2026 MRE Journalism Contest Resources
Registrant and Entrant Resources
PDF Creation, Form Submission Practices, Downloads, Payments
How to create a PDF
One Method: How to Create a PDF File from Website
This is especially useful information if your content is protected behind a paywall and you need to create a pdf document for the contest. However, some publications have placed blockers to prevent this type of copying from the browser.
(AI generated and verified by human)
Using Your Web Browser
One of the simplest ways to convert a webpage to a PDF is by using your web browser’s built-in print feature. This method is effective and preserves the layout and content of the webpage.
Different Browsers may produce different results – Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.
Steps to Save a Webpage as PDF
- Open the Webpage: Navigate to the webpage you want to convert.
- Open Print Menu:
- For Windows: Press Ctrl + P.
- For Mac: Press Command + P.
- Select PDF Option: In the print dialog, choose “Save as PDF” from the printer options.
- Save the File: Click Print or Save, then choose the location on your device to save the PDF file.
Additional Tips
- Check Formatting: After saving, open the PDF to ensure the formatting is correct.
- Use Print Preview: Before saving, use the print preview option to adjust settings like orientation and margins for optimal results.
Variation – Another possibility is to print from the screen reader while viewing a website page. Be careful, not all pages are fully accessible or properly tagged. There are instances where a screen reader skips chunks of content. If you choose to do this, proofread the pdf carefully.
Best Practices for Forms
Avoid this message
Suspicious activity detected. Form submission blocked×
- Avoid connecting to the website an logging in via a VPN.
- Avoid using “private” or “incognito” mode when connecting to the website for form submission.
We recognize these are tools of the trade – enhancing privacy to shield journalists.
However, the MRE contest website employs security measures to protect the site and your information from bots and bad actors.
Security and ease-of-use sometimes come with a trade-off. On this point, we are erring on the side of security. We hope you understand.
If you do encounter this message, stay on the page and wait a moment and try clicking submit again. If that doesn’t work, please log out, disconnect from VPN, clear cache, use regular browsing mode before logging in again to complete and submit the form one more time.
If the problem persists for a second time after taking these measures, please reach out to support.
More Details TRIGGERS (Click the arrow to open) Suspicious activity detected – Form submission blocked
Why VPNs trigger “Suspicious Activity” in Forms
IP Address Blacklists: Many form security features rely on IP reputation databases. VPNs often use shared IP addresses that might be blacklisted or previously used for spam.
Geo-location Mismatch: Submissions coming from countries or regions different from the site’s typical visitors can be flagged, and VPNs can make it look like someone is submitting from anywhere in the world.
Bot/Spam Detection: Anti-spam measures sometimes associate VPN or proxy IP ranges with automated spam bots.
Token or Session Issues: VPN use can occasionally cause issues with browser cookies, tokens, or session validation, especially if the IP address changes during a session.
Other Common Triggers
- Submitting forms too quickly (like bots do).
- Using certain browser privacy plugins or incognito/private mode
- Disabled JavaScript or cookies
- Rapid, repeated submissions from the same device or IP
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