We invite our member schools to submit yearbooks, newspapers, literary magazines, online news or literary websites, and broadcast packages for thorough, comprehensive critiques.
Our summer 2020 critique deadline is July 31. We encourage you to read through the frequently asked questions below before beginning your submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a critique and how do I request to have my publication critiqued?
A publication critique is an evaluation of a publication's quality based upon a rubric. Critiques are completed by experts from across the country. Those interested in receiving a critique must fill out and submit a completed form along with the publication submission.
In addition to receiving comprehensive feedback from experts, your submitted publication(s) automatically become part of a statewide contest. In the first level of scoring your submitted publication may receive a scorebook with a bronze mark, silver mark, or gold mark. All publications earning an overall GOLD AWARD will be sent on to a new judge where your publication will compete against other GOLD AWARD publications to determine which GOLD AWARD publications will receive the coveted Clyde F. Lytle All-State Keystone Award.
A publication critique is an evaluation of a publication's quality based upon a rubric. Critiques are completed by experts from across the country. Those interested in receiving a critique must fill out and submit a completed form along with the publication submission.
In addition to receiving comprehensive feedback from experts, your submitted publication(s) automatically become part of a statewide contest. In the first level of scoring your submitted publication may receive a scorebook with a bronze mark, silver mark, or gold mark. All publications earning an overall GOLD AWARD will be sent on to a new judge where your publication will compete against other GOLD AWARD publications to determine which GOLD AWARD publications will receive the coveted Clyde F. Lytle All-State Keystone Award.
What do I need to submit for critiques?
For all submissions, start with the forms linked above.
Print Newspapers / News Magazines: Complete the linked form above, and via the form submit two digital uploads of the print publication in PDF format. Submit one issue from the first semester, and one issue from the second semester.
Print Literary Magazines: Complete the linked form above, then mail two copies of your publication to PSPA Literary Magazines, Janice Hatfield, Box 353, Mt. Morris, PA. 15349. Mailings must be postmarked by July 31 for Keystone consideration.
Print Yearbooks: Complete the linked form above, then mail one copy of your yearbook to PSPA Yearbook Critique, C/O Jonathan Bickel, 118 N. Railroad St. Myerstown, PA 17067. Spring yearbooks must be postmarked by July 31 for Keystone consideration. For fall delivery yearbooks, complete the critique form by July 31 and indicate the approximate publication date of your book. All fall delivery books must be received by October 1.
Online Publications: Complete the linked form above, then share the link to your publication via the form. Links must be active at the time of judging. Both online news publications and online literary magazines may be considered for this category.
Broadcast Packages: Complete the linked form above, then share a link to an unlisted YouTube video, Vimeo video, or Google Drive file. If you opt to share your broadcast package using Google Drive, test your settings to ensure that people outside of your domain will have access to the link. Have someone outside of your school's Google domain see if they an open the link from their regular Gmail account. If they cannot view the link, you need to change your link's share settings.
For all submissions, start with the forms linked above.
Print Newspapers / News Magazines: Complete the linked form above, and via the form submit two digital uploads of the print publication in PDF format. Submit one issue from the first semester, and one issue from the second semester.
Print Literary Magazines: Complete the linked form above, then mail two copies of your publication to PSPA Literary Magazines, Janice Hatfield, Box 353, Mt. Morris, PA. 15349. Mailings must be postmarked by July 31 for Keystone consideration.
Print Yearbooks: Complete the linked form above, then mail one copy of your yearbook to PSPA Yearbook Critique, C/O Jonathan Bickel, 118 N. Railroad St. Myerstown, PA 17067. Spring yearbooks must be postmarked by July 31 for Keystone consideration. For fall delivery yearbooks, complete the critique form by July 31 and indicate the approximate publication date of your book. All fall delivery books must be received by October 1.
Online Publications: Complete the linked form above, then share the link to your publication via the form. Links must be active at the time of judging. Both online news publications and online literary magazines may be considered for this category.
Broadcast Packages: Complete the linked form above, then share a link to an unlisted YouTube video, Vimeo video, or Google Drive file. If you opt to share your broadcast package using Google Drive, test your settings to ensure that people outside of your domain will have access to the link. Have someone outside of your school's Google domain see if they an open the link from their regular Gmail account. If they cannot view the link, you need to change your link's share settings.
When should publications be submitted for a Critique Contest?
Critiques should be submitted prior to the published deadline to be eligible for the statewide contest. Publications submitted for critique after July 31, 2020 may still be judged, but will not be eligible for Keystone Award judging.
Critiques should be submitted prior to the published deadline to be eligible for the statewide contest. Publications submitted for critique after July 31, 2020 may still be judged, but will not be eligible for Keystone Award judging.
How much do critiques cost?
Each critique is $60.
Critiques are not a fundraiser for PSPA. We pay our professional judges, we handle mailings, and we handle all the turnaround on getting the feedback to you. We're an all-volunteer organization, so we keep this cost as low as possible--much lower than what we've researched for some other state and national organizations.
If you cannot pay for your critique prior to the July 31, 2020 deadline, you can still submit a critique request. Please submit your critique requests prior to the July 31, 2020 deadline, then submit payment when you have returned to school and/or the new fiscal year begins. We will invoice critique fees that are not paid by credit card when you submit a publication for critique.
We will not issue completed critiques or results until your critique fee has been paid in full.
Each critique is $60.
Critiques are not a fundraiser for PSPA. We pay our professional judges, we handle mailings, and we handle all the turnaround on getting the feedback to you. We're an all-volunteer organization, so we keep this cost as low as possible--much lower than what we've researched for some other state and national organizations.
If you cannot pay for your critique prior to the July 31, 2020 deadline, you can still submit a critique request. Please submit your critique requests prior to the July 31, 2020 deadline, then submit payment when you have returned to school and/or the new fiscal year begins. We will invoice critique fees that are not paid by credit card when you submit a publication for critique.
We will not issue completed critiques or results until your critique fee has been paid in full.
How are critiques scored?
Our critique service relies solely on our rubrics. We ask our judges to mark if an item is gold, silver, or bronze level work, and to provide substantial written feedback on the rubric criteria. Your publication does not compete against any other publication, only against the scorebook as printed. We provide three levels of awards as explained below.
All publications earning an overall GOLD AWARD will be sent to a different judge where your publication will compete against other GOLD AWARD publications to determine which will receive the Clyde F. Lytle All-State Keystone Award.
Item/Category Ratings
Overall Ratings
Our critique service relies solely on our rubrics. We ask our judges to mark if an item is gold, silver, or bronze level work, and to provide substantial written feedback on the rubric criteria. Your publication does not compete against any other publication, only against the scorebook as printed. We provide three levels of awards as explained below.
All publications earning an overall GOLD AWARD will be sent to a different judge where your publication will compete against other GOLD AWARD publications to determine which will receive the Clyde F. Lytle All-State Keystone Award.
Item/Category Ratings
- GOLD MARK - Earning a gold mark for an item means your publication has achieved at a level that is ABOVE STANDARD for that individual item or category as published in the scorebook.
- SILVER MARK - Earning a silver mark for an item means your publication has achieved at a level that is AT STANDARD for that individual item or category as published in the scorebook.
- BRONZE MARK - Earning a bronze mark for an item means your publication has achieved at a level that is BELOW STANDARD for that individual item or category as published in the scorebook.
Overall Ratings
- GOLD AWARD: publication consistently exceeds journalistic standards in terms of content, writing, design, and photography. The publication need not be perfect, nor need to represent state-of-the-art trends, but must exemplify high ideals of scholastic journalism. This publication is considered ABOVE STANDARD in most categories in the scorebook.
- SILVER AWARD: publication consistently demonstrates proficient level of understanding of the basic principles of journalism, but may have several problem areas which keep it from overall excellence. The publication may not have a distinct “personality,” or it may simply need to perfect its execution of a few problem areas. This publication is considered AT STANDARD in most categories in the scorebook.
- BRONZE AWARD: A BRONZE AWARD demonstrates an incomplete or inconsistent mastery of several journalistic concepts. Bronze awarded publications may demonstrate BELOW STANDARD levels in multiple categories.
Missed the critique submission deadline for this year?
Keep the summer deadline in mind for next year! The critique contest and Keystone Award program is a great way for your students to receive recognition for your programs. Preparing your submission for the critique contest can be a goal to work toward during your school year.
We may be able to critique late submissions in 2020, but any publications received after July 31 will not be eligible for Keystone consideration.
Keep the summer deadline in mind for next year! The critique contest and Keystone Award program is a great way for your students to receive recognition for your programs. Preparing your submission for the critique contest can be a goal to work toward during your school year.
We may be able to critique late submissions in 2020, but any publications received after July 31 will not be eligible for Keystone consideration.
