Ogranizer Introduction

International Honor Society for High School Journalists

The International Writing, Visual and Multimedia Contest (WVM), known as the Pulitzer Prize for high school students, is organized by the International Honor Society for High School Journalists. Founded in April 1926 on the campus of the University of Iowa, it has 14,611 member schools and 1,536,086 members in 44 countries. Almost all of the student editors and reporters of the most prestigious high school magazines and newspapers in the United States are members. To recognize every student, through induction into the society, who meets the criteria established by the society, it encourages, supports and recognizes individual student initiative and achievement in scholastic journalism, regardless of the medium. Students who are interested in media are welcome to register!

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Schools
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Participants

Advancements

Advancements

International Open → Asia Invitational
→ Gloria Shields International Media Conference

Participants

  • Age from 14-19;
  • Students who are passionate about writing, photographing and designing;
  • Students who would like to apply for a major in media, journalism and humanities.

International Open

Language:
English

Submission DDL：
February 1, 2025

Entry requirement：

  1. A single student can enter up to four entries into 51 categories. Entries can be in the same category or all in different categories, with a total of no more than 4 works;
  2. Entries must be original works, not plagiarism. Individual entries must be created independently, not in teams;
  3. Entries improperly identified or put into the wrong Category Entry Form will be disqualified;
  4. Different categories have specific requirements, team entries have specific requirements (refer to the detailed description on Page 3).

Judges Team：

  • All judges are professional journalists and outstanding journalism educators. WRITING judges include professional reporters who shoot for the NFL and the Super Bowl, staff photographers at the Denver Post, lecturers who teach journalism at high school and college level, professional photographers for News Feature Photography, sports reporters at newspapers and currently work for the Professional Golfers Association.

Awards:

  • Finalist：60% will be awarded the Finalist Award and be invited to the Asia Invitational.
  • Asia：sweepstakes winner, second place, and third place, 1 piece for each category, and excellence awards (numbers TBD).
  • Global：sweepstakes winner, second place, and third place, 1 piece for each category.

* For reference only.

International Open Categories

Writing:

1. News Writing
  • May be breaking news, an advance or event story. Subject matter does not need to relate to school activity. (Enter sports news in the Sports Writing Category.)
  • Entries will be judged by news writing standards. Focus will be given to strong leads, concise writing, strong paragraph beginnings, use of sources and absence of opinion.
2. Feature Writing
  • All types of features are eligible, but profile stories should be in Category 4. (Enter sports features in the Sports Writing Category.)
  • Entries will be judged on timeliness, human interest, organization, writing style and form appropriate to the story.
3. Profile Writing
  • All types of profile stories are eligible, but general feature stories should be in Category 3.
  • Entries will be judged on timeliness, human interest, organization, writing style and form appropriate to the story.
4. Staff Editorial Writing 
  • Must be a single editorial, not a series, expressing the opinion of the editorial board. Editorials may be written by one person, with no byline (unsigned). However, if a byline is used, it must be clear the opinion is that of the staff or editorial board.
  • Entries will be judged on reader interest, clarity of purpose, organization, effectiveness writing style and form appropriate to the story.
5. Review Writing
  • Reviews of books, movies, computer games, restaurants, plays, TV shows, music, concerts and other topics are eligible.
  • Entries will be judged on timeliness, evidence of topic knowledge, style of writing, originality and reader interest.
6. Column Writing-Non Sports
  • General opinion, personal and humor columns are eligible. (Review columns in Review Writing Category and Sports Column in the Sports Column Category.)
  • Entries will be judged on timeliness, significance of material, suitable handling of topic, style of writing and originality.
7. Sports Column Writing
  • General sports columns and sports opinions are eligible.
  • Entries will be judged on timeliness, significance of material, suitable handling of topic, style of writing and originality.
8. In-Depth Reporting/Individual Writing
  • Entries should cover an area purposely explored to correct existing weaknesses and/or better inform the public.
  • Entries will be judged on quality of subject matter, use of sources, thoroughness of coverage and writing style.
  • Individual: Must be a single article or a single story accompanied by sidebars written by the same individual.
9. In-Depth Reporting/Team Writing
  • Entries should cover an area purposely explored to correct existing weaknesses and/or better inform the public.
  • Entries will be judged on quality of subject matter, use of sources, thoroughness of coverage and writing style.
  • Team: Entries may be a series of stories contained in a single publication issue or website post. (Include that this is from a collection of students.)
10. Sports Feature Writing
  • An article on sports topics published in newspapers, news magazines or online – may be entered in this category.
  • Sports Columns should be entered in Column Writing. Game stories should be entered in Category 12.
  • Entries are not limited to high school sports coverage. Judges will consider style and quality of writing, accuracy, interest and relevance to the primary audience. Game stories should be saved for Category 12.
11. Sports Game/Event Coverage
  • These are stories generally written on deadline for online school media or for same or next day publication in a local newspaper or on a local news site.
  • Entries will be judged on the depth of reporting, precision of language, absence of clichés and the inclusion of human stories within the re-telling of the event, game, meet or tournament.
12. Health, Science and Agricultural Writing
  • News and feature reports on health, science or agricultural topics may be entered.
  • Entries will be judged on evidence of topic knowledge, impact, storytelling, writing style and form.
13. Climate and Environment Writing
  • News and feature reports on the climate and the environment may be entered.
  • Entries will be judged on how impactful the news is to the community, storytelling, writing style and form.
14. News Writer of the Year
  • A portfolio submission by a single person, including up to five articles. All bylines should be the work of one person.
  • Submissions should focus specifically on stories about news that happens in your community and/or school. These can include but aren’t limited to: breaking news, coverage of scheduled events and in-depth news packages.
  • Video and audio stories can be included if there’s clear evidence of script writing in the stories.
15. Beginning Writer
  • Submit three stories from one first-year staffer by using a Google document with links to all three stories.
  • Entries will be judged on how impactful the content is to the community, storytelling, writing style and form.

Visuals/Photo:

16. Breaking News Photography
  • This can be a photo that accompanied a breaking news story.
  • Entries judged on composition, print quality and interest.
17. Feature Photography
  • This can be a photo that accompanied a non-breaking news or feature story. This should not be a photo also submitted in the breaking news category.
  • Entries judged on composition, print quality and interest.
18. Sports Action Photography
  • This is an action sports photo.
  • Entries judged on composition, print quality and interest.
19. Sports Reaction Photography
  • This is a sports photo that shows reaction by athletes, fans, officials or others at a school sporting event.
  • Entries judged on composition, print quality and interest.
20. Photo Illustration
  • An entry consists of a single photo and/or image altered or manipulated for storytelling of general topics or sports. The manipulation should be obvious and done for artistic value in the service of telling a story.
  • Judges will focus on design trends, effective visual communication, creativity, composition and interest.
21. Photo Gallery
  • Each entry is a single gallery posted on a scholastic or professional website to tell news or feature stories, including sports, photographically.
  • Entries will be judged on presentation, tempo, use of storytelling techniques (including use of titles, captions, credits, and/or audio), creativity, audience interest, and photo quality, framing and composition.
  • Please submit the URL to the gallery online.
22. Profile or Environmental Portrait
  • This is a photo of a person or group of people that is staged by the photographer to help reveal something important about the character of the person or group.
  • More than likely this will accompany a profile story.
23. Beginning Photographer
  • Submit photos with captions from one first-year staffer by using a Google folder with links.
  • Entries will be judged on how impactful the content is to the community, storytelling, writing style and form.

Visuals/Design:

24. Editorial Cartoon
  • May be a single cartoon or cartoon strip.
  • Entries will be judged on originality, reader interest, clarity of purpose and effectiveness.
25. Informational Graphic
  • Entries visually communicate data or information. An entry consists of a single infographic.
  • Judges will focus on creativity, accuracy, interest and effectiveness of communication.
26. News Magazine Front Page Design
  • An entry consists of a single cover/front page of a news magazine.
  • Judges will focus on design trends, effective layout, reader assistance, creativity and interest.
27. Newspaper Front Page Design
  • An entry consists of a single cover/front page of a newspaper.
  • Judges will focus on design trends, effective layout, reader assistance, creativity and interest.
28. Features Page Design, Single Page
  • An entry consists of a single inside feature page of a newspaper or news magazine.
  • Judges will focus on design trends, effective layout, reader assistance, creativity and interest.
29. Features Page(s) Design, Two-Page Spread
  • An entry consists of a two-page spread of a newspaper or news magazine that centers on one topic.
  • Judges will focus on design trends, effective layout, reader assistance, creativity and interest.
30. Sports Page(s) Design
  • An entry consists of a single sports page or two-page spread of a newspaper or news magazine.
  • Judges will focus on design trends, effective layout, reader assistance, creativity and interest.
31. Editorial Page(s) Design
  • An entry consists of a single editorial or opinion page or two-page spread of a newspaper or news magazine.
  • Judges will focus on design trends, effective layout, reader assistance, creativity and interest.
32. Beginning Designer/Artist
  • Submit three visuals (cartoon, infographic and/or design) from one first-year staffer by using a Google folder with links.
  • Entries will be judged on how impactful the content is to the community, storytelling, writing style and form.

Multimedia:

33. Video News Package
  • Entries are a single news story reported on a scholastic or professional website.
  • The story should report on breaking news or an issue of importance to your primary audience.
  • The length may vary, but a reasonable news package is generally between 1:15 and 3 minutes.
  • Stories longer than 5 minutes should be entered in Category 34: Documentary Video.
  • Entries will be judged on news content as well as production values.
34. Video Sports Package
  • Entries are a single sports story reported on a scholastic or professional website.
  • The story should report on an event, an athlete, a coach or an issue of importance to your primary audience.
  • The length may vary, but a reasonable sports package is generally between 1:15 and 3 minutes.
  • Stories longer than 5 minutes should be entered in Category 34: Documentary Video.
  • Entries will be judged on news content as well as production values.
35. Video Features Package
  • Entries are a single feature story reported on a scholastic or professional website.
  • The story should report on an event, a personality (student, administrator, educator), or an issue of importance to your primary audience. It can also be an arts review.
  • The length may vary, but a reasonable features package is generally between 2 and 4 minutes.
  • Stories longer than 5 minutes should be entered in Category 34: Documentary Video.
  • Entries will be judged on news content as well as production values.
36. Documentary Video
  • Entries will be a documentary film of at least 5 minutes, produced by a student or a group of students.
  • Film may take on any documentary mode, but it should be a journalistic endeavor, telling a story of students and/or issues that impact teenagers and their communities.
  • Entries will be judged on news content as well as production values.
  • Please submit as a link to a Vimeo or YouTube channel.
37. Audio Podcast: Single Episode
  • Entries will be a single podcast or podcast episode produced by a student for a scholastic or professional website.
  • The podcast can report on any subject of the student’s choosing.
  • The length of the podcast may vary, but a good suggested length is no more than 15 minutes, probably shorter.
  • Entries will be judged on news content as well as production values.
  • Please submit as a link to an outside podcast host channel, such as SoundCloud or PodBean.
38. Interactive Informational Graphic
  • Entries visually communicate data or information interactively. An entry consists of a single infographic with at least one interactive component.
  • Judges will focus on creativity, accuracy, interest and effectiveness of communication.
39. News Show
  • Entries will be student-produced news shows for the Web, for television or for school distribution.
  • These should not be school announcements packages.
  • Shows may run from 5 to 30 minutes.
  • They should include at least two packages with seamless transitions.
  • They may be studio-based, but that is not a requirement.
40. Multimedia Feature/News Package
  • Entries will be feature packages that include a variety of elements on a web platform to deliver a story or series of stories that include multiple digital components.
  • The elements can include any combination of writing, audio, video, photos, graphics, art, and/or animation.
  • The package can cover a traditional news or feature topic, entertainment, health or any subject germane to your audience of readers, viewers and listeners.
41. Multimedia Sports Package
  • Entries will be feature packages that include a variety of elements on a web platform to deliver a story or series of stories that include multiple digital components.
  • The elements can include any combination of writing, audio, video, photos, graphics, art and/or animation.
  • The package can cover a sports topic germane to your audience of readers, viewers and listeners.
42. Multimedia Opinion Package
  • Entries will be feature packages that include a variety of elements on a web platform to deliver a story or series of stories that include multiple digital components.
  • The elements can include any combination of writing, audio, video, photos, graphics, art and/or animation.
  • The package can cover an opinion topic germane to your audience of readers, viewers and listeners.
43. Social Media: Individual
  • A portfolio submission by a single person, including up to five posts. The posts can run the gamut of social media platforms, but the winning portfolio is likely to show skill with design and reader engagement.
  • The posts can run the gamut of social media platforms, but the winning entries are likely to show skill with design and reader engagement.
44. Social Media: Team
  • A portfolio submission by a group of people, including up to 10 posts centering on a single topic.
  • The posts can run the gamut of social media platforms, but the winning entries are likely to show skill with design and reader engagement.
45. Beginning Podcaster
  • Entries will be a collection of three podcasts produced by a student for a scholastic or professional website.
  • The podcast can report on any subject of the student’s choosing.
  • The length of the podcast may vary, but a good suggested length is no more than 15 minutes, probably shorter.
  • Entries will be judged on news content as well as production values.
  • Please submit as a link to an outside podcast host channel, such as SoundCloud or PodBean.
46. Beginning Social Media Journalist
  • Submit three social media posts from one first-year staffer.
  • The posts can run the gamut of social media platforms, but the winning entries are likely to show skill with design and reader engagement.
47. Beginning Multimedia Journalist
  • Entries are a collection of three single stories reported on a scholastic or professional website. Content may be news, feature or sports content.
  • The length may vary, but a reasonable package is generally between 1:15 and 3 minutes.
  • Stories should be no longer than 5 minutes each.
  • Entries will be judged on content as well as production values.
48. Beginning Videographer
  • Entries are a collection of three single stories reported on a scholastic or professional website. Content may be news, feature or sports content.
  • The length may vary, but a reasonable package is generally between 1:15 and 3 minutes.
  • Stories should be no longer than 5 minutes each.
  • Entries will be judged on production values.

Middle school:

49. Middle School Writing
  • Submit the PDF of a spread that demonstrates excellence in writing.
  • Entries will be judged on quality of writing, accuracy, interest and relevance to the spread at hand.
50. Middle School Visual
  • Submit the PDF of a spread from any section or a photo.
  • Design entries will be judged on realistic action photos, informative and interesting headlines, captions, layout and design.
  • Photo entries will be judged on composition, effective cropping, caption writing and interest. Include the original digital photo file, and share the link to the folder that includes both the spread and the photo.
51. Middle School Multimedia
  • Submit the URL to an element of multimedia journalism.
  • This could include videos, social media content, podcasts, interactive infographics and more.
  • Entries will be judged on production value.

2024 Global Winners Slideshow

Asia Invitational

Asia Invitational

The best students in the International Open will be invited to attend the Asia Invitational. In Asia Invitational, students will participate in media workshops from basic to advanced, culminating in the mastery of modern media skills in their area of specialization. Students will complete a team challenge: Branding for a Cause to gain more practical opportunities and raize public awarness of a social issue through media. Students will go to the street to create, capture the pulse of the city through Lens and Words. Students will also have the chance to have their work displayed to show their creativity and talent, and get real feedbak from industry experts and the audience!

Time：February 4th-9th, 2025, 6 days 5 nights
Location：Hongkong (China)

Highlights:

[Immersion Workshop] Hands-on experience and skills upgrade!
Industry experts are invited to share cutting-edge trends in the industry and provide students with progressive learning paths to help them gradually improve their knowledge and skills, master the future of media communication and meet the challenges of the digital age!

[Creative Challenge] Unleash creativity and break boundaries!
Under the leadership of professional instructors, students take to the streets to create under specific scenes and themes. Challenge your imagination and execution, and feel the thrill and passion of creation!

[Exhibition Feast] Showcase yourself and gain feedback!
All participants' works will be displayed in the exhibition to show your creativity and talent to the audience, and you will have a chance to get real feedback from industry experts and the audience!

Awards：
  • Sweepstakes winner, second place, third place, and excellence award
  • Partcitipation certificate (digital)

* The above awards are for reference only and are subject to change

Gloria Shields International Media Conference

Students who excel at the Asia Invitational are invited to travel to the United States to attend the Gloria Shields International Media Conference.

Sponsored by the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), the Global Summit is one of the most prestigious summer media workshops in the United States, providing students with in-depth, hands-on training in a variety of areas, including writing, photography, design and multimedia.

Time：June 2025
Location：Dallas, United States
Global Paticipation：Approximately 600-800 students from around the world participate each year, including the United States, Canada, Europe and Asian countries.

Photo Gallery