ENTRY

How to nominate

Once you have decided the category/categories you would like to enter into, please click the ‘enter now’ button to complete our online entry form.

If you have any questions regarding the process, please see the FAQ section or get in touch via the details on the FAQ page.

Entry Deadline: Tuesday, March 17, 2026

ENTER NOW

NEWS WRITER OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Brief: The ability to carry out investigations and to use the results to create well balanced articles. The capacity to develop the story and a strong, clear writing style are important. Merit will be placed on newsgathering skills and originality.

How to enter: Please submit three articles per entry.

Prize: The winner will receive a one-week work experience with The Herald editorial team.

FEATURES WRITER OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Brief: An entertaining and captivating writing style which is factually accurate throughout. The ability to handle a variety of topics and the use of original subject matter.

How to enter: Please submit three articles per entry.

Prize: The winner will receive a one-week internship with The Herald editorial team.

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Brief: The ability to craft engaging, timely and impactful columns that showcase the writer’s unique voice and original perspective on a variety of subjects.

How to enter: Please submit three articles per entry.

Prize: The winner will receive a one-week internship with The Herald editorial team.

SPORTS WRITER OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Brief: The ability to handle a variety of sports coverage, including match reports and features which capture the atmosphere of the occasion and offer readers an insight into the sporting event.

How to enter: Please submit three articles per entry.

Prize: The winner will receive a one-week work experience with The Herald Sports editorial team.

SCOOP OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Brief: This recognises the best exclusive news story – one of significant interest that reveals new and relevant information. The reporter should have displayed exceptional investigative skills and depth of research.

How to enter: Please submit all articles in relation to the story submitted.

STUDENT NEWSBRAND OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Brief: The winning publication should showcase a wide range of coverage and a balance of news and features. It should feature high quality, ideas-driven editorial which is original and diverse, and should demonstrate that it knows exactly who its audience is. This can be a print or digital platform.

How to enter: Please submit three different editions of the newspaper for this category.

DESIGN OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Brief: One for the designers. The winning publication should combine strong editorial ideas and high-quality writing with clear layout and creative presentation.

Focusing on layout consistency, proportions, sizing, leading, kerning, colour – all the basic design variables working together to deliver the best possible visual experience for the reader.

Improvement will also be factored in – what was learned over last 12 months if you entered before, what you changed and why – please explain anything you are particularly proud of in your submission statement.

How to enter: Please submit three different editions of the publication for this category.

BEST USE OF DIGITAL MEDIA

Judges’ Brief: This category rewards the best use of multimedia. This could be a podcast, video, TikTok… they are all eligible. The winner will demonstrate a good understanding of the needs of the medium and the ability to effectively engage with your audience.

How to enter: If the work is still live please provide the URL, with a brief (250 words max) explanation of why this was chosen and how it was executed. If the work is no longer live please submit it via wetransfer.com to callum.cummine@newsquest.co.uk

Prize: The winner will receive a one-week internship with The Herald digital team.

ARTS WRITER OF THE YEAR

Judges’ Brief: The ability to handle a variety of arts coverage, including previews and reviews of shows and events, feature-length interviews and opinion columns. The writer should demonstrate how they have written about different aspects of arts and culture.

How to enter: Please submit three articles per entry.

Prize: The winner will receive a one-week work experience with The Herald arts editorial team.

STUDENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – presented by The Herald

PRIZE: The winner will receive a four-week paid internship with The Herald editorial team.

ENTRY

How to nominate

Categories

NEWS WRITER OF THE YEAR

FEATURES WRITER OF THE YEAR

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

SPORTS WRITER OF THE YEAR

SCOOP OF THE YEAR

STUDENT NEWSBRAND OF THE YEAR

DESIGN OF THE YEAR

BEST USE OF DIGITAL MEDIA

ARTS WRITER OF THE YEAR

STUDENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – presented by The Herald