The contest portal for the San Francisco Press Club’s 2025 Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards is now open: www.BetterNewspaperContest.com. Please follow the contest rules below and submit your entries before 9 p.m. PST on Oct. 20, 2025.

We look forward to your submissions and celebrating with you on December 9, 2025, at our 48th annual winter gala and awards ceremony at the fabulous Julia Morgan Ballroom!

1) Divisions for digital media and daily newspapers have been collapsed into a new macro division for PRINT/DIGITAL. This change more accurately reflects the media landscape in the Bay Area, as most outlets prioritize their digital presence and online-only operations are increasingly competing with traditional print publications. Within this new division, there are special subcategories for best community news outlet and neighborhood reporting. There are also new categories for criminal justice and politics/government reporting.

2) There is now a single division for RADIO/PODCAST — AUDIO ONLY, which includes all audio reporting regardless of newsroom size or commercial/non-commercial station. There is a special category within this division for small radio stations with 15 or fewer full-time, paid journalists.

3) News outlets may submit entries across multiple divisions. For example, a newspaper may submit entries in the PRINT AND DIGITAL division, as well as TELEVISION/VIDEO and RADIO/PODCAST — and vice versa for broadcast outlets with digital websites that feature text journalism/still photography.

Thank you for participating in the contest and good luck!

ELIGIBILITY: Competition is open to full-time journalists, part-time journalists, freelancers and bloggers who are residents of the greater Bay Area, including residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano or Sonoma counties who have material published, broadcast, aired or online during the contest period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

In addition, the competition is open to all media professionals who are residents of a county immediately adjacent to the Greater Bay Area (such as Santa Cruz, Monterey, Yolo, San Joaquin, San Benito, Sacramento or Mendocino counties). For team submissions with reporters in multiple locales, at least one contributor must live in the Bay Area or an immediately adjacent county.

JUDGING: Entries will be judged by professional journalism organizations or individuals outside the contest area. No San Francisco Press Club members will judge entries. The Awards Committee reserves the right to change the category in which entries are submitted and to refuse entries not meeting eligibility. In the case of an entry dispute, the decision of the committee will be final.

College journalism students must enter material for student-based media (such as student newspaper) in the appropriate student division. However, students with work in professional media may also enter in professional categories and still pay the student rate.  

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by no later than 9 p.m. PST on Oct. 20, 2025. The deadline will NOT be extended this year.

AWARDS: First, second and third place awards will be presented in person at the SFPC awards gala.

ENTRY FEES (per entry):
Professional Entrant, Member: $20 (Press Club members only)
Professional Entrant, Non-Member: $30
College Entrant: $10
Overall Excellence: $50

Below are directions for preparing and submitting entries.

OVERALL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

PRINT/DIGITAL — LARGE NEWSROOM (Note: includes digital media, daily newspapers and still photography for newsrooms)

PRINT/DIGITAL — SMALL NEWSROOM (Note: includes digital media, non-daily newspapers and still photography for newsrooms. Limited to digital outlets with 15 or fewer paid, full-time staff members. All non-daily newspapers are eligible.)

MAGAZINES/TRADE PUBLICATIONS

RADIO/PODCAST – AUDIO ONLY

TELEVISION/VIDEO – VIDEO ONLY

PUBLIC RELATIONS

COLLEGE MEDIA

CATEGORIES

OVERALL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Nine awards for overall/staff excellence are available this year:

— BEST NEWS WEBSITE — LARGE: Digital outlets should submit entries via active URL links to specific content published within the contest period. Three complete digital pages or packages of content may be submitted. For homepage entries, outlets may submit a live URL link to their current homepage (judges will select dates to review websites). Examples may also be submitted via PDF. Open to newsrooms with more than 15 full-time, paid journalists on staff.

— BEST NEWSPAPER — LARGE: Newspapers should submit three complete issues via PDF. Original publication or posting dates should be in the contest period. Open to newsrooms with more than 15 full-time, paid journalists on staff.

— BEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER: Open to newspapers with 15 or fewer paid, full-time journalists on staff. Outlets should submit three complete issues via PDF. Original publication or posting dates should be in the contest period.

— BEST COMMUNITY NEWS WEBSITE: Open to newsrooms or publications with 15 or fewer paid, full-time journalists on staff. Three complete digital pages or packages of content may be submitted. For homepage entries, outlets may submit a live URL link to their current homepage (judges will select dates to review websites). Examples may also be submitted via PDF.

— BEST MAGAZINE/TRADE PUBLICATION: Magazines/Trade Publications should submit three complete print or digital editions, which can also be submitted via PDF or live URLs. Original publication or posting dates should be in the contest period. Digital magazines and trade publications are eligible.

— BEST RADIO STATION/PODCAST: Radio stations/podcasts should submit three complete newscasts or episodes from the contest period.

— BEST TV STATION/VIDEO SITE: Television stations/video journalists should submit three complete newscasts or video episodes from the contest period.

— BEST PR CAMPAIGN: Public Relations organizations should submit an overall sampling of materials for one campaign from the contest period.

— BEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER/NEWS WEBSITE: Daily and non-daily college publications should submit up to three editions or complete digital pages from the contest period. Entries from both print and digital publications are eligible.

Blog/Commentary 

Breaking News – Story that breaks and is covered on deadline – single-day coverage. May include a description (one paragraph max) of deadlines and coordination of coverage.

Business/Technology Story

Column – News/Political. Maximum three columns per entry.

Column – Features. Maximum three columns per entry.

Column – Sports. Maximum three columns per entry.

Criminal Justice

Entertainment review

Environmental/Nature

Feature – Light Subject

Feature – Serious Subject

General News – Regular news coverage, non-breaking news. The winner of this category will be recognized with the Bill Workman News Writing Award.

Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research. If a series, up to three examples may be submitted.

Politics/Government

Profile – Feature story on an individual

Series or Continuing Coverage – Single reporter or team. Non-breaking news or features on the same topic; not to exceed three submissions per entry.

Sports Feature – Sports reporting, not a column.

Photography – Feature

Photography – News

Photography – Photo Series

Photography – Sports

Cover Design

Editorial Cartoon

Front Page Design

Feature Layout Design – Best page design for feature story includes photos and /or graphics.

Headlines – Submit one headline sample.

Blog/Commentary

Breaking News – Story that breaks and is covered on deadline – single-day coverage. May include a description (one paragraph max) of deadlines and coordination of coverage.

Business/Technology Story

Column – News/Political. Maximum three columns per entry.

Column – Features. Maximum three columns per entry.

Column – Sports. Maximum three columns per entry.

Criminal Justice

Entertainment review

Environmental/Nature

Feature – Light Subject

Feature – Serious Subject

General News – Regular news coverage, non-breaking news.

Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research. If a series, up to three examples may be submitted.

Politics/Government

Profile – Feature story on an individual

Series or Continuing Coverage – Single reporter or team. Non-breaking news or features on the same topic not to exceed three submissions per entry.

Sports Feature – Sports reporting, not a column.

Photography – Feature

Photography – News

Photography – Photo Series

Photography – Sports

Cover Design

Editorial Cartoon

Front Page Design

Feature Layout Design – Best page design for feature story includes photos and /or graphics.

Headlines – Submit one headline sample.

Blog/Commentary 

Breaking News – Story that breaks and is covered on deadline – single-day coverage. May include a description (one paragraph max) of deadlines and coordination of coverage.

Business/Technology Story

Column – News/Political. Maximum three columns per entry.

Column – Features. Maximum three columns per entry.

Column – Sports. Maximum three columns per entry.

Criminal Justice

Entertainment review

Environmental/Nature

Feature – Light Subject

Feature – Serious Subject

General News – Regular news coverage, non-breaking news. The winner of this category will be recognized with the Bill Workman News Writing Award.

Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research. If a series, up to three examples may be submitted.

Politics/Government

Profile – Feature story on an individual

Series or Continuing Coverage – Single reporter or team. Non-breaking news or features on the same topic; not to exceed three submissions per entry.

Sports Feature – Sports reporting, not a column.

Photography – Feature

Photography – News

Photography – Photo Series

Photography – Sports

Cover Design

Editorial Cartoon

Front Page Design

Feature Layout Design – Best page design for feature story includes photos and /or graphics.

Headlines – Submit one headline sample.

Enterprise/Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research.

Feature Story – Light Subject

Feature Story – Serious Subject

General News Story

Podcast – General Interest

Podcast – News

Public Affairs Program

Series or Continuing Coverage – Single reporter or team. Non-breaking news on the same topic not to exceed three submissions per entry.

Sports Feature

Best reporting by a small radio station – Includes newsrooms with 15 or fewer paid, full-time journalists.

Feature Story – Light Subject

Feature Story – Serious Subject

Live Report – Live coverage on the scene of a single news story

General News Story

Series or Continuing Coverage – Single reporter or team. Non-breaking news on the same topic not to exceed three submissions per entry.

Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research. If coverage resulted in action or change, include a brief description.

Public Affairs Program

Sports Feature

Videography

Newsletter – printed, email or online, submit three examples

Corporate Brochure

Annual Report

Press Release Writing – Submit one press release on a news item or feature story relating to any organization or event. Press releases promoting products are ineligible.

Video – Production seeking to explain or demonstrate a client’s product, event or area of influence.

Blog/Commentary

Breaking News – Story that breaks and is covered on deadline – single-day coverage. Include a description – one paragraph max – of deadlines and coordination of coverage.

Column – Maximum three columns per entry.

Feature – Light Subject

Feature – Serious Subject

General News – Regular news coverage, non-breaking news.

Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research. If a series, up to three examples may be submitted.

TV/Video news reporting

Radio/podcast news reporting

Photography – Feature

Photography – News

Photography – Photo Series

Photography – Sports

Cover Design

Editorial Cartoon

Front Page Design

Feature Layout Design – Best page design for feature story includes photos and /or graphics.

Headline – Submit one headline sample

PLEASE NOTE: The contest entry portal will open at noon PST on Sept. 22, 2025.

IMPORTANT: Please make sure to use a recent version of Google Chrome for making contest entries.

This year, ALL contestants and media organizations must submit entries as “OPEN CALL” contestants. Here’s how: 

Create your account: Go to www.BetterNewspaperContest.com.

Click Open Call Login and click Create your Open Call Account. Fill in all info. You will see a message that a verification link has been sent to your email.

Present your credentials.

Once you receive the verification link message, click on the link, or copy into your browser. Complete the credentials portion. This step protects the entry process. Once you see the “Credentials Updated” message, click on Available Contests. Select the “2025 Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards.

1. In today’s changing media environment, it’s common for newspaper companies to produce video or audio news clips for use on various platforms or online. Or television stations will post written news or feature reports on a website, supported by video that airs.

2. To simplify the process of entering the 2025 Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards and prevent confusion, the Press Club board decided to modify the starting point for all entrants.

3. This year, and for all subsequent years, all entrants will use the “Open Call Contestant” instructions.

4. If you will be handling the entries for your company, you will create an Open Call account in your own name and be able to make the entries for your company entrants. Each entry will be customized according to the medium – Video, Audio, Writing, etc.

5. If you have an Open Call Contestant account from previous years, use that account again with your password.


PREPARING ENTRIES

• On the Manage Entries page, click Submit Entry

• Select the “General” Division. The system will allow you to select the “Group Division” for each entry (i.e. PRINT/DIGITAL, RADIO/PODCAST, TV/VIDEO etc.).

• Select the name of the appropriate media outlet from the dropdown. If your publication, website or station is not on the list, you have the option to add it.

• Select the appropriate Category.

• (If applicable) Read the corresponding Category Note (directly below the Category selection box), describing what is expected for the category’s entry content. Complete the Headline/Title field.

• Based on the type of entry, add content:

• To add URL links to content, copy and paste the content’s web address into the provided Web URL field.

• To upload digital file attachments (other than audio/video), click Choose File, navigate to the desired file, select Open, and click Upload. Allowed file types are PDF, DOC, TXT, JPG, GIF, and PNG. If more than one attachment is desired for this entry, repeat these steps.

• For Audio or Video: To host your content online, either upload it to a free streaming content website (e.g. YouTube) or talk to your IT person about adding it to your station’s website. Make sure the content will be accessible online throughout the contest and awards judging process.

• Add Credits for those responsible for the entry content. Be sure to add your own name here, if applicable.

• Add Comments (if applicable) but keep them brief (e.g. 100 words).

• Click Submit.

IMPORTANT: Please ensure that items are not behind a paywall or a password-protected area. If they are, you must provide username/password info in the Comments section of your entry. Judges may disqualify your entry if work samples are inaccessible.

This is your account — you can come back to it at any time during the call for entries time period — until the deadline date.

Once you have completed all your entries, click on Entry Fee Calculator and check to be sure all your entries are included.

Click on the button to go to the payment page to pay your entry fees online. Type the total amount due on the page and complete payment. Online payment is strongly preferred, but you may also pay by check by sending a copy of your recap with a check to: 3335 21st Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. Please email the contest administrator if you plan to pay by check.

If you have any questions, call or email the awards administrator, Dustin Gardiner: gardiner.dustin@gmail.com.