1st Place, Feature Presentation – Mini- Mag, Special Section or Supplement
2024-25, Division 1-3, Yearbook Visual and Verbal
By Lauren Gebo & Ashlynn Rutterbush
The Charger
H. H. Dow HS
Y-25. Feature Presentation – Mini-Mag, Special Section or Supplement
Mini-mags, special sections and special supplements should be entered in this category. Entries must include multiple spreads designed as a unit to explore a topic; typically non-traditional coverage (i.e., NOT homecoming, a sport or other annual activity typically covered every year in the book). Subject selection, writing, photography and design will be considered. Submit at least 2 and no more than 5 PDF or image files of the page(s) for each entry. Please note: Files uploaded to an entry in the contest system together cannot exceed 100 MB. If your files exceed this limit, you can submit them via URL to a shared location on a file service such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc. (Be sure to set shared files for public view.)
If any element of the entry was not produced by students (including images and/or page design templates) please indicate that clearly on the entry form in the “Non Student Work/Copyright” field. FOR SPREADS (a spread is two facing pages), if possible save your entry as a spread, creating a single horizontal page out of two vertical pages. Otherwise, the judges may not see both pages of your spread together and will not get the full impact of your design. Contiguous pages should be submitted in a single PDF file.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Writing
- Copy (if traditional copy is used) has engaging angle, solid lead and meaningful student quotes that enrich story and reflect effective interviewing
- Captions begin with strong lead and contain at least two sentences that answer all reader’s questions and clearly identifies all people
- Copy and captions show evidence of adequate research
- Clever, engaging primary/secondary headline combination draws reader into the story and establishes visual/verbal connection between photos and copy
- The primary/secondary headline combination clarifies the content of the spread
- Primary headline is short and grabs the reader’s attention
- Secondary headline is sentence-like and summarizes the story
Adheres to rules of good journalism including:
- Use of active voice
- Freedom from editorial comment
- Careful editing and proofreading
- Correct use of grammar
- *For more details, see complete criteria for these categories: Feature Writing – Student Life, Headline Writing, Caption Writing and Student Life Spread.
Design
- Spreads appear sequentially
- Designed as a visual unit; arrangement of photos, headline, copy, captions and white space invite reader onto pages and show careful planning
- Special treatments are used sparingly and effectively
- Graphics and typography enhance readability and attractiveness of design
- Primary/secondary headline combination has contemporary design
- While designs may be innovative, they adhere to journalistic standards
Photography
- Photos have strong storytelling content and are effectively cropped
- Photos are technically strong and show evidence of composition rules
- Attracts, holds reader’s attention; posed photos are avoided
- Avoids distracting back/foreground