The Kiosk, CUNY SPS’ student-run newspaper, is thrilled to announce its first contest of 2024, Community Reporting. Calling all aspiring writers: this is your chance to showcase your journalism on our website while competing for prizes! The contest will end Sunday, April 7th (more info on how to submit below).
In journalism, everyone has a story to tell. Find a story in your neighborhood, local area, or community that you want to tell—maybe it’s a more investigative piece, or maybe it’s a human interest story. If there’s nothing happening in your area, find an online subculture you’re curious about and find an issue or question to investigate.
For example, The Kiosk’s editors are working on a story to accompany the contest about why a renovation of a local Bushwick dog park will cost $6.7 million. This story will hopefully turn into an investigative piece interviewing neighborhood officials and local dog owners to see if the project is worth the price tag.
Contest Information and Guidelines:
- Entrants must be current CUNY SPS students in good standing.
- Prizes:
- Moleskine Journal + Stabilo Pens + Scrapbooking Supplies + $25 Amazon Gift Card + Swag Bag
- $25 Amazon Gift Card + Swag Bag
- $25 Amazon Gift Card
- Word limit: 400-900 words
- Our panel of judges will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:
- Information: Is the article presenting the information accurately and fairly? Is there a lack of clear bias towards one point of view or another? Is the information organized and presented logically? Is there a lack of any obvious gaps in information?
- Community: Is the article relevant to the theme of community/neighborhood/subculture? Does it investigate some sort of issue or question within the community?
- Quotes/Sources: Does the article use firsthand sources, such as members of the community? Are there multiple sources? Are there different points of view being presented fairly?
- Headline: Does the headline make the reader want to read the story? Does it communicate what the story will be about?
- Lede: Does the first sentence pull the reader in and make them want to keep reading? Is it cleverly written?
- Flow/structure: Does the article have a logical structure, either by starting off with an anecdote or with the most important information? Does it flow naturally from one paragraph to the next, either through transition sentences, quotes, or subheadings?
- Only one entry per student is allowed.
- Enter submissions via email (thekiosk@spsmail.cuny.edu) by midnight, Sunday, April 7th.
NOTE: By submitting, you are granting The Kiosk permission to publish your work. Submitting does not guarantee publication.
