Contest Entry Instructions

The RNA Excellence in Religion Reporting contest is administered through the Evalto awards platform. Below are directions for preparing and submitting entries.

Eligibility:

The annual awards contest is open to all.

RNA members receive a special discount of 20% off all entries with a discount code that is shared on all contest email communications through members.

If you are a member and can’t find the discount code, or if you have additional questions, please contact us at Awards@RNA.org.

Timeline:

The contest is currently closed.

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How to Log In
How to Submit and Pay for Entries
Contest Category Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What outlets are eligible for entry?

RNA’s annual contest celebrates great journalism published by news outlets with editorial independence. Secular and religious publications are eligible; however, work published by outlets owned or operated by a particular religion, faith community or religious group are not eligible. Exceptions can be considered if sufficient proof of an outlet's editorial independence is provided to RNA for review. Contact awards@rna.org with any questions.

Are freelance journalists eligible to enter?

Yes! Freelance journalists are encouraged to enter the contest. Their submitted work does not need to be published by the same outlet, including for contests that request more than one story or piece of work be submitted per entry. 

Do you have to be an RNA member to enter? 

No! Thanks to flexibility with our new software, the annual contest is open to all. RNA members get a 20% discount off all entries using the discount code sent out to members in emails about the contest. If you can’t find the code, please email awards@rna.org.

For lapsed members, now is a great time to renew your membership. Your membership helps RNA support religion journalism.

I am the contest administrator for my news outlet, and thus in charge of submitting awards on behalf of my outlet and its journalists. Do they all need to be members?

If an outlet's entries are being submitted by a contest administrator, the majority of credited individuals in the entries must be RNA members. If the outlet is credited as a unit, at least one person on staff must be an RNA member. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

Who judges the contest? 

Judges are current and retired journalists or have experience in related fields; professors and instructors of journalism or a related field; and other current or retired professionals with expertise in religion, journalism and news. Judges for each year will be made public when that year’s winners are announced. 

Are you interested in being a judge or do you know someone who would make a good judge? Send your recommendations to awards@rna.org.

What are the fees for the contest?

Religion Story of the Year and Book of the Year are $150 per entry for non-members and $120 per entry for members. Other Any Format Reporting entries and Written Reporting entries are $125 per entry for non-members and $100 per entry for members. Visual Reporting and Audio Reporting entries are $100 per entry for non-members and $80 per entry for members. Entries for the Chandler Award are free.

Can I enter one category a number of times?

Yes, you may submit multiple entries to any given category.

How to Log In

  1. Click here to go to the Evalto RNA contest platform.

  2. Select the categories you wish to enter by clicking the drop downs under “Select Your Contest Entry Categories” and clicking the right-side plus icons next to the categories you wish to enter. You may select more than one category.

  3. When your categories are selected, click “Register to Enter Contest” at the bottom of the page and fill out the appropriate information. Please note that once you are logged onto Evalto, you will be able to add any other categories.

  4. Evalto will email you a successful registration email including the link to access your contest dashboard and your PIN. Please save this PIN until you are fully submitted, as it will be needed for you to access your dashboard.

How to Submit Entries

  1. After logging in, click “My entries” on the left hand sidebar under “Home.”

  2. You will see the categories you selected while registering listed under the “My entries” heading on the left hand side.

  3. Click on a listed category under the “My entries” heading to input your entry information. Please click “Save as draft” on the upper right hand corner as you work on your entries to ensure the information doesn’t get lost.

  4. If you would like to create an additional entry that you didn’t select during the registration phase, click “Add Entry” under the “My entries” heading on the left hand side. Find the category you wish to enter using the drop-downs under the “umbrella” categories of written, visual, audio and any format reporting; select the category by clicking the circle next to the category name; click “Add entry” at the bottom of the pop-up. The new entry opportunity will now be added to the list of categories under the “My entry” header. Please note: you are able to enter any category more than once.

  5. Payment for entries is required at submission. When you are ready to submit your entries, click “Submit” on the top right corner of your entry page. A pop-up for billing will appear.

  6. Fill out the pop-up’s first page (billing information) and click “Finalize.”

  7. On the second page, input your credit card information and click “Pay Now.”

  8. You may also pay for entries prior to submission. If you wish to pay prior to submission, click “Pending Payment” on the lower left hand corner of your “My entries” page. An informational pop-up will appear. Click “Pay now” under “Payment method.” Follow the instructions above to navigate through the billing pop-up that appears.

    IMPORTANT: Please be sure that items are not behind a paywall or password-protected area. If they are, you must provide username and password information in the “Anything else you’d like the judges to know?” comments section of your entry. Judges may disqualify your entry if work samples are inaccessible.

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Contest Category Details

ANY FORMAT REPORTING

  • Religion Story of the Year

    • Submit one story published or aired by a news outlet that made a significant impact, provided exceptional coverage of an issue, or broke new ground. Entries may include the main story and related content published on the same date. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $120 RNA Members / $150 Non-Members

  • Renner Award for Excellence In-Depth and Continuing Coverage

    • Submit an in-depth project or intentional series on a religion-related topic; or continuing coverage that documented a developing topic as it unfolded. Eligible entries must be published or aired by a news outlet in the last year. Up to 10 stories may be submitted per entry. For entries with more than 10 parts, entrants may include a one-page summary describing additional components. In-depth projects and series should be intentionally packaged together at publication for news purposes, and not post-publication for contest submission purposes. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Supple Award for Excellence in Feature Reporting

    • Submit up to three examples of features coverage, published or aired by a news outlet in the last year. Examples may include the main story and related content published on the same date. This includes, but is not limited to longform narrative storytelling, human interest pieces, in-depth profiles, and topics that range from the serious and lighthearted to the entertaining and unusual. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Excellence in Analysis and Explanatory Reporting

    • Submit up to three examples of clear, insightful analysis or in-depth explanatory coverage of religion-related issues close to the news cycle and published by a news outlet in the last year. Entries should go beyond reporting facts to provide context and deepen audience understanding of complex topics. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Rachel Zoll Award for Excellence in Breaking News

    “We are so grateful that RNA is honoring Rachel’s legacy through this award. She was deeply enriched by the collaboration with her colleagues in RNA, and she was continually inspired by their skill and dedication.
    For her family, it means so much to see the vital work of religion reporting carried forward with excellence through RNA’s commitment.” - Zoll Family

    • Submit up to three examples of breaking news coverage of a religion-related topic published or aired by a news outlet in the last year. Entries should demonstrate timeliness, accuracy, and depth under deadline pressure. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit. Named after Rachel Zoll, the former national religion writer for The Associated Press who was beloved and respected by her fellow RNA members. RNA honored Zoll with a Special Recognition Award in 2018. She died in 2021 after a three-year bout with brain cancer.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Excellence in Investigative and Data Reporting

    • Submit up to three examples of investigative journalism or data-driven coverage published or aired by a news outlet in the last year. Examples may include the main story and related content published on the same day. Entries should use deep sourcing, other investigative methods, and/or data reporting to reveal new insights about religion-related topics. Entries should demonstrate originality, depth, and impact. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Excellence in Digital Storytelling

    • Submit up to three examples of digital-first storytelling published by a news outlet in the last year that creatively uses multimedia elements (text, video, audio, graphics, interactives, etc.) and digital platforms (social media, websites, mobile, etc.). Entries should highlight innovation in digital storytelling. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Chandler Award for Excellence in Student Religion Reporting

    • Submit up to three religion stories published or aired during the most recent academic year (summer through spring) in campus publications or in niche or general circulation outlets during a student internship. Entries may include the main story and related content published on the same day. Students do not need to be an RNA member to submit. Please write to awards@rna.org to set up a free account on the awards platform to submit.

    • Fee: $0

WRITTEN RELIGION REPORTING

  • Division 1: Niche and Religious Audiences

    • Submit up to three examples of written religion reporting published in the last year by a news outlet that serves a niche or religious audience. Entries should showcase overall quality, depth, and consistency of coverage. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit. Entry note: Individuals may only enter one of the three written division contests per year. Entrants are responsible for selecting the division that best matches the body of work being submitted and the outlets that published it. Freelance journalists submitting work published in multiple outlets should pick the division that best matches the body of work they are submitting.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Division 2: Local, Regional and Metro Outlets

    • Submit up to three examples of written religion reporting published in the last year in a local, regional, or metro outlet (including newspapers, nondaily outlets, or online-only platforms). Entries should demonstrate excellence in reporting that serves a local or regional community. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit. Entry note: Individuals may only enter one of the three written division contests per year. Entrants are responsible for selecting the division that best matches the body of work being submitted and the outlets that published it. Freelance journalists submitting work published in multiple outlets should pick the division that best matches the body of work they are submitting.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Division 3: National and International Outlets

    • Submit up to three examples of written religion reporting published in the last year in national or international outlets (including newspapers, nondaily outlets, online-only platforms, or wire services). Entries should demonstrate excellence in reporting for a broad national or global audience. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit. Entry note: Individuals may only enter one of the three written division contests per year. Entrants are responsible for selecting the division that best matches the body of work being submitted and the outlets that published it. Freelance journalists submitting work published in multiple outlets should pick the division that best matches the body of work they are submitting.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Excellence in News Commentary

    • Submit up to three examples of religion news commentary published in the last year. Entries should demonstrate excellence in analysis, perspective, and originality, with a focus on timely or news-driven topics. Unlike editorials, which reflect an outlet’s institutional voice, this award recognizes the perspective of individual journalist(s). Award will be given to one individual.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Excellence in Lifestyle and Culture Commentary

    • Submit up to three examples of commentary on religion-related life, culture, or societal experiences published in the last year. Entries may be lighter in tone, conversational or more personal in nature and do not need to be closely tied to the news cycle. Award will be given to one individual.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Religion Publication

    • Submit up to three issues of a publication that exclusively or almost entirely covers religion and religion-related topics published in the last year. This includes but is not limited to magazines and news periodicals. While layout and design may be considered, judging will focus primarily on content, including text, photos and graphics. Entries must be submitted digitally; send PDFs of publications to awards@rna.org. Award will be given to the publication.

    • Fee: $100 RNA Members / $125 Non-Members

  • Book of the Year

    • Submit a copy of one nonfiction book published in the last year. Eligible books are those employing journalistic techniques and classified as biography, history, current affairs, analysis, business, or certain memoirs. Self-published books are eligible as long as they fit the above categories. Ineligible are books classified as fiction, scriptural exegesis, scriptural commentary, self-help, how-to, or memoirs that are primarily spiritual journeys. Do not submit galley proofs or pre-publication versions. Entries must be submitted digitally; send PDFs of books to awards@rna.org. Award will be given to the author(s).

    • Fee: $120 RNA Members / $150 Non-Members

VISUAL RELIGION REPORTING

  • Excellence in Photography

    • Submit up to three religion-related news photos published in the last year via a news outlet. Photos should be submitted via static URL or uploaded with the following specs: 72 dpi, 1200 pixels on the longest side, JPEG files. Name files as: FirstLast1.jpg, FirstLast2.jpg, etc. Photos may be cropped and corrected for exposure, color, and white balance, but no other digital manipulation is permitted. Photos must be documentary in style and not staged. Entries must include caption, photographer name, and date taken. Award will be given to the individual photographer.

    • Fee: $80 RNA Members / $100 Non-Members

  • Excellence in Video: Short Reports

    • Submit up to three produced videos, 10 minutes or less in length, which were distributed independently, shown publicly for the first time on a news outlet’s website or official social media accounts, or aired on a network, cable, satellite station in the last year. If a video is longer than 10 minutes, only a 10-minute continuous stretch will be judged; if applicable, indicate the minute markers where the judge(s) should begin and end the viewing. Transcripts are not required but welcomed. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $80 RNA Members / $100 Non-Members

  • Excellence in Video: Long Reports

    • Submit one produced video, 10 to 60 minutes long, which was distributed independently and shown publicly for the first time in the last year. It should be a video aired on a network, cable, or satellite station, or published on a news outlet’s official social media account or website. Religion-related documentary films are also eligible. If a video is longer than 60 minutes, only a 60-minute continuous stretch will be judged; if applicable, indicate the minute markers where the judge(s) should begin and end the viewing. Transcripts are not required but welcomed. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $80 RNA Members / $100 Non-Members

AUDIO RELIGION REPORTING

  • Excellence in Audio: News Reporting

    • Submit up to three produced audio pieces of any length, first aired or published in the last year. Eligible entries include reported news stories, features, and investigative work. Entries will be judged on accuracy, clarity, originality, sourcing, timeliness, and production quality. This category is intended for journalistic efforts across audio formats — from short news spots to long-form narrative and investigative audio. If a piece is longer than 45 minutes, only a 45-minute continuous stretch will be judged; if applicable, indicate the minute markers where judges should begin and end listening. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $80 RNA Members / $100 Non-Members

  • Excellence in Audio: Commentary and Conversation

    • Submit up to three produced audio programs between 15 and 60 minutes in length, first aired or published in the last year. Eligible entries include host-led podcasts, interview-driven shows, roundtables, and commentary formats offering analysis, perspective, or dialogue on religion-related issues. Entries will be judged on originality, clarity, conversational flow, host skill, and insightfulness of discussion. If an episode is longer than 60 minutes, only a 60-minute continuous stretch will be judged; if applicable, indicate the minute markers where judges should begin and end listening. Transcripts are not required but welcomed. Winning entries will share the award among all those credited if under five individuals; if over five individuals, the outlet will be awarded as a unit.

    • Fee: $80 RNA Members / $100 Non-Members

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