FAQs About the CSPA Crown Awards

What do we send for Crown Awards consideration?
A set of publications is any 10 for college print newspapers or any six for middle/high school print newspapers; one copy of their magazine; or one copy of their 2024 yearbook. Digital members must submit a working URL address. Hybrids must submit both print papers and a working URL address.

Is there any written feedback provided after the Crown judging?
No written feedback is provided after the Crown judging has been completed.

Do the Crown judges separate colleges/universities, high schools and middle/junior high schools? Colleges/universities form a separate group as do middle/junior high schools and high schools; each are judged separately. All publications are compared against other publications from the same type of school or college.

Can I enter my newspaper and my online news site as a member (for awards consideration)?
News media can be critiqued as print only, digital only or as a hybrid (print/digital).

HYBRID—print publication that provides live coverage via website between print editions. Can include expanded content for stories already covered in print. Could also include updates or completely new coverage via website.

DIGITAL—Online news reporting only; no print component. If a print edition co-exists with the digital news site, then it’s a hybrid publication.

PRINT—News reporting in print only; no digital (online) component. If a digital edition co-exists with the print component, then it’s a hybrid publication.

A note about websites: To be critiqued/evaluated as an online publication and/or site, your website must include material adding web features. Sites offering only PDFs of the existing print publications do not qualify for online news site critique consideration.