Call for Entries Opens: Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Call for Entries DEADLINE: Saturday, January 31, 2026 (11:59 PM Eastern)

College contest finalists will be announced in late February.

Awards presentation will take place during the Press Forward event on the afternoon of Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Rosen Centre Resort in Orlando.

The entry fee for the college contest is $30 per entry.

Entry fees may only be paid electronically via PayPal, supported through the Better BNC contest website.

(1) Submissions for the FABJ Broadcast Excellence Contest will be accepted beginning January 1, 2026. To be eligible, entries must be fully submitted - and fees paid - by Saturday, January 31, 2026
(11:59 PM Eastern). There will be NOT be any deadline extensions.

(2) The college contest is open to current and recently former students of any accredited University or College in the State of Florida. There are no membership dues or other financial obligations required.

(3) To qualify, all entries must have either: (A) aired on television/radio and/or (B) published on a college program’s respective digital platforms, such as website or OTT app, as examples.

(4) All entries must have aired/published between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.

(5) Entrants should be mindful that this contest is meant to recognize student-produced content, therefore, while college staff professionals may assist and aid in the production, students should have the majority responsibility in production. College professionals (professors/instructors/etc.) may only add their names to entries for group and organizational entries, not for individual craft entries such as "anchor" "reporter" "producer", etc..

(6) Entries must include the on-air and/or digital version. An entry cannot be a re-creation.

(7) There is a 10-minute time limit for entries, except as noted in the rules specific to the category.

(8) There is no limit to the number of entries a station or individual may submit in any single category. An individual entry may be submitted in only one category; however, elements of a compilation style entry may be entered in additional categories. Example: If you submit a compilation of three stories in the “Investigative: Series” category, you may also lift one of the individual stories within that compilation to enter “Investigative: Single” or “General Assignment Report”, etc.

(9) Each entry may have up to three names, unless otherwise noted. If more than three people are involved in producing the work, the award will be presented in the name of the school/news organization. FABJ will only provide one award per winning entry and finalist entry. Duplicates may be purchased separately.

(10) The decision of the judges is final. There may not be an award given for every category.

(11) SPANISH entries should have translation captioning feature enabled when submitting via YouTube.

(12) All entries for the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists’ Annual Broadcast Excellence Contest

are submitted using a web-based program at https://betternewspapercontest.com/newspapers/opencontestanthome

(13) All PROFESSIONAL and COLLEGE entries are submitted in the same process, but are two separate contests. Please be sure you are submitting entries in the appropriate contest:
FLORIDA News Awards COLLEGE 2026 (FABJ)

(14) For entries to be eligible, all necessary elements of an entry must be uploaded and fees must be paid by the deadline of which is 11:59 p.m., Saturday, January 31, 2025.

Note: We strongly urge individuals to submit entries using YouTube link(s).

Visit our Contest Website: https://betternewspapercontest.com/open_contestants/login

Once there, create an “Open Call” account or find yours from previous years. Stations can submit all entries through a single Manager

The current contest is titled
“FLORIDA News Awards COLLEGE 2026 (FABJ)”

Payment is with PayPal/Credit Card through the Better BNC website.

Video files should be via YouTube

We annually award two $1,000 scholarships, presented at the Press Forward program. Entries are accepted Jan 1-31, 2026

Click Here: Apply for FABJ College Scholarship

1 NEWSCAST (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

Please include date and time of newscast. Newscast may be edited only to remove any commercial/PSA breaks. Time Limit: 30 Minutes

2 GENERAL ASSIGNMENT (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

A single general assignment story that is produced and aired within a 24-hour period.

3 BREAKING NEWS (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

On-the-scene coverage of an unscheduled news story

4 INVESTIGATIVE (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

An in-depth single expose report or series of a single subject.

5 CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

A single or series of reports on environmental focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories

6 EDUCATION REPORTING (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

A single or series of reports on educational focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories. .

07A FEATURE | HARD NEWS (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

For excellence in a feature that covers a singular issue, topic or subject. This feature story should be “hard news” in nature.

07B FEATURE | LIGHT NEWS (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

For excellence in a feature that covers a singular issue, topic or subject. This feature story should be “light news” in nature.

07C FEATURE | CULTURAL / HISTORICAL (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

For excellence in a feature, series or special that covers historical, cultural and/or ethnic issues or topics.

8 HEALTH REPORTING (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

A single or series of reports on health focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation.

9 POLITICS/GOVERNMENT/ELECTIONS REPORTING (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

A single or series of reports on politics/government/elections focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories.

10 TV MAGAZINE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS / DOCUMENTARY) (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

An in-depth special program or report which deals with an issue of public importance. Equal value in judging will be placed on quality, creativity and service to the public. One typed page of supplemental data is optional. Debates or special on a particular public affairs topic may be entered. Limit: 30 Minutes

11 WEATHER REPORTING (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

A single or series of reports on weather focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories.

12 SPORTS REPORTING (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

A single or series of reports on sports focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories.

13 PODCAST

A digital audio or video file, focused on a specific topic, that has been broadcasted over air, OTT or on a college or university tv/radio station’s web site. Content can include interviews, storytelling or news. Can be a single episode, or a series dedicated to one subject. Time Limit: 30 mins

14 NEWS ANCHOR or ANCHOR TEAM or HOST (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

For excellence from an individual anchor or anchor team. Entry should include examples of ability to ad-lib around breaking news events, as well as to handle regular news reports, features, etc. This is a compilation of work that does not have to be submitted from work performed on a contest day.

15 REPORTER (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

This individual award recognizes a reporter’s ability to cover a variety of assignments. This entry should include a montage and at least three examples of a reporter’s work of any kind.

16 SPORTSCASTER (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

This individual award recognizes a sportscaster’s ability to cover a variety of sports-related assignments. This entry may include anchoring and/or reporting montage and one sports-related story.

17 WEATHERCASTER (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

This individual award recognizes a weathercaster’s ability to forecast and cover weather-related stories. This entry should include a full weathercast. It may also include a montage and/or in-the-field weather-related reporting.

18 PRODUCER (COLLEGE TELEVISION)

This individual award recognizes the skills of a newscast producer. This entry will be judged based on creative storytelling techniques, including visual showcasing, utilization of live elements and writing. This entry may include a single story (breaking news, investigative, etc.) or a newscast block. Judging will focus on the skills of the producer, not the anchor, reporter, etc.

19 NEWSCAST (COLLEGE RADIO)

Please include date and time of newscast. Newscast may be edited only to remove any commercial/PSA breaks. Time Limit: 30 Minutes

20 GENERAL ASSIGNMENT (COLLEGE RADIO)

A single general assignment story that is produced and aired within a 24-hour period.

21 BREAKING NEWS (COLLEGE RADIO)

On-the-scene coverage of an unscheduled breaking news story.

22 INVESTIGATIVE (COLLEGE RADIO)

An in-depth single expose report or series of a single subject.

23 CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING (COLLEGE RADIO)

A single or series of reports on environmental focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories.

24 EDUCATION REPORTING (COLLEGE RADIO)

A single or series of reports on educational focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories.

25A FEATURE | HARD NEWS (COLLEGE RADIO)

For excellence in a feature that covers a singular issue, topic or subject. This feature story should be “hard news” in nature.

25B FEATURE | LIGHT NEWS (COLLEGE RADIO)

For excellence in a feature that covers a singular issue, topic or subject. This feature story should be “light news” in nature.

25C FEATURE | CULTURAL / HISTORICAL (COLLEGE RADIO)

For excellence in a feature, series or special that covers historical, cultural and/or ethnic issues or topics.

26 POLITICS/GOVERNMENT/ELECTIONS REPORTING (COLLEGE RADIO)

A single or series of reports on politics/government/elections focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories.

27 MAGAZINE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS / DOCUMENTARY) (COLLEGE RADIO)

An in-depth special program or report which deals with an issue of public importance. Equal value in judging will be placed on quality, creativity and service to the public. One typed page of supplemental data is optional. Debates or special on a particular public affairs topic may be entered.

28 PODCAST

A digital audio or video file, focused on a specific topic, that has been broadcasted over air, OTT or on a college or university tv/radio station’s web site. Content can include interviews, storytelling or news. Can be a single episode, or a series dedicated to one subject. Time Limit: 30 mins

29 SPORTS REPORTING (COLLEGE RADIO)

A single or series of reports on sports focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories.

30 HEALTH REPORTING (COLLEGE RADIO)

A single or series of reports on health focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation.

31 WEATHER REPORTING (COLLEGE RADIO)

A single or series of reports on weather focused impact and issue(s). This entry may be either a single story and/or compilation of stories. .

32 WEATHERCASTER (COLLEGE RADIO)

This individual award recognizes a weathercaster’s ability to forecast and cover weather-related stories. This entry should include a full weathercast. It may also include a montage and/or in-the-field weather-related reporting.

33 REPORTER (COLLEGE RADIO)

This individual award recognizes a reporter’s ability to cover a variety of assignments. This entry should include a montage and at least three examples of a reporter’s work of any kind.

34 NEWS ANCHOR or ANCHOR TEAM or HOST (COLLEGE RADIO)

For excellence from an individual anchor or anchor team. Entry should include examples of ability to ad-lib around breaking news events, as well as to handle regular news reports, features, etc. This is a compilation of work that does not have to be submitted from work performed on a contest day.

35 SPORTSCASTER (COLLEGE RADIO)

This individual award recognizes a sportscaster’s ability to cover a variety of sports-related assignments. This entry may include anchoring and/or reporting montage and one sports-related story.

36 PRODUCER (COLLEGE RADIO)

This individual award recognizes the skills of a newscast producer. This entry will be judged based on creative storytelling techniques, including visual showcasing, utilization of live elements and writing. This entry may include a single story (breaking news, investigative, etc.) or a newscast block. Judging will focus on the skills of the producer, not the anchor, reporter, etc.