CSPA Gold Circle Awards

About the Gold Circle Awards

Gold Circle Awards are offered to recognize superior work by student journalists usually as individuals but sometimes as an entire staff working with either print or online media. Gold Circle Awards recognize individual achievement by students from any CSPA member in four major categories: News; Magazine; Digital Media; and Yearbook. 

Recognition is given by various certificates of award. Secondary schools are judged separately from colleges and universities so that each student’s work is evaluated against others produced in similar circumstances. Judges are experienced journalists and educators familiar with the context surrounding student journalism as produced in schools and colleges. 

Gold Circle Awards were first given in 1984, following a long tradition of CSPA awards for individual achievement by student journalists. These media are published in schools or colleges throughout the United States and in overseas schools following an American plan of education. In recent years, more than 15,000 entries have been submitted for this annual competition and about 1,200 awards were given in the various categories.

Gold Circle Categories

Gold Circle Awards recognize individual achievement by students from any CSPA member in four major categories: News; Magazine; Digital Media; and Yearbook. Of these major categories, each has multiple subcategories: 47 in News; 29 in Magazine; 36 in Digital Media; and 34 in Yearbook. Each CSPA member may submit as many as 30 individual entries as part of their membership. Additional entries may also be submitted for an additional fee. Please visit the Gold Circle Awards Categories page to see categories and instructions on how to enter. The Gold Circle Awards are available to members as part of CSPA Membership.