The National Scholastic Press Association announced finalists for its 2024 individual contests, with each contest category including up to 10 finalists nationwide. Winners will be announced at NSPA/JEA’s convention in Philadelphia Nov. 9.
The finalists from West include:
- Portfolio of the Year: Photojournalist of the Year — Gianna Liu ’25
- Design of the Year: Newsmagazine Cover — Anna Song ’25 for Women of West.
- Design of the Year: Informational Graphic — Erinn Varga ’24 for E-pass explained.
- Digital Story of the Year: Multimedia Sports Story — Gianna Liu ’25, Anna Song ’25 and Celia Sadewasser ’26 for The CC effect.
- Digital Story of the Year: Photo Slideshow — Gianna Liu ’25 and Zoe Smith ’24 for West High’s first homecoming parade.
- Digital Story of the Year: Podcast — Gianna Liu ’25 for Tech Talk: Let’s Chat: GPT
- Photo of the Year: Feature Photo — Josie Schwartz ’25 for Prom.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Reporting — Reem Kirja ’25 and Jane Lam ’24 for Sudan’s struggle.
- Reporting on Systemic Change: Fred Ross Journalism Competition — Josie Schwartz ’25 for Puzzle Pieces: Iowa City’s generational movement to preserve the prairies.
- Best Use of Social Media: Social Media Promotion — West Side Story staff
NSPA Individual Awards honor the nation’s best scholastic journalism — in a wide range of categories. The awards are presented to individuals and small teams. There are 46 contests in 11 divisions.
The competition is rigorous with 9% of the 4,800 entries earning finalist status. The entries are the work of individual or small teams.
The top five winners along with five honorable mentions will be named in each contest.
After the winners are announced on Nov. 9, a gallery of the winners and honorable mentions will be displayed on the NSPA website.
