The entry window for the 2025 INBA Crystal Mic Awards, honoring the best radio and television work serving Illinois audiences, is January 1-31, 2026. https://www.newspapercontest.com/Contests/IllinoisNewsBroadcastersAssociation.aspx
Finalists will be announced on INBA.net and social media in early March 2026, and winners will be revealed during an Awards Presentation on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the INBA Best of Broadcast Awards in Champaign/Urbana.
The contest covers work produced between July 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025.
- Large Market TV
- Small Market TV
- Large Market Radio
- Small Market Radio
Large Market stations include Chicago and St. Louis. Small Market entries are for stations outside the Chicago/St. Louis markets, including border markets that serve an Illinois audience.
Check at the bottom of this page for category details. New categories this year: Best Morning TV Newscast and Best Political Reporting. There are changes in what is required for some submissions; designed to make the categories both easier and more consistent.
Entrants are not required to be INBA members, but membership is encouraged. Check out inba.net for registration info.
Questions? Reach out to Laura Trendle Polus, who is coordinating the contest: lmtrend@ilstu.edu
CATEGORIES
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Station (Large and Small Market Television and Radio):
Entry should contain parts of locally originated, regularly scheduled newscasts aired on any date during the contest period, minus commercials/PSAs. Other components may include separate examples of spot news, features and other work to showcase overall performance. Entry must contain a written bullet-point description of included items. Editing is allowed for compilation purposes, but all items should be as they appeared on air without additional voice-over or narration. Maximum length 30 minutes.
Compilation category – 1 entry per station
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Digital Presence (Large and Small Market Television and Radio):
Entry should include addresses of station’s website, social media and apps, as available. Judges will evaluate current content on those channels, but entry may also contain screenshots or links to content presented during the contest period. Entry may contain a written bullet-point description offering context on efforts to add programming, and to build audience and community engagement during the contest period. Compilation category – 1 entry per station
INBA Paul Davis Crystal Mic Award: Best Newscast (Large and Small Market Television Only):
Entry should include one locally-originated, regularly-scheduled evening newscast, on any date during the contest period. Maximum length 50 minutes (after breaks are removed) No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Morning Newscast (Large and Small Market Television Only):
Entry should include one locally-originated, regularly-scheduled morning or midday newscast, on any date during the contest period. Maximum length 50 minutes (after breaks are removed) No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Radio Newscast (Large and Small Market Radio Only):
Entry should include one locally-originated, regularly-scheduled newscast, on any date during the contest period. Maximum length 15 minutes (after breaks are removed) No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Weather Operation (Large and Small Market Television Only):
Entry may include up to four weather blocks from at least two different individuals aired during any date of the contest period. Entry may also include live shots or packages focusing on weather. Maximum length 25 minutes (after breaks are removed) Compilation category – 1 entry per station
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Podcasting (Large and Small Market Television and Radio).
Entry can include one complete podcast or elements of different episodes of the same podcast, produced within the contest period. Editing is allowed for compilation purposes, but all items should be as they aired. Maximum length 30 minutes (after breaks are removed) No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Reporter (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)
Entry must include at least three stories produced during the contest period. Stories should demonstrate research and writing skills while also displaying strong reporting and performance. The entrant should be someone who regularly handles daily assignments but may also do occasional special assignments. Editing is allowed for compilation purposes, but all items should be as they aired. Maximum length – 15 minutes No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Breaking News (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)
Entry must include one or more items, each in its entirety, on the same unscheduled breaking or developing news event, produced within 24 hours of the event and within the contest period. Judges will consider the reporter’s ability to present a clear story with limited access to resources.
Maximum length – 10 minutes No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Investigative Report (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)
Entry can include a single in-depth investigative story or a limited series of reports on one issue, produced during the contest period. Judging will be based on research, writing and importance of the issue to the community. Maximum length – 15 minutes No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Political Report (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)
Entry must include at least two stories produced during the contest period, focusing on one or more political issues/processes. Judging will be based on research, writing and importance of the issue to the community. Maximum length – 10 minutes No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Best Sports Reporter (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)
Entry should include up to three items produced during the contest period, focusing on an aspect of sports. This could include packages, live shots, interviews or play by play. Editing is allowed for compilation purposes, but all items should be as they aired. Maximum length – 10 minutes No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Use of Sound – (Large and Small Market Radio)
Entry should include up to two stories, each in its entirety, produced during the contest period. Judging will be based on editing and how sound relates to the writing. Maximum length – 10 minutes No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Use of Videography (Large and Small Market Television, but Radio Stations producing video can also enter. Those submissions may be judged against television entries, depending on the quantity received.)
Entry should include up to 3 stories featuring videography, produced within the contest period. Judging will be based on visual composition, editing and how the video relates to the writing. Maximum length – 10 minutes No entry limit
INBA Crystal Mic Award: Writing (Large and Small Market Television and Radio)
Entry should include up to three stories, each in its entirety, all produced within the contest period. Stories can be submitted as audio or video but the entry will be judged only on the quality of writing and story-telling. Maximum length – 10 minutes No entry limit