Journalism Contest

Logo: SC GovernorŐs Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities

Sponsored by the SC Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities

We are no longer accepting entries for the 2012 Journalism Contest. The last day for submissions was February 1, 2012.

Winners will be notified once judging is complete and the winning essay will be posted on this website.

Information about the 2013 Journalism Contest will be announced in the fall of this year.

Eligibility • How to enter • Theme • Rules • Judging

Eligibility

To be eligible for the 2012 Journalism Contest, you

  • must be a South Carolinian 16 to 19 years old;
  • must not have entered a post-secondary school before March 1, 2012;
  • must be a high school junior or senior, or otherwise qualified to begin post-secondary education no later than the 2013–2014 school year.

You do not have to have a disability to enter.

How to enter


We are no longer accepting entries for the 2012 Journalism Contest.

2012 Journalism Contest theme

"Profit by investing in workers with disabilities"

Rules

  • Your article must address the theme: "Profit by investing in workers with disabilities." You should illustrate the point that workers with disabilities can make a tremendous impact in our nation’s workplace. Through employment, people with disabilities lead more independent lives, and their employers benefit from their skills and talents.
  • Your article should not exceed three pages.
  • Use correct grammar and sentence structure.
  • Observe journalism’s five W’s: Who, What, When, Where and Why.
  • Report about people with disabilities in language that focuses on their dignity, equality, individuality and ability.
  • For example, a disabling condition may or may not be handicapping. Use “disability” rather than “handicap.” Choose words that carry nonjudgmental connotations. Avoid using “victim,” “cripple,” or “wheelchair-bound.” Emphasize the uniqueness and worth of the whole individual by writing “a person who has a disability” or “a person who is deaf” rather than “a disabled person.”
  • Research disability issues and interview people with disabilities.
  • Resources can include your school library, the public library, the Internet and organizations that serve individuals with disabilities. Your local South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department office provides services that enable eligible citizens with disabilities to prepare for, achieve and maintain competitive employment.
  • Attribute all quotes, either within the body of the article or in footnotes.
  • Type your article on white, 8.5 x 11 inch paper. Double space.
  • Prepare a separate cover sheet with your name, age, grade, home address and telephone number. Also include your school name, school address, school telephone number and principal’s name.
  • Have your principal, teacher or sponsoring organization’s representative sign the cover sheet and indicate his or her title.
  • Have any individual you interview sign the cover sheet.
  • On the cover sheet, include this statement with your signature:
  • “I hereby confirm that the enclosed article submitted to the 2012 Journalism Contest is my own work. I wrote the article and conducted the research and any interviews (unless otherwise cited) used in the article.”

Previous winning essays are available for your reference. Although these are examples of successful articles, you are expected to use your own angle and writing style.

Judging

The contest is judged by a panel of professional journalists.

For more information

Call the SCVRD at 803-896-6503, or email us.