NAAJ Contests
The Writing Contest is OPEN as of January 12, 2026, and submissions will be due by 11:59 p.m. EST on February 16, 2026. As in years past, enter online by logging in to www.betterbnc.com. See further instructions below or click FAQ. Writing submissions will be for articles written during the 2025 calendar year. Further insight is available at the FAQ page.
NAAJ prides itself on being self-sufficient, accepting no help from outside businesses or individuals at its meetings. The organization holds its annual meeting in Washington D.C. in April where winners of its writing contest are announced.
Also presented are six special awards: Glenn Cunningham Agricultural Story of the Year Award; Bill Zipf President's Award; the Audrey Mackiewicz Special Award; the Bruce Ingersoll Mentorship Award; and the Journalist of the Year Award - JOY Award - for the writer who earns the most number of points for all submissions into this year’s contest.
The Writing Contest is open as of January 12, 2026, and submissions will be due on February 16, 2026.
As in years past, enter online by logging in to www.betterbnc.com.
**** IMPORTANT: Most members entering as individuals should select the “Open Call Login” link in the top menu, as an “Open Call Contestant.”
There is a “Forgot Password?” link if you need it, or create an “Open Call” account if you are new.
Choose the 2026 NAAJ Writing Contest from the dropdown list.
Contestant Managers:
Log in at the link below, selecting the Contestant Manager tab
https://betternewspapercontest.com/login
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. SOME ASPECTS OF THE CONTEST HAVE CHANGED THIS YEAR.
The North American Agricultural Journalists annual contest has 13 categories for professionals.
Only NAAJ members may enter the contest, and their 2026 dues must be paid before entries can be made. NEW THIS YEAR: This includes the Special Project category. All journalists credited on any entry as published must be a 2026 NAAJ member. There is no longer a provision for nonmembers to be credited on any entry.
PAY DUES or JOIN HERE
https://www.naaj.net/membersonly
Renewing members: $150USD Professional Renewal
New members: $125USD Select the New Professional Member in the dropdown menu
Students: $10USD Select Student in the dropdown menu
Categories are News, Spot News, Feature, Technical, Profile, Column or Blog, Editorial, Photojournalism, Ongoing Coverage or Series, Next Gen/Young Writer, Podcast, Video, and Special Projects.
There is also one all-encompassing Student category.
The contest fee is $30 per entry for NAAJ professional members. This is $30 per entry made, not per story and not per member credited on the entry. The contest fee is $10 for the Student category.
Eligible stories must have been published in calendar year 2025 (Jan. 1-Dec. 31). Each category is judged separately. The entry deadline is February 16, 2026.
Most of the categories will be judged on the writing alone, not any visual elements such as photos, graphics, videos, and design. The exceptions are the Photojournalism and the new Podcast and Video categories.
** NONMEMBERS: The contest is for NAAJ members only, with no exceptions. Nonmembers who are eligible may join NAAJ by paying a $125 membership fee, which must be received BEFORE ENTRY.
If a member or an organization’s contest manager submits an entry co-authored with one or more nonmember, each nonmember must become an NAAJ member for $125/year in order for the entry to be accepted and submitted to the judges.
Once dues are paid, the member will be enabled to enter the contest on their own or they may be credited on another member’s entry.
For membership or other information, contact Clarisa Diaz, NAAJ executive secretary-treasurer, naajnews@yahoo.com.
STUDENT ENTRIES: Students must be members by March 1, 2026, to participate in the contest. The student membership fee is $10/year. A brief letter or email of recommendation from a faculty member should accompany a new membership application. The limit per student is two entries in the Student category.
The student entry must have been published in a publication that would be eligible to have membership in NAAJ or student publication during 2025.
Winners will be recognized at an awards presentation on April 13, 2026 at the Cosmos Club in Washington D.C., 6-8 p.m.
For membership or other NAAJ information, contact Clarisa Diaz, executive secretary-treasurer, naajnews@yahoo.com.
The contest coordinator is Kim de Bourbon, managing editor of The Hagstrom Report. Contact her at naaj@hagstromreport.com
For more information, see FAQs.
Writing contest categories
Journalist of the Year: Each writer who receives a placing, including honorable mention, in any category will be included in the consideration for our JOY award - Journalist of the Year.
Points are calculated as such:
First place= 5 points
Second place = 3 points
Third place = 2 points
Honorable mention = 1 points
Any joint byline article will receive the points of the respective category for the placing below it (i.e. first place joint byline author will receive 3 points. 2nd place joint byline will receive 2 points). A tie will be decided by a judge looking at the portfolio of qualified stories.
Glenn Cunningham Story of the Year will be determined by taking the top submissions from each of the other categories and judged separately.
News
Entries in this category inform readers about a timely, important, interesting agricultural issue or event in an objective, thorough manner. One story or package of stories (sidebars or secondary stories) published together on a single day is a single entry. | Limit of TWO entries per entrant.
Spot News
Entries in this category cover breaking news – news that is time-sensitive and written under tight deadline. A statement of 100 words or less describing the conditions under which the story was written and/or the time significance of the story MUST accompany entries in the Spot News category. One story or package of stories (sidebars or secondary stories) published together on a single day is a single entry . | Limit of TWO entries per entrant.
Feature
Entries in this category take a broader or more human look at an important or interesting agricultural issue, event or experience. A feature story may be longer and more in-depth than a news story. One story or package of stories (sidebars or secondary stories) published together on a single day is a single entry. | Limit of TWO entries per entrant.
Profile
Entries in this category profile a family, person or animal in agriculture relevant to the target audience. The profile can convey the individual’s contributions on a local, regional or national level. Entries must include the use of more than one source. One story or package of stories (sidebars or secondary stories) published together on a single day is a single entry. | Limit of TWO entries per entrant.
Technical
Entries in this category focus on machinery, new technology, a process, regulations or scientific methods in agriculture. Entries can apply to crops or livestock. One story or package of stories (sidebars or secondary stories) published together on a single day is a single entry. | Limit of TWO entries per entrant.
Ongoing Coverage or Series
Entries in this category contain three or more stories focused on an agricultural issue, trend or event. Entrees may be either stories published as part of ongoing coverage or in a planned series, but should objectively explore the subject in great depth from various points of view. A collection of at least three stories published on more than one day is a single entry. | Limit of TWO entries per entrant. (Individual stories from this category also may be entered in one of the single-story categories.)
Student Contest
There are no sub-categories for students. Each student may submit up to two entries, published in 2025 in a student publication or a publication that would have employees eligible for NAAJ membership. All entries are submitted under "Student Contest.” The entry fee for Student Contest category is $10 each entry. | Limit of TWO entries per student.
Photojournalism
This is category highlights the art of a photojournalist who captured a photo or photos for the story and also wrote the accompanying story. This award recognizes a journalist for how well the photo(s) complement the subject of a single story. | Limit of TWO entries per member. (Individual stories from this category also may be entered in one of the single-story categories.)
Column/Blog
Entries in this category allow the writer to express personal observations, humor or feelings on a topic in what may be considered a conversation with readers. Note change this year: THREE COLUMNS or BLOGS are to be submitted as a single entry. | Limit of ONE entry per entrant.
Editorial
Entries in this category require the writer to build arguments on fact and logic to address a certain issue, or provide analysis. An editorial should state a position and convince the reader of the need for action. Note: ONE editorial is submitted as a single entry. | Limit of TWO entries per entrant.
Podcast
This NEW category is for agriculture-related podcasts as a body of work over the course of the year. Entrants should provide a link to the podcast archive for entry. The webpage linked should include a synopsis of the podcast and transcripts of the episodes, or these may be submitted as text with the entry. | Limit of ONE podcast entry per member.
Video
This NEW category is for short ag-related news videos of no longer than 8 minutes. Entrants should provide a link to the video for entry. The link should include a video description, or one may be provided in text with the entry. | Limit of ONE video entry per member.
NextGen Young Writer
This category is tailored for our active members who were age 35 and under during the contest year. Entries in this category can be on any agricultural and food topic. Note: THREE stories are to be submitted as a single entry. | Limit of ONE entry per entrant in this category, to consist of a three-story portfolio. (Individual stories from this category also may be entered in one of the other story categories.)
Special Projects
Entries in this category take reporting to a higher level, showing careful planning, structure and enterprise, going beyond a routine series of stories or ongoing coverage. Special Project entries show that time, talent, and in some cases, monetary commitments were made to produce the project. May be a team effort. **NEW: All those credited on a Special Projects entry MUST be NAAJ members. | Limit of TWO entries per entrant. (Individual stories from this category also may be entered in one of the single-story categories.)