WPCI offers annual competitions in several media for its professional members, as well as conducts contests for collegiate and high school students.
Why compete?
Entering contests provides you with feedback from journalist-judges from around the nation as well as gives you a chance to compete in the National Federation of Press Women contest.
WPCI members who win first place at the state-level often go on to win at the national level during the NFPW conference in the fall.
Professionals: Who is eligible?
Your work has been published, issued, printed for the web, broadcast or telecast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of the current year, and you must be an Indiana resident or Indiana student. You do not have to be a member of WPCI nor NFPW.
When do I enter?
Deadline usually is in mid-January.
How much?
If you are a member, the first entry is $20 and each successive entry is $15. If you are not a member, your first entry is $25 and each successive entry is $20.
Members who win a first place in the WPCI Communications Contest are eligible for entry into the national NFPW Contest. Non-members are eligible to enter the contest and win on the state level, but are not eligible for the NFPW contest. (Joining is easy: Use this link to become a member of both NFPW and WPCI.)
How to enter:
Watch the website for details in mid-January.
Questions?
Contact contest chair Kassie Ritman.
Collegiate: Who is eligible?
The collegiate contest is open to Indiana residents who are students working on an undergraduate degree in either a two- or four-year program. You do not have to be a member and you don’t have to be female.
When do I enter?
Dates are the same as the professional contest (above).
How much?
Fees are the same as above.
Questions?
Contact contest chair Kassie Ritman.
High School Contest
The Woman’s Press Club of Indiana/National Federation of Press Women’s High School Communications Contest inspires students to do their best work, which earns them recognition and reflects well on their teachers and advisers. The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed the contest on its “NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities,” which can be found on the website.
First place winners at the Indiana level compete in the National Federation of Press Women’s national contest. All details, including how to enter and submit your work, are on the Woman’s Press Club of Indiana page on the NFPW website.
The contest is open high school students (both girls and boys) in Indiana. Entries must be the work of students enrolled in grades nine through 12 during this school year or of seniors who graduated the previous spring.
Questions?
Contact high school contest director Elizabeth Granger.
Prison Writing Contest
WPCI sponsors a prison writing contest each year. Inmates entered the contest to vie for awards in short story, non-fiction and poetry categories. Winners receive cash awards.
More info:
Download the contest rules to see the categories.
Contact WPCI with questions.