Q: Who can enter the NAAJ contest?

Beginning with this year's contest, ONLY NAAJ MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING may enter, and that includes everyone credited on any entry as published. (We no longer offer nonmember entry in the Special Projects category.)

Members who have paid their dues for 2026 will be enabled by the contest coordinator to make entries as Open Call entrants. If you try to log in and have not paid your dues, you will be required to pay before you have access to the system.

Q: What if I am enabled as an Open Call entrant, but there are one or more people credited on my entry who are NOT NAAJ members?
credited on the entry as published MUST be NAAJ members for the entry to be sent on for judging.

Entries will be checked for credited co-writers as published, and if co-writers are NOT NAAJ members, that entry will not be submitted to the judges.

It is the responsibility of the person making the entry to make sure others credited on the entry are NAAJ members. *** Please confirm the membership status of all other credited journalists before submitting your entry, or you risk your entry being disqualified. 

Contact Clarisa Diaz, NAAJ executive secretary-treasurer, naajnews@yahoo.com

Contact us if you have questions.

Q: What if I there are one or more people credited on my entry who are no longer working at my company or publication, and are not NAAJ members?

The “Members Only” rule stands. Everyone credited on the entry as published must be a 2026 NAAJ member.

Contact the Contest Coordinator with questions.

Q: What if someone at my company handles all contest entries for my organization?

Those who submit all contest entries on behalf of their company will be set up in the system as Contestant Managers.

They will receive special instructions, and will be responsible for working with the contest coordinator and executive secretary-treasurer to make sure all the people credited on their entries have their NAAJ dues paid for the year before their entries are submitted to the judges.

Q: Is the entry fee per entry, per story, or per person credited?

The entry fee for each category is $30 per entry, regardless how many actual stories are part of the entry or how many journalists are credited. (And $10 per entry for the Student contest.)

But as noted above, all journalists credited on the entry as published must be 2026 NAAJ members. Any nonmember credited on an entry must join, paying $125 dues, for the entry to be submitted to the judges.

Q: Can a student member enter the regular categories of the contest?

Students may enter the other categories, but they need to be a full-fledged member and make the $125 dues payment. There is nothing that prevents a student from paying the full price. Otherwise, they enter under the student category. 

Q: How do you win Journalist of the Year award? 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.

Q: What is the Audrey Mackiewicz Special Award?

A: The Mackiewicz Award honors the association’s first female president and long-time executive secretary/treasurer, and recognizes publications which have expanded their coverage of agriculture. Publications must apply for consideration. See list of previous Mackiewicz winners.

More questions about the contest? Contact Kim de Bourbon, contest coordinator.