OSMA Contests


2023 OSMA Individual Contests

Deadline: Friday, Jan. 27, 2023

Here are the step-by-step instructions  for submitting your entries. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we have further revised the list of categories.

Please note: We must have proof that articles were published during the time limit of the competition in order for them to be eligible for the contest. For online entries, please include links to the articles as originally published on the website. For work published in a hard copy publication, please upload a .pdf file of the original publication (Instructions here.) We will not accept Word Processing files.

Step 1: Prepare your digital entries

  • For each design and writing entry, export the page or spread as a .pdf. 
  • If submitting a spread, make sure the export settings are set as spread and not as pages. If submitting a multi-page package, save all the pages into one .pdf. (For Yearbook Theme category, please save all applicable files into a folder and share the folder link)
  • If submitting an entire page pdf for the judging of one article/photo on that page, mark or clarify for the judges what they should look at.
  • Photographs should be submitted as .pdf files – please include the caption and any other supporting materials (accompanying story, etc). If more than one photo is visible in the pdf, please make sure we understand which one to judge.  
  • Broadcast entries should be uploaded to Youtube or comparable hosting site and include the link to that on the form.

Step 2: Upload and share

  • All of your entries must be uploaded online (Google, Dropbox, YouTube, etc). Your entries must have a shareable link to submit on the contest form. Please refer to the new list of contest categories for more information about contests.
  • It is recommended that you create a folder for all contest entries for the year, but how you organize your entries is up to you. 
  • Upload all of your contest entries. Name each entry with the following convention:

Entry Category #_School_Student First_Last Name

Example: 51_Antwerp_Maddie_Boesch

  • Get a shareable link for each entry. You will need the shareable link when you fill out the entry form. To get a shareable link in Google Drive, right click (on a Mac, control + click) on the file. Click SHARE. Use the pull-down menu to select Anyone with the Link. Then click Get Sharable Link. This is the link you need to submit with your entry.

Step 3: Submit Your Entries

  • Click on the Individual Advance Contest Registration Form. This form will need to be completed for every entry.
  • Fill out the form with the student’s name, grade, school information, category, and then paste the shareable link into the last box.

Step 4: Fill out the Contest Roster

  • Fill out the Contest Roster with the entry titles and names. (You should follow the prompts to “Make a Copy” and then rename it with your school name. Please also make sure this is saved as “Anyone with the Link Can View”) 
  • Remember that each school is limited to two entries per category. Make sure all names are spelled correctly as this is the document that will be used for award certificates.
  • All entries submitted on the Individual Advance Contest Registration Form need to be included on the Contest Roster in order to be judged. Although students can submit the contest registration form, it is recommended that the adviser fill out the Contest Roster. 
  • Once you have completed the Contest Roster form, please share with osmaonline@gmail.com. To share, right click (on a Mac, control + click) on the file. Click SHARE. Type in the email address osmaonline@gmail.com under “People,” then click Done.  (If you get a notification that “You are sharing to osmaonline@gmail.com who is not in the G Suite organization that this item belongs to,” go ahead and just click “Yes.”)
  • JOIN OSMA, if you haven’t already done so. Here’s a link to the forms. NOTE: OSMA now accepts credit card payments under FORMS > Online registration.

2023 Overall Newspaper and Newsmagazine Critiques

Deadline: Friday, Jan. 27, 2023

Because of the challenges related to publishing hard copies again this year, we will accept two issues of your student newspaper or newsmagazine for overall evaluation. If you did publish three, please send them all.

Please submit your copies and this registration form and this Open Forum Statement, which must be filled out by your principal, to:

OSMA
201B Franklin Hall
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Kent State University
Kent, OH 44242

2023 Overall News Website Critiques

Deadline: Friday, Jan. 27, 2023

Please submit the following registration form as a Google form when you have finished. Submit this Open Forum Statement, which must be filled out by your principal, and your membership form to:

OSMA

201B Franklin Hall

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Kent State University

Kent, OH 44242

Deadline: Friday, Jan. 28, 2022

OSMA
201B Franklin Hall
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Kent State University
Kent, OH 44242

2022 – 2023 Yearbook Contests

Please submit your 2022-2023 yearbooks, along with this registration form and Open Forum Statement if applicable, which must be filled out by your principal, by these dates:

  • June 30 (for spring delivery books); evaluations returned by Sept. 15.
  • Sept. 30 (for early fall delivery books); evaluations returned by Dec. 15.
  • Nov. 30 (for late fall delivery books): evaluations returned by Feb. 15.

Send yearbook contest entries to:

OSMA
201B Franklin Hall
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Kent State University
Kent, OH 44242

QUESTIONS? Contact cbowen@kent.edu

Leave a Reply