Spring 2022 Convention Contests
Contest prompts will be uploaded to this page throughout the day on Thursday at the times listed in the program and on the previously released category list. Details on this page will be be sorted by release time, not category number.
All entries will now be submitted through the BetterNewspapTherContest.com platform (the same one we use for fall and spring digital contests). While broadcast and other digital contests have been handled this way at convention for a few years, this is a major shift for many of our previously hand-written categories. Students and advisers will need devices to facilitate creation and submission of entries.
While students can create entries for many categories using phones, you will want to use computers to upload to the portfolio. For example, students can use Google Docs or Office 365 to write entries, then share those with an adviser (or other designated contest coordinator) who can save them in the proper format (PDF never Word!) and upload them to the database. While advisers may not assist students with the creation of their entry, they absolutely can and should provide technical assistance to get work uploaded.
It is important for students to observe the posted deadline for contests. They are staggered for a reason. We will be in the Orange room throughout the day to provide upload support, and contestants with technical challenges need to be standing in Orange to have them dealt with before their deadline.
Prompts releasing at noon
3 Broadcast Commentary – A team of up to four students will create a 1:30-1:45 broadcast commentary discussing any recent laws or regulations that affect Florida students. This can range from school policies to state laws. Students can be for or against the policy. Judges will critique the commentary based on its merits, not whether they agree with the content. Submit a weblink to the finished project. Deadline: 4 p.m.
9 Edit to the Beat– A group of up to four students will create a montage of convention activities using provided music as a driving force. Please limit your video to 1:30, though the provided clip is longer. Submit a weblink to the finished project. Download the song here. Special thanks to MAK (IG: @wewarentmak) for sharing the song with us. Please credit the artist. Submit a weblink to the finished product. Deadline: 11 p.m.
10 Short Film – A team of up to six students will work together to plan, create and edit a 4:00-5:00 short film based on the title The Noble Mind. A cup of water must appear somewhere in the film and all filming must occur on hotel grounds. Submit a weblink to the finished project. Deadline 10:30 p.m.
15 Multimedia Team– In a team of up to four, create multimedia web coverage of students competing in on the spot competitions at FSPA. You may not feature anyone from your school. Submit a weblink to the published project. This is not merely a video project. Use text, photos, audio, video and other tools you see fit. Deadline: 9 p.m.
19 Hand-Drawn Illustration– As an individual, create an original hand-drawn illustration that would be suitable to accompany a commentary by a student struggling with insomnia. This can be hand-drawn on a tablet or hand-drawn on paper, in which case you will need to take a clear photo or scan (consider the CamScanner app) of your entry and submit a JPG or PDF. Deadline: 4:15 p.m.
21 Literary Magazine Team– In a team of up to four, create a literary magazine spread inspired by the Wawa in the hotel parking lot. You may not take any photos inside the store. Submit as a PDF. Deadline: 8 p.m.
22 Newsmagazine Team – In a team of up to four, create a newsmagazine cover (8.5 x 11”) and inside spread (2 8.5 x 11” pages) about being back at FSPA. You can choose any angle/approach of your choice. Please name your magazine the Wyndham Wrap-Up. Submit as a single PDF file. You may not feature anyone from your school in your coverage. You may want to send someone to the 6 p.m. News Conference in the Cedar room to support your coverage. Prompt release: noon. Deadline: 10:15 p.m.
23 Yearbook Team– In a team of up to four, create a cover, opening spread and divider spread for a yearbook about the FSPA convention. Your yearbook theme should be Live and in Color. You may not use or replicate the FSPA convention logo – put your own spin on it. The book itself should be called Pages. It is Volume 77. You can annotate any special treatments on the cover that cannot be communicated through graphic design. Submit as a single PDF. Deadline: 10:45 p.m.
Prompts releasing at 1 p.m.
4 Motion Graphic Infographic– An individual will create a 10-12 second animated infographic suitable for use in a segment about ways to reduce trash and waste. Submit a weblink to the finished project. Deadline: 4:30 p.m.
Prompts releasing at 2 p.m.
5 Collaborative Commercial – Enter one contestant per publication/program. A group of 3-4 students from different schools will work together to plan, create and edit a 30-second commercial about the provided product, using the tagline “Live and in Color.” One member of the team will submit a weblink to the completed project. ** Please review the specific instructions for entering names when you submit. ** Each publication with a contestant will be billed for an individual contest entry. Contestants will meet at 2 p.m. in Largo/Longboat room for pairing and prompt release. Deadline: 6 p.m.
6 News Package– A group of up to four students create a 1:30-1:45 news package about the challenges advisers face in planning trips such as FSPA. You may interview students or advisers, but nobody from your school. Submit a weblink to the finished project. Deadline 6:45 p.m.
7 On-Camera Interview – You will be participating in an on-the-spot food preparation challenge along with a mother and son cooking duo. We will tell you all about them at our 2 p.m. meeting and will then draw time slots. Up to three students will be provided 10 minutes of access to an interview subject and will record an interaction suitable for broadcast on a lifestyle show. While we previously stated this needed to be “live-to-tape,” you will be allowed to edit. Submit a weblink to the finished project. Deadline 10:15 p.m.
12 Instagram Story – As an individual, create interactive, multimedia coverage on your Instagram Story inspired by the convention theme “Live and in Color.” You may use polls, video or other resources you deem appropriate. Aim to have about 20 separate posts as part of your story. You will download your story as a video file, then publish the video file online and submit a weblink to it. Deadline: 9 p.m.
13 Podcast– In a group of up to four, create a 7:00-8:00 multi-segmented podcast about the convention. You are welcome to send a member of your team to the 6 p.m. News Conference in Cedar to assist in your reporting. Your podcast may be uploaded as a video file with a single image for the video portion or published to an audio platform such as Soundcloud. You will submit a weblink to the finished podcast. Deadline: 11 p.m.
16 Portrait Photography– Create a technically sound photograph of a person that effectively incorporates the composition technique of framing. Care should be spent on lighting, focus and composition. Submit a JPG of the image. Deadline: 5:45 p.m.
17 Spot News Photography– Provide three photos that showcase vendors interacting with students/advisers at the FSPA convention. Combine the photos into a single PDF document along with detailed, journalistic captions. Effective captions should identify the subjects and action of the photo, provide context and include a quote from a person pictured. This is an individual contest so one student must take all the photos for an entry. Deadline: 6 p.m.
18 Module Design – As an individual, create a 4x6 inch module that creatively showcases one company/vendor represented at the FSPA competition. You will need to complete the reporting and design the module. Submit a finished PDF. Deadline: 5:15 p.m.
24 Opinion Column – As an individual: Create an opinion column of about 400 words that exposes readers to something or someone that is underappreciated in society. Submit as a PDF. Deadline: 4:45 p.m.
25 Poetry Writing – Write a ballad telling your personal story. Use ABCB rhyme scheme and limit yourself to eight stanzas. Submit as a PDF. Deadline: 5 p.m.
27 Duo Review Writing– Should be completed as a pair: Write a review based on the product provided to you. The back-and-forth interaction will be part of the prompt. Submit as a PDF. Meet at 2 p.m. in Largo/Longboat room to collect the product. Submit the review by 6:15 p.m.
28 Short Story– Create a 700-800 word short story in which the protagonist transitions from a world of sepia to a world of color, similar to the journey experienced by Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.” Submit as a PDF. Prompt release: 2 p.m. Deadline 6:30 p.m..
Prompts releasing at 3 p.m.
- Steven j Thor Mixed Company (contestants should report to Lime room at 3 p.m.)
Prompts releasing at 6 p.m.
- News Story (contestants should report to Cedar room at 6 p.m.)
Prompts releasing at 8 p.m.
News Anchor (pre-registered contestants should report to Cedar room after Opening)
Tik Tok Challenge (prompt will be announced during Opening)
Prompts releasing at 8:30 p.m.
PTI (pre-registered contestants should report to Orange room at 8:30 p.m. to receive prompt