2025 WNA High School Better Newspaper Contest
2025 WNA High School Better Newspaper Contest
Contest entries are accepted starting Monday, December 8, 2025
All submissions must have been published between January 1, 2025 and December 7th, 2025. This year’s contest is being judges by Professional Newspaper Association members. Awards will be presented during the WNA Convention at the Annual Convention on March 5-6, 2026 in Madison.
There is a $7.50 entry fee for each entry. Payment must be made before the contest deadline and can be submitted via credit card or PayPal. Thank you from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation.
If you are submitting URL's. Make sure the link works and a paywall password is provided!
Contest Deadline
Monday, Jan 12, 2026
All entries must be uploaded by 10:59 p.m.
Submission Period
Jan. 1, 2025 - Dec. 7, 2025
All print and digital entries must have been published during the entry period.
Entry Divisions
Division A: Newspapers from schools with more than 500 students
Division B: Newspapers from schools with fewer than 500 students
Entries will be merged into the next highest division if a category received three or fewer entries.
Eligibility
Any student enrolled in a Wisconsin public, parochial or private senior high school is eligible.
Number of Entries Allowed
Unless otherwise specified, each entrant may submit as many entries in each contest as desired.
Contest Website
All entries must be submitted online through betternewspapercontest.com/WNA_HS.
Detailed instructions can be viewed on the contest website. Full-page PDFs or URLs must be
submitted with each entry. Photography entries also require JPGs of the submitted photo(s).
Contest Managers
Each newspaper will be assigned a contest manager, who will receive a username and password. The contest manager can add authorized entrants, who may also submit entries. The contest manager can also opt to share his or her login information with staffers so that they may upload their entries. If you’ve forgotten your username or password, please contact Laura Niemi at laura@mna.org.
Payment
There is a $7.50 entry fee for each entry. Please pay with credit card on or before the contest deadline.
Judging
Experienced journalists will be selected as judges.
THE BRANEN FAMILY FUND
The Branen Family Fund supports student excellence in journalism through its Branen Award and the sponsorship of the 2026 WNA Convention Student Luncheon.
This year, one $100 award to will be presented to each first-place place winning entry. (The winning high school is responsible for distributing the funds if multiple students are credited.)
Awards
Awards will be announced online after judging has been completed and presented at the WNA Convention on March 5, 2026. Plaques and certificates will be mailed to schools if unable to attend in person.
