The High School Media Conference is a competition for area high school students who submit items in different journalism and media categories to be judged. The annual competition traditionally culminates with a half day conference, with workshops and area professionals as speakers followed by an awards presentation.
2025 High School Media Conference
The 2025 High School Media Conference is being held on April 11, 2025 at the UNO Milo Bail Student Center, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please contact Andrew Stem, astem@unomaha.edu, for more information.
Categories for this competition include:
NEWS STORY
A hard-news story based on a timely event or issue. Criteria for judging include accuracy, fairness, balance, journalistic style, impact on readers and quality of writing.
FEATURE STORY
A story with more emphasis on human interest than timeliness. The feature may be lighter in tone and written not only to inform but to entertain. Criteria in judging include creativity, appeal to readers, journalistic style and quality of writing.
SPORTS STORY
A story about a sports activity or athlete. Criteria in judging include creativity, appeal to readers, journalistic style and quality of writing.
EDITORIAL
A piece that represents the newspaper staff's opinion on a particular event or issue. Note distinction between an editorial (representing the views of the publication) and a column (representing the personal views of a specific writer). Submit those pieces you consider to be editorials whether the pieces are signed or unsigned. Criteria in judging include relevance to readers, journalistic style, quality of writing and persuasive appeal.
COLUMN
A piece that reflects the writer's personal views. Criteria in judging include creativity, appeal to readers, journalistic style and quality of writing. If you wish to submit point/counterpoint pieces, submit both as one entry.
REVIEW
A piece that evaluates the quality of a work or performance including art, books, films, television programs, musical performances or recordings, restaurants or others forms of popular entertainment. Criteria in judging include creativity, persuasive appeal, journalistic style and quality of writing.
NEWS/FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH
Any news or feature photograph not related to sports. Criteria in judging include storytelling ability of the image, the use of photographic composition and overall technical excellence.
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH
Any news or feature photograph related to sports. Criteria in judging include storytelling ability of the images, the use of photographic composition and overall technical excellence.
NEWSPAPER SINGLE-PAGE LAYOUT
A layout of a single page of the publication. Criteria in judging include the use of photographs and graphics, quality of headlines, and adherence to layout and design principles.
NEWSPAPER TWO-PAGE (DOUBLE SPREAD) LAYOUT
A layout of two pages (double spread) of the publication. Mark the pages being entered. Criteria in judging include the use of photographs and graphics, quality of headlines, and adherence to layout and design principles.
YEARBOOK/MAGAZINE LAYOUT
A layout of a page or spread of a yearbook or magazine. Criteria for judging include the use of photographs and graphics, quality of headlines, and adherence to layout and design principles.
CARTOON
Any graphic feature intended to amuse, educate, satirize or persuade. Criteria in judging include imagination, appropriateness to audience, insight or humor, and artistic technique.
ORIGINAL ART/COMPUTER GRAPHICS
An illustration in any style intended to depict an article or decorate a publication in any manner. Criteria in judging include originality, appropriateness to audience and artistic technique.
NEWSPAPER
A category judged on the basis of overall excellence in news coverage, editorial leadership, writing and layout/design. Submit any three issues published during the 2021-2022 academic year.
VIDEO NEWS BROADCAST
(30 minutes or less). Any TV broadcast or video podcast dealing with newsworthy and timely events and issues. Criteria in judging include audience appeal, creativity and technical quality.
VIDEO NEWS STORY
(Five minutes or less). Any TV or video podcast story dealing with newsworthy and timely events and issues. Criteria in judging include audience appeal, creativity and technical quality.
VIDEO FEATURE STORY
(Five minutes or less). Any TV or video podcast story dealing with feature topics, which usually emphasize human interest more than timeliness. Criteria in judging include audience appeal, creativity and technical quality.
VIDEO SPORTS STORY
(Five minutes or less). Any TV or video podcast story dealing with sports topics or events. Criteria in judging include audience appeal, creativity and technical quality.
LONG-FORM AUDIO
(More than five minutes). Any radio broadcast or audio podcast. Criteria in judging include audience appeal, creativity and technical quality.
SHORT-FORM AUDIO
(Five minutes or less). Any radio broadcast or audio podcast. Criteria in judging include audience appeal, creativity and technical quality.
