Top of the Rockies Awards

WELCOME TO THE 2026 TOP OF THE ROCKIES EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM CONTEST!

Administered for more than a decade by the SPJ Colorado Professional Chapter on behalf of SPJ chapters in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.

ABOUT THE CONTEST

Top of the Rockies is a regional, multi-platform contest for reporters and news organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The contest grew from a Colorado-only contest on the heels of the closure of the Rocky Mountain News in 2009 to ensure a robust and competitive field. It is sponsored and managed by the SPJ Colorado Pro Chapter.

Top of the Rockies is for professional journalists only; student journalists may enter SPJ’s Mark of Excellence competition.

  • Contest opens: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025
  • Contest closes: 10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2026
  • Awards will be announced at a reception in Denver on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Details to come.)
  • Cost to enter TOR: $20 per entry

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR ENTRANTS

  • Note 1: The Society of Professional Journalists since its inception in 1909 has always encouraged a space in which journalism can be practiced freely and fully. Therefore, the Society does not vet journalists or news organizations for membership or participation in Society activities. The Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism Contest is a Society activity for journalists to demonstrate their craft. Judges are asked to limit their evaluation of contest entries to the merits of the individual journalist’s work. This is important because other factors, such as considering the media outlet, can be distracting and do not align with SPJ’s values of offering an open space for freely practicing journalism. Awards are determined by the judges, based on these criteria: readability, effectiveness of interpretation, accuracy and completeness, enterprise, clarity and style, resourcefulness of the reporter in overcoming obstacles, interest and adherence to the SPJ Code of Ethics. Depending on the category, depth of research, quality of presentation, difficulty obtaining information and deadline pressure may be factors in the judges’ selection.
  • Note 2: Entries will be accepted from journalism organizations whose mission is independent coverage of news striving to be fair and balanced without a public relations agenda. Disputes about the nature of the organization that enters the contest will be decided by the Contest Committee.
  • Note 3: You do not need to be an SPJ member to enter the contest, but we always welcome new members. Learn how to become a member here.
  • Note 4: The contest does not allow entries in which content was subsidized by private businesses with an interest in the covered topic.
  • Note 5: Articles/posts/broadcasts/images submitted for consideration must be the entrant’s original work. Quotes should be clearly attributed. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a useful tool for research, transcription and other minor editing, but should not be used for the actual generation of content — unless there is a legitimate reason for using it (e.g., in a report about AI), and that is clearly explained as part of the report.

CONTEST RULES

  • Entries must have been published (print or online)/broadcast in the 2025 calendar year.
  • An entry may be placed in one writing category and one visual category. In addition, the entry may be placed in the Public Service, Multimedia Story, Headline writing or a page-design category.
  • Media outlets/freelancers are limited to three entries per category.
  • Freelancers entering the contest who write for media outlets also entering the contest must work with the media outlet to ensure the freelance entries plus the media-outlet entries don’t exceed the three-entries-per-category rule.
  • All categories are open to news media outlets in all platforms. You’ll be up against the best from all platforms in the region.

ENTRY DIVISIONS

Top of the Rockies has four divisions based on newsroom staff size:

  • Small newsrooms: fewer than five full-time equivalent staff members;
  • Medium newsrooms: five to under nine full-time equivalent staff members;
  • Large newsrooms: nine to under 15 full-time equivalent staff members;
  • X-large newsrooms: 15 or more full-time equivalent staff members.

News organizations are allowed to compete in a division with a larger staff size; they are not permitted to drop a division. If your news organization has not been placed in one of the divisions or you feel circumstances have changed to warrant moving your media outlet to another division, contact Deb Hurley Brobst at deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com.

HOW TO ENTER

There are two types of contestants in the website. Which one are you: A media outlet or a freelancer?

If you are a media outlet:

  • Visit the https://betternewspapercontest.com website.
  • Click on “Contestant Login.”
  • Select 2026 Top of the Rockies under “Select a Contest.”
  • Check to see if your media outlet is listed under “Select Media Organization.” If you DO NOT see it, contact Deb Hurley at deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com.
  • If you see your media outlet, select it and type in your password. If you DO NOT know your password, contact Deb Hurley Brobst at deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com.
  • Then place your entries. When your media outlet is done placing entries, pay your bill by clicking on “Calculate Entry Fee” in the top right corner and follow the directions. You can  print a receipt after you pay your fees.
  • If your media outlet’s website has a paywall, please make sure your entries are available to the judges. Either make sure they are free content or submit a PDF instead. Nothing frustrates judges more than not having access to entries because they are blocked. Blocked entries may be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.

If you are a freelancer:

  • Visit the https://betternewspapercontest.com website.
  • Click on “Open Call Login.”
  • If you have entered before, put in your e-mail address and password. The contest coordinator DOES NOT have access to your password, so click “forgot password” and follow the directions if you need to reset it.
  • If you are new to our contest, click on “create your Open Call account” and follow the directions.
  • Email Deb Hurley Brobst at deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com if you have any questions.
  • Place your entries. When you are done placing entries, pay your bill by clicking on “Calculate Entry Fee” in the top right corner and follow the directions.
  • If your media outlet’s website has a paywall, please make sure your entries are available to the judges. Either make sure they are free content or submit a PDF instead. Nothing frustrates judges more than not having access to entries because they are blocked.

ABOUT THE AWARDS PROCESS

Colorado SPJ Pro hosts a Top of the Rockies winners’ reception with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, and a list of winners will be available on our website, spjcolorado.org, once they are announced. The reception will be held Saturday, April 25, 2026 in Denver. (Details to come.)

Colorado SPJ Pro’s individual awards for outstanding Colorado journalists will also be presented at the reception. Watch for information on how to submit nominations for individual awards in early 2026. Click here for past individual awards winners.

TOR awards will be available to be picked up at the reception. Remaining certificates will be mailed to entrants.

All judges’ decisions are final in category placement as well as entry evaluation. If, in the opinion of the judges, none of the entries in a given category meets the standards of excellence, no award will be made in that category. Judges may reject entries that do not conform with contest rules.

2026 TOP OF THE ROCKIES CONTEST CATEGORIES

WRITING CATEGORIES

  • News Reporting, Single Story: Single news story.
  • Breaking News Story: A single story about a breaking-news event occurring over a 24-hour period.
  • General Reporting, Series or Package: A series of stories on one topic or a package of stories that runs simultaneously (Submit up to three stories per entry).
  • Investigative Reporting: An article or a package or series of stories on one topic that demonstrates exceptional enterprise or investigative effort. (Submit up to three stories per entry.)
  • Special Topic/Section: A group of stories or a special section that explores one issue in-depth. (Submit up to three stories.)
  • Feature Writing — long form: Includes profiles, analysis and other stories written in a feature format that are more than 1,500 words or longer than 3 minutes in length. (Submit one story.)
  • Feature Writing — short form: Includes profiles, analysis and other stories written in a feature format that are fewer than 1,500 words or shorter than 3 minutes in length. (Submit one story.)
  • Beat Reporting: A collection of up to three stories from one reporter on a particular beat. Attach a one-sentence description of your beat.
  • Personal/Humor Columns: Submit up to 3 columns per entry.
  • Columns/Op-Ed pieces: Submit up to 3 columns or editorials per entry.
  • Agriculture or Environment News: Single story.
  • Agriculture or Environment Feature: Single story.
  • A&E and Food Reporting News or Feature: A single story on dining, nightlife, film, television, music, art, architecture, theater or dance.
  • A&E and Food Criticism: Submit up to 3 columns or reviews.
  • Business News: Single story.
  • Business Feature: Single story.
  • Business Enterprise Reporting: An article, or a package or series of stories on one topic that demonstrates exceptional enterprise or investigative effort. (Submit up to three stories per entry.)
  • Climate Reporting: A story on climate change, global warming or other similar large-scale changes affecting local areas. (Submit one story per entry.)
  • Education News: Single story.
  • Education Feature: Single story.
  • Health News: Single story.
  • Health Feature: Single story.
  • Legal News: Single story.
  • Legal Feature: Single story.
  • Mental Health News: Single story.
  • Mental Health Feature: Single story.
  • Obit Writing: A feature story about someone who has died. (Submit one story per entry.)
  • Politics News: Single story.
  • Politics Feature: Single story.
  • Religion News: Single story.
  • Religion Feature: Single story.
  • Science and Technology News: Single story.
  • Science and Technology Feature: Single story.
  • Social Justice Reporting: A story on social justice issues. (Submit one story per entry.)
  • Solutions Journalism: A story or series that includes in-depth reporting on a response(s) to a problem. (Submit up to three stories per entry.)
  • Sports News: Single story.
  • Sports Feature: Single story.
  • Sports Columns: Submit up to 3 columns per entry.
  • Headline Writing: Submit up to 3 headlines with the accompanying articles.
  • Public Service: An article, a package or series of stories on one topic that demonstrates exceptional coverage on a topic or issue that is important to the community. (Submit up to three stories per entry.)
  • Multimedia Story: A cohesive web package that can include words, photos, graphics, audio, video and/or graphics.
  • Newsletter: Submit one per entry.
  • Podcast: Submit one episode per entry.

VISUAL CATEGORIES

  • Front Page Design: A front page or cover of your publication.
  • Single Page Design: A single page or a section cover of your publication.
  • Feature Page Design: A single page or feature cover of your publication.
  • Information Graphic: Submit the graphic with the accompanying article.
  • Editorial Cartoons: Submit up to 3 cartoons that show the point of view of the cartoonist.
  • Illustration: Artwork accompanying a news or feature story to enhance the story’s meaning. (Submit artwork to one story.)
  • Spot News Photography/Videography: One photo or video on a breaking news story.
  • News Photography/Videography: One photo or video on a news story.
  • Feature Photography/Videography: One photo or video on a feature story.
  • Sports Photography/Videography: One photo or video on a sports story.
  • Climate Photography/Videography: One photo or video on climate change.
  • Social Justice Photography/Videography: One photo or video on a social justice story.
  • Photo Package: Submit up to three photos from one assignment.