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2026 Contest Guidelines

2026 Contest Guidelines

2026 MRE Journalism Contest

What You Need to Enter the Contest

These guidelines provide a short summary of what is needed to enter the contest. A checklist is included to help you identify, gather and prepare necessary materials.

Details are specific to format and categories. You may find it helpful to refer back to the Official Rules, as well.

Audio
Text
video
Visual
student

Guidelines

Audio MEDIA

Summary

Audio Media entries may be a single report, broadcast, episode, or podcast, or series, by either an individual journalist or a team.

  • Radio News entries are limited to 15 minutes maximum.
  • Talk Show/Interview or Documentary entries are limited to 30 minutes maximum.

Basic entry information and materials:

  1. Headline for entry
  2. Original publication date – date of broadcast or airing.
  3. Original publication place – name of broadcast station, online media, website, or streaming channel.
  4. PDF cover letter.
  5. Original URL where aired if published online.
  6. Name of journalist.
  7. PDF biography brief of journalist.
  8. Submission link, MP3 clip upload for upload, or both for contest entry review.

Optional but appreciated:

  1. PDF Transcript
  2. JPG or PNG headshot of journalist.
  3. Additional credits for the work.

Gather & Prepare

  • Select Entry Items
  • Prepare Cover Letter
    • A cover letter in PDF format is required for file upload.
    • Include content or podcast description with credits for any sponsoring organization or names of individuals.
  • Identify Original Publication URL*
    • Provide the original URL (web address) if published online.
  • Prepare Journalist Biography
    • Biography in PDF format is required for file upload.
    • Provide an edited 100-300 word biography for the entering journalist.
    • Provide an edited 100-300 word biography for each team member appearing on the byline.
    • Please do not submit extensive biographies. One brief biography per journalist is requested.
    • Example: If you have three bylined journalists, you will upload three pdf files.
  • Prepare Entry Submission Items
    • Provide a submission link or MP3 file for upload or both.
      • Links may be direct or to third-party platforms such as SoundCloud or YouTube.
      • MP3 file upload must be smaller than 2.5G.
      • If recording is edited for length, edits can include clearly audible edits.
      • Verify total listening time does not exceed entry limites.
  • Prepare Optional Transcript
    • Provide a transcript in PDF format for file upload. Transcript may be helpful to the judges.
    • Limit one transcript file upload.
  • Prepare Optional Journalist Headshot
    • Image should be either a JPG or PNG and no smaller than 600 X 600 pixels.
    • Provide a picture for publication of the entering journalist.
    • Provide a picture for each team member named in the byline(s).
    • Example: If you have three bylined journalists, you will upload three images.
  • Gather Optional Credits
    • Include the names and titles of those who additionally contributed to the work, e.g., producer, etc., for acknowledgement if the entry is a winner.
    • Take Note: Appropriate credits may be included in the cover letter.

Mutliple Audio Programs In One Entry

If your contest entry consists of multiple reports, broadcasts, episodes or podcasts, or is a series, you will need information in addition to the above.

  • Identify Original Publication Dates
    • For each included in the entry.
  • Identify Original Publication Place
    • For each included in the entry.
  • Identify Original Publication URL*
    • For each included in the entry.
  • Prepare Entry Submission
    • Create a single recording (compiled and edited). Its total listening time may not exceed entry limits. OR
    • If you submit multiple links or recordings, verify, the total listening time does not exceed entry limits.

*NOTE: In many cases, the original publication URL and the submission link will be the same.

Text MEDIA

Summary

Text Media entries (exception of Commentary/Opinion) should include one to four articles. Multiple articles in one entry should be related, as in beat or single-topic coverage, or published as a series and authored by the entering journalist.

Commentary/Opinon entries should include five columns by the entering columnist.

Basic entry information and materials:

  1. Original date of publication.
  2. Original place of publication.
  3. PDF document for each article submitted.
  4. Original URL where each article was published if published online.
  5. Name(s) of journalist(s) on each article byline.
  6. PDF biography brief of journalist(s) named on byline.

Optional but appreciated:

  1. Submission link for online review by judges.
  2. Cover letter in PDF format.
  3. JPG or PNG headshot of each journalist on byline.
  4. Additional credits for the work.

Gather & Prepare

  • Select Entry Items
  • Prepare Each Article PDF – Clear, Legible, Aligned
    • Text with article graphics is acceptable.
    • Text only pdf is acceptable
    • PDF without ads or links to ads is preferred.
    • Hint: When viewing your article use the print pdf command, select “simplified” format and include header information for judges’ easy identification/verification of publication url.
  • Identify Each Article Original Publication URL*
    • Provide the original URL (web address) of article if originally published online.
  • Prepare Journalist Biography
    • Biography in PDF format is required for file upload.
    • Provide an edited 100-300 word biography for the entering journalist.
    • Provide an edited 100-300 word biography for each team member appearing on the byline.
    • Please do not submit extensive biographies. One brief biography per journalist is requested.
    • Example: If you have three bylined journalists, you will upload three biography pdf files.
  • Identify Optional Submission Link* – Accessible
    • Provide a link for each article you would like viewed/reviewed by judges online.
    • Include necessary login credentials for unlimited access to the article behind paywalls during the contest period.
  • Prepare Optional Cover Letter
    • A cover letter in PDF format may be included with a contest entry.
  • Prepare Optional Journalist Headshot
    • Image should be either a JPG or PNG and no smaller than 600X600 pixels.
    • Provide a picture for publication of the entering journalist.
    • Provide a picture for each team member named in the byline(s).
    • Example: If you have three bylined journalists, you will upload three images.
  • Gather Optional Credits
    • Include the names and titles of those who additionally contributed to the work, e.g., editor or photographer, for acknowledgement if the entry is a winner.

*NOTE: In many cases, the original article URL and the optional submission link will be the same.

Video MEDIA

Summary

Video Media entries may be a single report, broadcast, program, or episode or a series or docuseries by the journalist or a team.

  • TV/Video News entries are limited to 15 minutes maximum.
  • TV/Video Documentary entries are limited to 30 minutes maximum.

Basic entry information and materials:

  1. Headline for entry
  2. Original publication date – date of broadcast or airing.
  3. Original publication place – name of broadcast station, online media, website, or streaming channel.
  4. PDF cover letter.
  5. Original URL where aired if published online.
  6. Name of journalist.
  7. PDF biography brief of journalist.
  8. Submission link, MP4 clip upload for upload, or both for contest entry review.

Optional but appreciated:

  1. PDF Transcript
  2. JPG or PNG headshot of journalist.
  3. Additional credits for the work.

Gather & Prepare

  • Select Entry Items
  • Prepare Cover Letter
    • A cover letter in PDF format is required for file upload.
  • Identify Original Publication URL*
    • Provide the original URL (web address) if published online.
  • Prepare Journalist Biography
    • Biography in PDF format is required for file upload.
    • Provide an edited 100-300 word biography for the entering journalist.
    • Provide an edited 100-300 word biography for each team member appearing on the byline.
    • Please do not submit extensive biographies. One brief biography per journalist is requested.
    • Example: If you have three bylined journalists, you will upload three pdf files.
  • Prepare Entry Submission Items
    • Create a submission link or MP4 file for upload or both.
      • Links may be direct or to third-party platforms such as Vimeo or YouTube.
      • MP4 file upload must be smaller than 2.5G. Please compress, optimize videos before uploading.
      • If video is edited for length, edits must be clearly indicated by a tone or silence.
      • Verify all video viewing does not exceed entry limits.
  • Prepare Optional Transcript
    • Provide a transcript in PDF format for file upload. Transcript may be helpful to the judges.
    • Limit one transcript file upload.
  • Prepare Optional Journalist Headshot
    • Image should be either a JPG or PNG and no smaller than 600 X 600 pixels.
    • Provide a picture for publication of the entering journalist.
    • Provide a picture for each team member named in the byline(s).
    • Example: If you have three bylined journalists, you will upload three images.
  • Gather Optional Credits
    • Include the names and titles of those who additionally contributed to the work, e.g., producer, videographer, etc., for acknowledgement if the entry is a winner.

Mutliple Video Programs In One Entry

If your contest entry consists of multiple reports, broadcasts, or episodes or is a docuseries, you will need information in addition to the above.

  • Identify Original Publication Dates
    • For each included in the entry.
  • Identify Original Publication Place
    • For each included in the entry.
  • Identify Original Publication URL*
    • For each included in the entry.
  • Entry Submission
    • If you create a single video (compiled and edited), verify its total viewing does not exceed entry limits.
    • If you submit multiple links or files, the total viewing time of all videos added together may not exceed entry limits.

*NOTE: In many cases, the original publication URL and the submission link will be the same.

Visual MEDIA

Summary

Visual Media entries may include a single image submission or a series submission with up to five images. Multiple images in one entry should be related to a single topic by the entering photographer.

Basic entry information and materials:

  1. Name of photographer.
  2. Original date of publication for each photograph.
  3. Original place of publication for each photograph.
  4. Title of each photograph.
  5. If series submission, headline for series.
  6. PNG or JPG image for each picture.
  7. Documentation of photo publication – PDF, JPG or PNG.
  8. If published online, original URL where each photo was published.
  9. PDF cover letter.
  10. PDF biography brief of photographer.

Optional but appreciated:

  1. Submission link for online review by judges, if published online.
  2. JPG or PNG headshot of each journalist on byline.
  3. Additional credits for the work.

Gather & Prepare

  • Select Entry Items
  • Identify Image Original Publication URL*
    • Provide the original URL (web address) where image was published, if online.
  • Gather Entry Submission Items
    • Upload JPG or PNG image for submission.
  • Prepare Documentation of Publication
    • Provide a screenshot if published online or a photograph of page of publication to document each photograph’s publication.
    • Upload in PDF or JPG or PNG format.
  • Prepare Cover Letter
    • A cover letter in PDF format is required describing the work.
  • Prepare Journalist Biography
    • Biography in PDF format is required for file upload.
    • Provide an edited 100-300 word biography for the entering journalist.
  • Identify Optional Submission Link* – Accessible
    • Provide a link for each photograph you would like viewed/reviewed by judges online.
    • Include necessary login credentials for unlimited access to the article behind paywalls during the contest period.
  • Prepare Optional Journalist Headshot
    • Image should be either a JPG or PNG and no smaller than 600X600 pixels.
    • Provide a picture for publication of the entering journalist.
    • Example: If you have three bylined journalists, you will upload three images.
  • Gather Optional Credits
    • Include the names and titles of those who additionally contributed to the work, e.g., editor for acknowledgement if the entry is a winner.

*NOTE: In many cases, the original article URL and the optional submission link will be the same.

Student MEDIA

Project Eligibility & Requirements

To be eligible, the entire project must have been produced only by enrolled students receiving academic credit for the work being entered or must be work created for a student publication.

Work produced for pay is not eligible for a student award (that is, freelance work, etc. Receipt of student aid is not a disqualifier).

Work that was created by a student for credit but then made available to a commercial publication is allowed but should be explained in the entry.

Student Guidelines

Please refer to the guidelines above and apply as they relate to your individual project.