The Best in Indiana Journalism awards, sponsored by the Indiana Professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, considers all journalistic work printed, broadcast or published online in Indiana.
This year, all entries must be submitted by mail and must be postmarked by January 31, 2012.

• Nominations are accepted from news organizations or individuals.

• Nominees need not be members of the Society of Professional Journalists.

• All entries must have been published or broadcast during calendar year 2011. A series of stories must have started publication or broadcast in 2011.

• An individual or organization may enter as many stories as desired, including multiple entries for one category. Exceptions: In the Personal Column category, three columns comprise one entry, and only one entry per person is allowed. In the Television Newscast category, each station is allowed only one entry.

• In most categories, the award recognizes a single piece of work, such as a single story, photo or design. The category descriptions note cases in which multiple pieces of work are required or allowed.

• Stories may be entered in only one category, and work submitted in the Student Division may not be submitted in the Professional Division. Exceptions: Work submitted in the Special Honors Division may be entered in the Professional or Student divisions. Work submitted for a design award may also be entered for a print award. Work submitted for a videography award may also be submitted for a television award.

• No first-place winner will be awarded when judges consider none of the work submitted to be worthy of the award. The Special Honors Division is particularly selective, and those awards will be presented only to exceptional nominees.

Please also see the brochure for additional rules and specific criteria for each category.