Excellence in Journalism contest judging begins soon

Entries for the 2025 CT SPJ Excellence in Journalism contest are now closed.

Connecticut journalists entered more than 600 entries in 31 categories across news organizations in three divisions.

The next steps:

• We're evaluating and organizing all the entries and will contact you if we have any questions or need to make any changes, including refunds or invoices.

• We will pass the CT contest entries to our swap partners, the SPJ Arkansas chapter. The contest coordinator in Arkansas will assemble their volunteer judges - all professional journalists in Arkansas - to award first, second and third place in each category in the three divisions as applicable.

• In April, we'll again be asking journalists in CT to volunteer to judge the SPJ Arkansas contest in exchange. Judging other chapters' contests is a fulfilling and enlightening experience, and you can choose as many or few categories as you have time for. We encourage you to volunteer - keep an eye out for an email about that soon. And tell your friends!

• The judging for the Collins, Driscoll and First Amendment awards is a separate process that will involve one volunteer judge for each award selected from among current or former professional journalists outside of CT.

• We'll announce the winners of the Connecticut contest in May, along with details for the annual awards dinner to celebrate the winners and the people selected for the CT Journalists Hall of Fame

• Speaking of the Hall of Fame, nominate someone to be considered HERE!

  
  

Please email spjconnecticut@gmail.com with any questions, and thank you again for helping to support journalism in CT with your entries and participation.

Money raised from the annual Excellence in Journalism Contest supports journalistic causes including the Connecticut Council for Freedom of Information, Connecticut Foundation for Open Government, student SPJ chapters, SPJ’s Legal Defense Fund, the SPJ Region 1 fund and CTSPJ scholarships. The money also funds administrative costs of the contest and the Connecticut Pro Chapter of SPJ.