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2024 Communications Contest

DEADLINE EXTENDED!

The CHESPRA Communications Contest recognizes outstanding communications produced by public school districts located in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Entries must have been produced during the 2023-24 school year. Winners are announced during the Fall CHESPRA Conference and posted on the CHESPRA website. 

Each communications contest entry costs $30. 

The deadline for all submissions is Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 11 p.m. 

For additional information or questions about the communications contest, please contact CHESPRA VP of Awards & Recognition Daryl Johnson at daryl.johnson@acps.k12.va.us. 

Submit all entries by visiting the following link: https://www.nspra.org/award-apply#CHESPRA.

Contest Rules and Eligibility

Purpose
The purpose is to recognize outstanding communications produced by CHESPRA members in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia and to encourage Chesapeake Chapter members to evaluate and enhance their communications.

Eligibility
Any public school system (PreK-12), including special schools such as vocational-technical centers, located in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

Judging and Recognition

  • The top award in each category is the Award of Excellence, followed by the Award of Distinction and Honorable Mention.
  • Entries will be judged against criteria for content and design. Districts and divisions of all sizes are encouraged to submit entries.
  • Judging will be conducted by media and public relations professionals who are members of other SPRAs or who work for entities not eligible to enter the contest.
  • Winners will be notified and awards distributed at the Fall CHESPRA Conference.

Rules
Entries that do meet these requirements will not be considered for the contest.

  • Entries must have been produced during the 2023-24 school year (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024). 
  • All entries, both print and electronic, must be submitted in some digital form, either via URL or file upload. The same publication may not be entered in more than one category. Choose the primary distribution method when deciding a category.
  • Multiple issues of the same publication count as one entry.
  • Student-written and/or student-produced publications are not eligible for this contest.
  • Entries must be submitted by Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 11 p.m.

Contest Categories

Print: Community Newsletter, Brochure, Employee Newsletter, Parent Information, School Newsletter, Speech/OpEd, Calendar, Financial Information, Handbook, Special Publication

Electronic: Website Home Page, Blog, Web Publication, Video Production or Program (TV & streaming), Website Subsection, E-Newsletter, Social Media

Campaign: Special Events, Crisis Communication, Special Campaign

 

Print

Community Newsletter, Employee Newsletter or School Newsletter

  • Any regular periodical that is distributed at least twice a year. Submit two different issues.

Brochure

  • Any publication designed to inform the public about the school district or division, its schools, or its programs.

Speech/OpEd 

  • Any speech that was written to address an internal or external audience or any statement or article that appeared in print or online for the sole purpose of expressing an opinion on a school-related subject.

Calendar

  • The calendar is a separate category, even if it is used in the division handbook.

Financial Information

  • A printed piece that addresses school finances, budgets, employee fringe benefits, school bond, or other types of school financial issues. Published materials may be directed at internal and/or external audiences. Do not submit official school budgets.

Handbook

  • A printed piece in booklet form for specific audiences, such as a handbook for students, bus drivers, parent handbook, a volunteer handbook, etc.

Special Publication

  • This category includes annual reports and any piece printed for a specific occasion or purpose that is not included in another category.

 

Electronic

Website

  • Any school system public website. Provide the website’s URL.

Blog

  • A blog generated by the school system for the specific purpose of soliciting opinions of an internal or external audience.

Social Media

  • Communication efforts or campaigns using Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Threads, or other social media outlets. Include an explanation of how and why the social media campaign is being used and the outcomes achieved. Provide URLs to relevant accounts and individual posts, if appropriate.

Web Publication or E-Newsletter

  • This category includes any communication that is regularly published and distributed via the web or by email. Send the URL of two separate editions.

Video Production or Program (TV & streaming)

  • Each entry is limited to one program or series. Video entries must be 10 minutes or less. If your production is longer, please submit a 10-minute sample video.

 

Campaign

Special Event

  • This category is for an event supporting a school initiative. It can be a one-time event or annual event. Please submit any material that provides the purpose and overview of the event.

Crisis Communications

  • This category is to share the response of a crisis that occurred in your school system. Please clearly state the crisis that occurred and include all supporting documents that demonstrate the response.

Special Campaign

  • Submit any material that was used to create awareness, inform, or educate an internal or external audience about a specific topic or initiative that occurred in your school division.