WELCOME TO THE 2024 TOP OF THE ROCKIES CONTEST!
Administered for more than a decade by the SPJ Colorado Professional Chapter on behalf of
SPJ chapters in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.
For more information and questions: Email contest chair Deb Hurley Brobst at
deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com for answers to contest-related questions.
Website: https://betternewspapercontest.com
Top of the Rockies is a regional, multi-platform contest for reporters and news organizations in
Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The contest grew from a Colorado-only contest on
the heels of the closure of the Rocky Mountain News in 2009 to ensure a robust and competitive
field. It is sponsored and managed by the SPJ Colorado Pro.
Contest opens: Wednesday, Dec. 13
Contest closes: 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26
Awards will be announced at the reception in April at the Denver Press Club.
Cost: $15 per entry
Note 1: The Society of Professional Journalists since its inception in 1909 has always
encouraged a space in which journalism can be practiced freely and fully. Therefore, the Society
does not vet journalists or news organizations for membership or participation in Society
activities.
The Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism Contest is a Society activity for journalists to
demonstrate their craft. Judges are asked to limit their evaluation of contest entries to the merits
of the individual journalist’s work. This is important because other factors, such as considering
media outlet, can be distracting and do not align with SPJ’s values of offering an open space for
freely practicing journalism.
Awards are determined by the judges, based on these criteria: readability, effectiveness of
interpretation, accuracy and completeness, enterprise, clarity and style, resourcefulness of the
reporter in overcoming obstacles, interest and adherence to the SPJ Code of Ethics. Depending
on the category, depth of research, quality of presentation, difficulty obtaining information and
deadline pressure may be factors in the judges’ selection.
Note 2: You do not need to be an SPJ member to enter the contest, but we always welcome
new members.
Note 3: The SPJ Colorado Professional Chapter board of directors does not allow entries in
which content was subsidized by private businesses with an interest in the covered topic.
Contest rules:
- Entries must have been published (print or online)/broadcast in the 2023 calendar year.
- An entry may be placed in one writing category and one visual category. The entry also may
be placed in the Public Service and/or Multimedia Story.
- Media outlets are limited to three entries per category.
- All categories are open to news media outlets in all platforms. You’ll be up against the best
from all platforms in the region.
- Divisions: Top of the Rockies has four divisions based on newsroom staff size:
- Small newsrooms: fewer than five full-time equivalent staff members;
- Medium newsrooms: five to under nine full-time equivalent staff members;
- Large newsrooms: nine to under 15 full-time equivalent staff members;
- X-large newsrooms 15 or more full-time equivalent staff members.
- News organizations are allowed to compete in a division with a larger staff size; they are not
permitted to drop a division. If your news organization has not been placed in one of the
divisions or you feel circumstances have changed to warrant moving your media outlet to
another division, contact Deb Hurley Brobst at deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com.
- How to enter:
There are two types of contestants in the website. Which one are you: A media outlet or a
freelancer?
If you are a media outlet:
Visit the betternewspapercontest.com website.
Click on “Contestant Login.”
Select 2024 Top of the Rockies under “Select a Contest.”
Check to see if your media outlet is listed under “Select Media Organization.” If you DO NOT
see it, contact Deb Hurley at deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com.
If you see your media outlet, select it and type in your password. If you DO NOT know your
password, contact Deb Hurley Brobst at deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com.
Then place your entries. When your media outlet is done placing entries, pay your bill by
clicking on “Calculate Entry Fee” in the top right corner and follow the directions. You can print a receipt after you pay your fees.
If your media outlet’s website has a pay wall, please make sure your entries are available to the judges. Either make sure they are free content or submit a PDF instead. Nothing frustrates judges more than not having access to entries because they are blocked. Blocked entries may
be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.
If you are a freelancer:
Visit the betternewspapercontest.com website.
Click on “Open Call Login.”
If you have entered before, put in your e-mail address and password. The contest coordinator
DOES NOT have access to your password, so click “forgot password” and follow the directions if you need to reset it.
If you are new to our contest, click on “create your Open Call account” and follow the directions.
Email Deb Hurley Brobst at deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Place your entries. When you are done placing entries, pay your bill by clicking on “Calculate
Entry Fee” in the top right corner and follow the directions.
If your media outlet’s website has a pay wall, please make sure your entries are available to the
judges. Either make sure they are free content or submit a PDF instead. Nothing frustrates
judges more than not having access to entries because they are blocked.
About the awards process
Colorado SPJ hosts a winners’ reception with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar at the Denver Press Club, and a list of winners will be available on our website, coloradospj.wordpress.com.
Certificates will be available to pick up at the reception. All remaining certificates will be mailed to entrants.
All judges’ decisions are final in category placement as well as entry evaluation. If, in the opinion of the judges, none of the entries in a given category meets the standards of excellence, no award will be made in that category. Judges may reject entries that do not conform with contest rules.
2024 Top of the Rockies contest categories.
WRITING CATEGORIES
News Reporting, Single Story: Single news story (and related sidebars, if applicable).
Breaking News Story: A single story or package of a breaking news event occurring over a
24-hour period.
General Reporting, Series or Package: A series of stories on one topic or a package of stories
that runs simultaneously (submit all stories).
Enterprise Reporting: An article or a package or series of stories on one topic that
demonstrates exceptional enterprise or investigative effort.
Extended Coverage: A package of stories exploring one issue in depth. This could be a special
section.
Feature Writing — long form: Includes profiles, analysis and other stories written in a feature format that are more than 1,500 words or longer than 3 minutes in length.
Feature Writing — short form: Includes profiles, analysis and other stories written in a feature format that are fewer than 1,500 words or shorter than 3 minutes in length.
Best Solutions Journalism: A story or series that includes in-depth reporting on a response/s
to a problem.
Podcast: Enter up to 3 episodes.
Social Justice Reporting: A story, series or package of stories on social justice issues.
Climate Reporting: A story, series or package of stories on climate change, global warming or other similar large-scale changes affecting local areas.
Obit Writing: A feature story about someone who has died.
Beat Reporting: A collection of up to six stories from one reporter on a particular beat. Attach a
one-sentence description of your beat.
Personal/Humor Columns: Submit up to 3 columns per entry.
Columns/Op-Ed pieces: Submit up to 3 columns per entry.
Editorials: Submit up to 3 editorials per entry.
Public Service: An article or a package or series of stories on one topic that demonstrates
exceptional coverage on a topic or issue that is important to the community.
Multimedia Story: A cohesive web package that can include words, photos, graphics, audio,
video and/or graphics.
Sports News: Single story, package or series.
Sports Feature: Single story, package or series.
Sports Columns: Submit up to 3 columns per entry.
Business News: Single story, package or series.
Business Feature: Single story, package or series.
Business Enterprise Reporting: An article, or a package or series of stories on one topic that
demonstrates exceptional enterprise or investigative effort.
A&E and Food Reporting News or Feature: A single story or a series on dining and nightlife,
film, television, music, art, architecture, theater or dance.
A&E and Food Criticism: Submit up to 3 columns or reviews.
Education News: Single story, package or series.
Education Feature: Single story, package or series.
Politics News: Single story, package or series.
Politics Feature: Single story, package or series.
Legal News: Single story, package or series.
Legal Feature: Single story, package or series.
Science and Technology News: Single story, package or series.
Science and Technology Feature: Single story, package or series.
Agriculture or Environment News: Single story, package or series.
Agriculture or Environment Feature: Single story, package or series.
Health News: Single story, package or series.
Health Feature: Single story, package or series.
Mental Health News: Single story, package or series.
Mental Health Feature: Single story, package or series.
Religion News: Single story, package or series.
Religion Feature: Single story, package or series.
Headline writing: Submit 3 headlines with the accompanying articles.
VISUAL CATEGORIES
Front Page Design: A front page or cover of your publication.
Single Page Design: A single page or a section cover of your publication.
Feature Page Design: A single page or feature cover of your publication.
Information Graphic: Submit the graphic with the accompanying article.
Editorial Cartoons: Submit up to 3 cartoons that show the point of view of the cartoonist.
Illustration: Artwork accompanying a news or feature story to enhance the story’s meaning.
Spot News Photography/Videography: One or more photos or videos on a breaking news
story.
News Photography/Videography: One or more photos or videos on a news story.
Feature Photography/Videography: One or more photos or videos on a feature story.
Sports Photography/Videography: One or more photos or videos on a sports story.
Climate Photography/Videography: One or more photos or videos climate change.
Social Justice Photography/Videography: One or more photos or videos on a social justice
story.
Colorado Pro Chapter -- Society of Professional Journalists 
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