Critique & Contest is the national communications and journalism competition for ACT members. This contest allows students the opportunity to have their work analyzed by professionals and judged against members across the nation. Categories include writing, publication, electronic media, photography, design & layout, and public relations. The first individual entry for each dues-paid member is free. Each additional individual entry is $5 USD per entry. All group entries are $5 USD per entry. The National ACT organization will invoice chapters for the number of paid entries that were judged. If you are not a dues-paid member at the time of submission, we will invoice your chapter an additional $17 to cover the cost of your membership.
View the 2024-2025 Critique & Contest rules and guidelines to learn more about our categories and how to submit. Please follow us on social media for updates.
The 2024-2025 contest will open for entries March 1, 2025 at 12 p.m., C.S.T and close May 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m., C.S.T
Each writing division entry must be submitted online in manuscript form: Times New Roman,12-point, double-spaced text with 1-inch margins on letter-size paper saved as a PDF. An example format is provided on the National ACT’s Critique & Contest webpage: https://nactnow.org/contests-awards/. Do not submit photographs with an entry. Entries in published form will be disqualified. NOTE: The first-place entries in the writing categories will be entered in the Excellence in Writing competition.
Entries will be judged on readability, originality, organization, use of appropriate writing style (re: AP Style), and overall appeal.
1. NEWS STORY
Entries should be written in inverted pyramid style and should address a current issue. Any word count is acceptable.
2. SHORT FEATURE STORY
Short feature stories include technical, how-to, historical, etc., of 1,000 words or less.
3. LONG FEATURE STORY
Long feature stories include technical, how-to, historical, etc., of more than 1,000 words.
4. SHORT PERSONALITY PROFILE
Entries should be 1,000 words or less and should focus on a less time-sensitive topic.
5. LONG PERSONALITY PROFILE
Entries should be more than 1,000 words and should focus on a less time-sensitive topic.
6. RESEARCH-RELATED WRITING
Entries should address a current research area. Any word count is acceptable.
7. EDITORIAL
Entries should be 1,000 words or less and should focus on a less time-sensitive topic.
8. SINGLE BLOG ENTRY
This should be a single blog entry posted between May 16, 2024 and May 15, 2025. Any word count is acceptable.
Each publication division entry must be submitted online as a PDF. NOTE: The first-place entries in the publication categories will be entered in the Excellence in Publications competition.
Entries will be judged on layout and design, typography, graphics, content, writing quality, and overall appeal.
1. NEWSLETTER OR E-NEWSLETTER
Entries should be a single newsletter or e-newsletter saved as a letter-size PDF. Any length is acceptable. E-newsletter entries cannot be entered in the web design category.
2. BROCHURE OR PAMPHLET
Entries should be a PDF of the completed design. Any size or dimension is acceptable.
3. MAGAZINE
The Magazine category will be judged based on print publications. All entries must be submitted in two formats:
- Online Submission – A PDF version of a single issue must be uploaded.
- Mailed Submission – Six physical copies of the same issue submitted as a PDF must be mailed to the National ACT adviser.
The PDF and mailed copies must be identical in content and format.
All mailed entries must be postmarked no later than May 15, 2025 to allow adequate time for distribution to judges.
Magazine category entries should be mailed to:
National ACT Adviser – Taylor K. Apple
C/O Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications
Texas A&M University
2116 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-2116
Each photo entry must be 5 megabytes or smaller and must be saved in JPEG or JPG format. Photo correction or manipulation is allowed. NOTE: The first-place entries in the photography categories will be entered in the Excellence in Photography competition.
Entries will be judged on subject matter, effectiveness, photo quality, and composition.
1. SCENIC PHOTO
2. PEOPLE PHOTO
3. ANIMAL PHOTO
4. PLANT PHOTO
5. FOOD PHOTO
6. OTHER PHOTO
7. BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO*
8. PHOTO SERIES
*Entries in this category are eligible to be entered into other photo categories, excluding photo series.
Entries must include three to five images. Photo series is not able to contain pictures from other categories. The JPEG- or JPG-formatted images in the series must be entered into the “Photo Series Files” category of file uploads on the submission site.
All video submissions must be submitted as a YouTube link. The audio entries are uploaded as .mp3 files. NOTE: The first-place entries in the electronic media categories will be entered in the Excellence in Electronic Media competition.
Entries will be judged on creativity, organization, effectiveness, quality of work, overall appeal.
1. AUDIO PACKAGE
Entries must be between 30 seconds and 5 minutes in duration. Newscasts, PSAs, podcasts, interviews, documentaries or editorials are eligible to be entered. Entries must be more than a market report.
2. AUDIO ADVERTISEMENT
Entries must be between 15 seconds and 60 seconds in duration.
3. SHORT VIDEO PRODUCTION
Entries must be less than 2 minutes in duration.
4. LONG VIDEO PRODUCTION
Entries must be more than 2 minutes in duration.
5. VIDEO ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION
Entries must be between 15 seconds and 60 seconds in duration.
The entries for page layout, poster, flyer, logo, infographic, and advertisement are submitted online as a PDF. The blog and web design entries are submitted as URL addresses. NOTE: The first-place entries in the design and layout categories will be entered in the Excellence in Design and Layout competition.
Entries will be judged on layout and design, color, illustration, typography, usability, and overall effectiveness.
1. PAGE LAYOUT
Entries can include single- or multi-page magazine or newspaper spreads. The spread should look as close to the printed form as possible.
2. POSTER OR FLYER
3. LOGO
4. INFOGRAPHIC
5. ADVERTISEMENT
Entries can be any size and can include banner ads, print ads, etc.
6. BLOG
Submit the URL to the blog. Ensure your blog will be online and available for judging.
7. WEB DESIGN
Submit the URL for the website. Ensure your website will be online and available for judging.
The entries for public relations campaign, press/news release, social media campaign, and single social media post are submitted as PDF files. Please submit a photo of your public relations single item. The first-place entries in the categories will be automatically entered into the Excellence in Public Relations competition.
Entries will be judged on appropriateness for the audience, readability, creativity, and organization.
1. PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN
Submit one copy in final draft or published form.
2. PRESS/NEWS RELEASE
3. SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Submit one copy in final draft or published form.
4. SINGLE SOCIAL MEDIA POST
Materials submitted should document an individual social media post that is not part of an overall campaign. It can be from any social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, X, etc.). Describe how and why this post was created, social media platform, goals and audience(s). Provide analytics including engagement for the post. If the post was boosted or promoted at all, include the amount and length of time.
5. PUBLIC RELATIONS SINGLE ITEM
Submit one finished item or drafts should look as close to finished as possible. Entries in this category cannot be entered in any other category. Entries can be anything applicable to public relations, including displays and specialty advertising items, such as coffee mugs, pens or buttons, etc. Please submit a photo of your item. The photo must be 5 megabytes or smaller and must be saved in JPEG or JPG format.