Live contests are one of the highlights of the TIPA convention. Students go head to head against their peers in 30 categories featuring real-world scenarios. Only one student per school may compete in each category, except in two-person photo essay and the multimedia contest. Contest descriptions are below. Go to the registration form to sign up for the competitions.
Print News Writing
Contestants are taken to a news event/scenario where they must put their reporter skills to the test. Either a general announcement will be made or contestants may be given an index card with little information about what they are covering. Contestants must be ready to adapt to any “breaking” news that may occur during the scheduled event. Upon the conclusion of the news event, contestants have one hour to write a news story about the event/scenario. News stories must follow normal print format. Headline is not required.
Radio News Writing
Contestants are taken to a news event/scenario where they must put their reporter skills to the test. Either a general announcement will be made or contestants may be given an index card with little information about what they are covering. Contestants must be ready to adapt to any “breaking” news that may occur during the scheduled event. Upon the conclusion of the news event, contestants have one hour to write a news script about the event/scenario with a runtime no longer than 60 seconds. News stories must follow proper broadcast format for radio – news copy and technical instructions. They also must give full, word-for-word soundbites. No headline, video file or recording is required, only the script.
TV News Writing
Contestants are taken to a news event/scenario where they must put their reporter skills to the test. Either a general announcement will be made or contestants may be given an index card with little information about what they are covering. Contestants must be ready to adapt to any “breaking” news that may occur during the scheduled event. Upon the conclusion of the news event, contestants have one hour to write a news script about the event/scenario with a runtime no longer than 60 seconds. News stories must follow proper broadcast format for TV – split into two columns with text on one side and technical instructions on the other. They also must give full, word-for-word sound bites. No headline, video file or recording is required, only the script.
Spanish News Writing
Contestants are taken to a news event/scenario where they must put their reporter skills to the test. Either a general announcement will be made or contestants may be given an index card with little information about what they are covering. Contestants must be ready to adapt to any “breaking” news that may occur during the scheduled event. Upon the conclusion of the news event, contestants have one hour to write a news story in Spanish about the event/scenario. Spanish news stories may be written in normal print format. Headline or an English translation are not required.
Live Video News
Contestants are taken to a news event/scenario where they must put their reporter skills to the test. Either a general announcement will be made or contestants may be given an index card with little information about what they are covering. Contestants must shoot their own video and gather b-roll. They also must be ready to adapt to any “breaking” news that may occur during the scheduled event. Upon the conclusion of the news event, contestants have a couple of hours to produce a news package about the event/scenario. News packages must follow proper broadcast format and submitted in a readable video file (MP4 or MOV preferred) no longer than two minutes. No script is required.
Copy Editing
Contestants must complete a copy-editing test. Copy-editing tests may consist of three sections: AP style word choice, sentence editing and story editing. Contestants must edit the material as instructed for items such as, but not limited to, AP style, wordiness, capitalization, punctuation and spelling. Directions usually are included at the top of each section of the test.
Headline Writing
Contestants must write headlines as assigned for each story presented. Stories may require different types of headlines – two-line HED, one-line HED, one-line main HED accompanied by a two-line secondary HED, etc. Instructions will advise contestants for the minimum and maximum number of spaces required for each headline. For example, a one-line headline may ask to be no fewer than 26 spaces but no more than 32. All uppercase and lowercase letters, punctuation marks, spaces and symbols count as one space.
Print Sports Writing
Contestants are taken to a sports event where they must put their reporter skills to the test. A general announcement will be made as to what sport event they will be attending. Contestants will watch the entirety of the sports event sports event and have the chance to ask questions during a press conference. Upon the conclusion of the sports event, contestants have one hour to write a game coverage story. Sports stories must follow normal print format. Sports terminology and technical wording is encouraged. Headline is not required.
Radio Sports Writing
Contestants are taken to a sports event where they must put their reporter skills to the test. A general announcement will be made as to what sport event they will be attending. Contestants will watch the entirety of the sports event sports event and have the chance to ask questions during a press conference. Upon the conclusion of the sports event, contestants have one hour to write a game recap script with a runtime no longer than 60 seconds. Sports scripts must follow proper broadcast format for radio – copy and technical instructions. They also must give full, word-for-word soundbites. No headline, audio file or recording is required, only the script. Sports terminology and technical wording is encouraged.
TV Sports Writing
Contestants are taken to a sports event where they must put their reporter skills to the test. A general announcement will be made as to what sport event they will be attending. Contestants will watch the entirety of the sports event sports event and have the chance to ask questions during a press conference. Upon the conclusion of the sports event, contestants have one hour to write a game recap script with a runtime no longer than 60 seconds. Sports scripts must follow proper broadcast format – split into two columns with text on one side and technical instructions on the other. They also must give full, word-for-word sound bites. No headline, video file or recording is required, only the script. They also must give full, word-for-word soundbites. Sports terminology and technical wording is encouraged.
Print Advertising
Contestants have one hour to create a print advertisement for a given product or service. Each contestant must bring their own laptop with the editing software of their choice to create a print advertisement. Contestants will be provided with a ZIP file containing materials to create the advertisement as well as a document with brief information about the product/service. Final print advertisements must be submitted in JPG format.
Radio Advertising
Contestants must create two 30-second radio advertisements for a given product or service. Contestants will write the script for the advertisement following proper broadcast format for radio – advertisement copy and technical instructions. Contestants will be provided with brief information about the product/service. Final radio advertisements must be submitted via a Word document.
TV Advertising
Contestants must create a 10-second and 30-second TV advertisements for a given product or service. Contestants will create a storyboard for the advertisement following proper broadcast format for advertisements– storyboards with sketches and technical instructions. Contestants will be provided with brief information about the product/service. Final TV advertisements (storyboard sheet) will be submitted to judges.
Editorial Cartoon
Contestants have one hour to create an editorial cartoon about a given scenario/news development. Contestants will be given a document with different perspectives about a specific scenario/news development. Contestants will sketch out an editorial cartoon that clearly states a stance. They may use pen and paper or any other editing software to create the editorial cartoon.
Editorial Writing
Contestants have one hour to write an editorial piece about a given scenario/news development. Contestants will be given a document with different perspectives about a specific scenario/news development. Contestants will write an opinion piece that clearly states a stance. Final editorial writing entries must be submitted via a Word document.
Feature Writing
Contestants will be taken to a part of town where they will have one hour to search for and find a feature story of their choosing. There is no specific requirement for what the feature story must focus on. During that time, contestants must gather their interviews and any other element needed to complete their feature story. Upon returning, contestants will have one hour to complete their feature story.
Radio Announcing
Contestants will be provided with a script and have five minutes to review its content. Afterward, contestants will go into a room and record/perform an announcement. The recording/performance may take place in front of judges and other contestants.
TV Announcing
Contestants will be provided with a script and have five minutes to review its content. Afterward, contestants will go into a room and record/perform an announcement. The recording/performance may take place in front of judges and other contestants. Contestants must be dress as if they were going to make the announcement live on TV.
TV Announcing Spanish
Contestants will be provided with a script in Spanish and have five minutes to review its content. Afterward, contestants will go into a room and record/perform an announcement. The recording/performance must be delivered in Spanish and may take place in front of judges and other contestants. Contestants must be dress as if they were going to make the announcement live on TV.
Radio Announcing Spanish
Contestants will be provided with a script in Spanish and have five minutes to review its content. Afterward, contestants will go into a room and record/perform an announcement. The recording/performance must be delivered in Spanish and may take place in front of judges and other contestants.
PR Release Writing
Contestants have one hour to write a news release about a given news development/announcement. Contestants will be given a document with information regarding the news development/announcement and quotes from sources. They will then write a release that follows proper PR news writing format, including technical terms and symbols. Final PR release writing entries must be submitted via a Word document.
PR Crisis Management
Contestants have one hour to develop a crisis management plan about a given scenario/news development. Contestants will be given a document with information regarding the scenario/news development and instructions of who to address the plan to. They will then develop a crisis management plan that follows proper public relations format, which includes, but is not limited to, steps to take, technical terms and symbols. Final PR crisis management entries must be submitted via a Word document.
Critical Review
Contestants will attend a showing of a fine arts event, which includes, but is not limited to, a play, movie or concert. During that time, contestants will view, listen and/or take notes of the event. Upon returning, contestants will have one hour to write a review of the fine arts event.
News Photography
Contestants are taken to a news event/scenario where they must put their photojournalist skills to the test. Either a general announcement will be made or contestants may be given an index card with little information about what they are covering. Contestants must be ready to adapt to any “breaking” news that may occur during the scheduled event. Upon the conclusion of the news event, contestants have one hour to select a photo and write a cutline. Photos must not be edited in any way. Cutlines must be saved in the photo’s metadata. Submission must be in JPG format.
Feature Photography
Contestants will be taken to a part of town where they will have one hour to search for and find a feature photo of their choosing. There is no specific requirement for what the feature story must focus on. During that time, contestants may take as many shots as they deem necessary and gather other elements needed to complete their feature photo assignment. Upon returning, contestants will have one hour to submit their feature photo that includes a cutline. Photos must not be edited in any way. Cutlines must be saved in the photo’s metadata. Submission must be in JPG format.
Sports Action Photo
Contestants are taken to a sports event where they must put their photojournalist skills to the test. A general announcement will be made as to what sport event they will be attending. Contestants will watch the entirety of the sports event sports event and capture photos from a designated area. Upon the conclusion of the sports event, contestants have one hour to submit their sports photo that includes a cutline. Photos must not be edited in any way. Cutlines must be saved in the photo’s metadata. Submission must be in JPG format.
2-Person Photo Essay
Contestants will be taken to a part of town where they will have one hour to search for and shoot a series of photos for their photo essay. There is no specific requirement for what the photo essay must focus on. During that time, contestants may take as many shots as they deem necessary and gather other elements needed to complete their photo essay assignment. Upon returning, contestants will have a couple of hours to submit their photo essay that includes cutlines. Photo essays may be produced using a Word document that includes photos and cutlines.
Newspaper Design
Contestants have one hour to create a front page of a newspaper. Each contestant must bring their own laptop with the editing software of their choice to create the front page. Contestants will be provided with a ZIP file containing materials to create a front page that includes photos, text and newspaper flag. Final page designs must be submitted in PDF format.
Yearbook Design
Contestants have one hour to create a spread or page for a yearbook. Each contestant must bring their own laptop with the editing software of their choice to create the front page. Contestants will be provided with a ZIP file containing materials to create a page or spread that includes photos and text. Final page/spread designs must be submitted in PDF format.
Magazine Design
Contestants have one hour to create a magazine spread. Each contestant must bring their own laptop with the editing software of their choice to create the front page. Contestants will be provided with a ZIP file containing materials to create a spread that includes photos and text. Final page/spread designs must be submitted in PDF format.