Student INBA award entry is open through March 31

5 days ago

Eastern Illinois University won a 2024 SINBA Award for Outstanding TV Newscast. The award was accepted by EIU students Olivia Bennett, left, and Harrison Belsanti. INBA President Rachel Lippmann is at center.

Attention college journalists — and their faculty advisers — the SINBA Awards entry window is open!

Categories include both television and radio and are open to journalistic work completed by undergraduates and graduates at a college, university or commercial radio or television station or cable outlet from May 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025. Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. on March 31. Finalists will be announced April 7 and winners will be announced at the spring convention in Bloomington on Saturday, April 26.

ENTER NOW!

This is the second year of using our new platform to submit awards. INBA has partnered with ACES to make the process more user-friendly. You pay directly on the website (YAY!). Click here to visit our ACES platform.

Each person will be required to create a login where you will have to enter an association code. That code is INBA. Additional entry instructions are available on the landing page of the ACES website.

Students can upload their work either with a file or through a URL off of YouTube or Soundcloud. If you forget your log in, reach out to contest coordinator Emily Manley at ermanley23@gmail.com and we’ll get it reset for you.

For students, “Company” means university or college. Those registering will also be required to pick a “Division” type, but no worries — as a student it doesn’t matter which division you pick.

ENTRIES ARE NOT VALID UNTIL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED! You do NOT have to pay immediately after submitting your work, BUT payment is due by April 1.

Here are the 2025 categories:

RADIO

OUTSTANDING HARD NEWS RADIO PROGRAM: For content and production of a regularly scheduled local program that runs from 15 minutes to half an hour. It must be produced by students and transmitted on a university, college or student-operated broadcast, carrier current or closed-circuit radio station. Each institution is limited to one entry. (This award goes to an institution, NOT an individual producer)

OUTSTANDING SOFT RADIO PROGRAM: Soft categories includes a sports show, interview show, magazine/feature show. For content and production of a regularly scheduled local program that runs from 15 minutes to half an hour. It must be produced by students and transmitted on a university, college or student-operated broadcast, carrier current or closed-circuit radio station. Each institution is limited to one entry. (This award goes to an institution, NOT an individual producer)

OUTSTANDING RADIO NEWSCAST: For content and production of a regularly scheduled local newscast produced by students and transmitted on a university, college or student-operated broadcast, carrier current or closed-circuit radio station. Each institution is limited to one entry. Each newscast should be no shorter than five minutes and no longer than 30 minutes. (This award goes to an institution, NOT an individual producer)

OUTSTANDING RADIO NEWS REPORTING: For individual achievement in radio news reporting that shows student enterprise, creativity, clear writing and quality production. Each entry consists of no more than four news stories. Entries should show skill in handling various kinds of stories, and can include more than one news story (like a resume tape).

OUTSTANDING RADIO SPORTS REPORTING: For individual achievement in radio news reporting of a sports story or event. Entries should show student enterprise, creativity, clear writing and quality production. Entries may include play-by-play, in-depth coverage of a sports event, sports team or sports feature. Each entry consists of a tape with no more than three sports stories or events.

OUTSTANDING RADIO SPORTS PLAY-BY-PLAY: For individual achievement in radio play-by-play of a live sports event that is transmitted on a broadcast, carrier current or closed-circuit radio station. Entry should show ability to convey what is going on in the field or the court in a clear, concise, informative and colorful manner. Entries also will be judged on delivery and knowledge of the game. A student can submit entries from up to 3 games, but game clip must last no longer than 5 minutes. Students who submit play-by-play aired on different stations should specify on which station each game was broadcast.

OUTSTANDING USE OF SOUND: For individual achievement in use of sound in a radio story. Entries should show the students ability to creatively use natural sound in a news story. One story per entry.

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TELEVISION

OUTSTANDING HARD NEWS TELEVISION PROGRAM: Awarded for content and production of a regularly scheduled local program that runs from 15 minutes to half an hour. It must be produced by students and transmitted on a television or cable facility to a public audience. Each institution is limited to one entry. (This award goes to an institution, NOT an individual producer)

OUTSTANDING SOFT TELEVISION PROGRAM: Soft categories include an interview show or a magazine/feature show. Awarded for content and production of a regularly scheduled local program that runs from 15 minutes to half an hour. It must be produced by students and transmitted on a television or cable facility to a public audience. Each institution is limited to one entry. (This award goes to an institution, NOT an individual producer)

OUTSTANDING SPORTS TELEVISION PROGRAM: Awarded for a sports show, not sportscast, running from 15 minutes to half an hour. It must be produced by students and transmitted on a television or cable facility to a public audience. Each institution is limited to one entry. (This award goes to an institution, NOT an individual producer)

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION NEWSCAST: For content and production of a regularly scheduled local newscast produced by students and transmitted on a college or university cable or television facility to a general audience. Each institution is limited to one entry. (This award goes to an institution, NOT an individual producer)

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION NEWS REPORTING: For individual achievement in television news reporting that shows student enterprise, creativity, clear writing and quality production. Each entry consists of a tape showing no more than four news stories. Entries should reflect skill in handling various kinds of stories, and can include more than one news story (like a resume tape).

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION SPORTS REPORTING: For individual achievement in television news reporting of a sports story or event. Entries should show student enterprise, creativity, clear writing and quality production. Entries may include television play-by-play, in-depth coverage of a sports event, sports team or sports feature. Each entry consists of a tape showing no more than four sports stories or events.

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION PHOTOGRAPHY: For individual achievement in television news photography that shows student creativity, enterprise, editing ability and mastery of photojournalism techniques. Each entry consists of a tape showing no more than three news stories. Stories should include examples of hard news as well as features and photo essays. (May include sports.)

Jennifer Fuller

Associate Director for News and Public Affairs, WSIU

INBA is not only a great networking tool, it also provides advocacy and support for journalists in an ever-changing world.

Brian O'Keefe

News Director (Retired), WDCB radio, Glen Ellyn

One of the greatest benefits for me has been getting to see and know other parts of the state. I’m not from Illinois and traveling to spring and fall conventions over the years has transformed dots on a map to memories of places that enhance my story telling process.

Mike Miletich

Broadcast journalist, Springfield

Joining the INBA was one of my best life decisions. I met some of the best broadcast journalists while I was still a college student. Plus, I ended up getting a job through the connections I made!

Ryan Denham

Digital Content Director, WGLT (Normal)

I recently attended my first INBA conference—and it won’t be my last. The combination of professional and student journalists learning together is electric. Everyone learns from each other and walks away with new friends (and LinkedIn connections). I know I did.

Aaron Eades

Producer at Spectrum News 13, Orlando, FL; Former Morning Anchor at WCIA-TV, Champaign

As a student, it's often difficult to picture what working in the real world will be like. For me, the INBA bridged that gap by giving me the chance to talk to professionals who used to be in the same shoes I'm in now.

Bob Roberts

Retired, WBBM-AM, Chicago

INBA is as much about friendship and as it is about achieving common goals. It provides two things individual newsrooms cannot: in-service training, and the ability to speak out on issues affecting the profession. But most of all, it brings newspeople together.

Nora Baldner

Professor; Quincy University

The support INBA gives to student journalists is vitally important as we all discover how technology is changing news dissemination, INBA monitors and actively encourages truth, transparency and accountability from students and their universities.

Molly Jirasek

News Nation, WGN America Chicago

One of my top goals in my career was to get to Chicago. Thanks to INBA I met Margaret Larkin. She remembered our great conversations about Chicago and first alerted me to a job opening in the city I might be interested in. Lo and behold, I got that job! INBA helped me reach my dream.

Michelle Eccles McLaughlin

Public Relations Account Manager; Horace Mann Insurance

INBA is an organization that really caters to continuing education for professionals. It offers a relatively inexpensive way to learn new things, reinforce best practices and network.

Jeff Bossert

Morning Edition Host; WVTF, Roanoke, Virginia

When I was working in radio for the first time, I had no idea whether I could truly handle the demands. But INBA made me curious and want to improve. Even now, when I’ve maybe worked a lot of hours or planned some stories that didn’t come together for one reason or another, what I learn from an INBA conference gets me re-invigorated about the business.

Andrew Tanielian

Freelance Video Journalist

INBA taught me how to network in a meaningful way. The scholarship process taught me how to endure a hard job interview and thrive.

Alexis McAdams

Fox News National Correspondent

INBA played a huge part in preparing me for my broadcasting career. The INBA conventions connect students with on-air talent and news directors who give feedback on now to improve your work. Through relationships I made at those conventions, I was able to obtain my first on air reporting job.