall
USA Today Sports Network
Entries for the 2021 Associated Press Sports Editors student contest are now being accepted.
Entries and questions about the contest should be emailed to Erik Hall at hallerik7@gmail.com with STUDENT CONTEST in the subject line.
The entry deadline is Saturday, April 10, 2021.
Previous winners include George Stoia (University of Oklahoma), Kelli Stacy (University of Oklahoma), and Emily Giambalvo (University of Georgia).
2021 APSE Student Contest Rules
1. The contest is open to all APSE student members, and members of any APSE student chapter at any college or university. Annual dues for APSE student membership are just $25. Learn how here.
2. Entries must come from an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at a college or university during summer 2020, fall 2020 or spring 2021 academic terms.
3. Work must come from the period of April 10, 2020, through April 10, 2021.
4. DEADLINE TO ENTER IS April 10, 2021
5. The single contest category will be Portfolio. A student may enter only one portfolio.
The portfolio will have three elements: (a) a feature or enterprise story, (b) an event or game coverage story (this can include a column or sidebar), and (c) a wild-card entry, which can be from the above categories or something else. Multimedia can be the third option but that is OPTIONAL.
All written work must have been done by the student alone — no co-byline on written material allowed.
If multimedia or video entry is included, the student entering must have had a key role in conceiving, editing and producing the item, but it can involve someone else. An example, someone else operating the camera if the student is on camera. If the student includes multimedia, their role must be explained in a cover letter.
6. All work entered must have been published but does not have to have been published in a student publication. It can be from an internship, from stringing with a local paper, writing for a website, etc. It cannot, however, be published only on the student’s own “see my work here” portfolio web page.
7. No redaction will be required and there is no anonymity for entries. All entries will be submitted via links to the published work.
If you have a paywall, you need to provide us with a contest username and password (on your entry key), good through May 15, 2021.
8. It is not required, but you may include a cover letter that is 200 words or less. The cover letter should reflect the impact of stories included in the portfolio and/or metrics that show authority and audience engagement.
9. A top 10 will be chosen out of all entries, with the top 10 ranked in order from first place to 10th.
10. A plaque will be awarded for first place. Certificates will be given to other top 10 finishers.
(Top photo of Emily Giambalvo)
