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All entries must have been published or aired in 2025.
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Judges will be given discretion to award first and second place winners, and up to three honorable mentions in competitive categories. Judges reserve the right to decline to award. If only one entry is submitted in a category, Syracuse Press Club will return the entry fee and submission and no winner will be awarded. Judges are encouraged to award the following winners depending on the number of submissions received in a category:
- 2-3 entries = one first prize winner
- 4-6 entries = first and second prize winners
- 7-10 entries = first and second prize winners, one honorable mention
- 11-14 entries = first and second prize winners, two honorable mentions
- 15 or more entries = first and second prize winners, three honorable mentions
3
The contest is open to journalists working in and/or published within the following 21 counties of New York State: Onondaga, Madison, Cortland, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Herkimer, Oneida, Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, Broome, Tompkins and Seneca; and as far west as State Route 14 in Tioga, Chemung, Wayne, Schuyler and Yates counties.
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Undergraduate and graduate students at colleges and universities may enter work in the student competition that has been produced for class or student/campus media organizations. Student entries must focus on news, issues, and events within the 21 counties of Syracuse Press Club’s coverage area: Onondaga, Madison, Cortland, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Herkimer, Oneida, Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, Broome, Tompkins and Seneca; and as far west as State Route 14 in Tioga, Chemung, Wayne, Schuyler and Yates counties. Undergraduate and graduate students should enter professional categories if their work has aired or been published by a professional media organization. Undergraduate and graduate students may also enter work in professional categories that are not represented/offered in the student competition.
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The same story may not be entered twice. It is up to the contestant to decide in which category their submission best belongs.
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The fee is $15 per entry submitted by Jan. 19, 2026. After Jan. 19, the cost for professional journalists increases to $20. The student fee remains $15.
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Entries must be complete, with all required fields filled out, and attachments or links submitted, at or before 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2026. Incomplete or late entries may be disqualified.
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To ensure fairness, the Syracuse Press Club enlists press clubs from across the country to review and judge our contest.