2026 NDPC Communications Contest Rules
About the contest
The NDPC Communications Contest, a state affiliate of the NFPW Communications Contest, recognizes the work of professional communicators or college-level communicators over the age of 18 living or working in North Dakota regardless of their gender or professional status.
Entrants must be NFPW and NDPC members (NFPW membership includes NDPC membership when you select North Dakota as the affiliate). NFPW member dues must be current by the entry deadline to be eligible for the communications contest. Only NFPW members in good standing can compete nationally. Please confirm that all entrants, including co-entrants, are NFPW members before entering the contest. Join NFPW.
Important dates
- All work must have been published or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2025, to be eligible for entry in the 2026 contest.
- October 15, 2025, is the opening date for submissions.
- The early bird deadline is January 21, 2026, at noon. A one-time $25 fee will be assessed to all entrants after this date.
- The book final deadline is February 4, 2026, at noon. Due to the extended time it takes to judge book categories, all books must be entered by this date.
- The final deadline for entries is February 18, 2026, at noon. All remaining entries must be entered by this date.
Cost
Before the early bird deadline, the first entry costs $30 and each subsequent entry costs $15. After the early bird deadline, the first entry costs $55 and each subsequent entry costs $15.Preparation
- Before you start gathering submissions, familiarize yourself with the available categories and their descriptions.
- When you decide which categories to enter, please read the requirements for each category carefully.
- Before you start entering your work online, we recommend organizing your entries into a folder.
Registration
Contest submissions will be handled online through the NDPC Communications Contest web page.
Judging
Judging will be completed by April 2026. NDPC Communications Contest winners will be contacted directly and recognized by NDPC.
National competition
First-place NDPC Communications Contest winners will advance to the national competition, the NFPW Communications Contest. In order to compete at the national level, entrants must be members of the National Federation of Press Women and be in good standing.
Questions
If you have questions about the contest, you may contact NDPC Contest Co-Chair Heather Syverson at Heather.Syverson@ae2s.com.
