07/22/2026
TIME TO ENTER OUR ANNUAL NEWS COMPETITION
It's time to gather your best work and enter it in the Northern Illinois News Association's annual contest. We have some new categories, which we think will offer more opportunities for writers and publications to showcase their efforts.
Entries must have been published between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.
The association code, as in past years, is NINA.
The entry deadline is 11:59 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2026.
A few reminders for this year's contest:
In most categories, there is no limit to the number of entries per nameplate in most categories (see individual category rules for exceptions). This policy was adopted to facilitate freelancer participation.
The contest continues to recognize General Excellence in separate daily and nondaily divisions. Please note that publications must enter the General Excellence category to be considered for the award.
General Excellence (online) entrants will be judged during June, July and/or August. Publications entering this category should submit their website URL through the contest system.
The contest fee is $6 per entry for NINA members and $9 per entry for nonmembers. If you are not currently a member, we encourage you to join NINA and take advantage of the discounted contest rate.
If you have questions about membership or dues, please contact Shelley Hendricks at 815-753-4239.
As a reminder, parent companies may pay a single membership fee, allowing all affiliated nameplates to participate as NINA members.
Entries must be submitted through the online contest portal at newspapercontest.com/NINA/. If submitting URLs to content behind a paywall, please provide any login credentials necessary for judges to access the material.
Complete contest rules and category descriptions are available at ninaonline.org.
Here are some notable changes from last year's contest:
NEW AI-assisted reporting is permitted when used as a reporting tool and not as a substitute for original reporting, writing, editing or editorial judgment. Entries with substantial use of generative AI should explain how it was used and how human oversight ensured accuracy and fairness. Please review the complete AI guidance in the contest rules.
NEW Best In-Depth News Story and Best In-Depth News Story Series have been consolidated into the Best In-Depth Reporting category.
NEW The following categories have been added: Best Social Justice/First Amendment Reporting, Best Special Events Coverage, Special Publications/Special Sections. Best Use of Humor, Best Public Affairs Reporting, and Best Election Coverage categories have been eliminated.
https://www.newspapercontest.com/Contests/NorthernIllinoisNewspaperAssociation.aspx
