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• What you need to know
• Detailed instructions on how to submit an entry
• Privacy Statement

Frequently Asked Questions

Things you need to know before entering

• Select “pay by check” and submit your entries.
• Send a check for the full amount to: SPJ NorCal, 44 Page St., Suite 504, San Francisco, CA 94102

• Select “pay by check” and submit your entries.
• Use PayPal to send the amount you owe to treas.spjnorcal@gmail.com.

Be sure your entry is in the correct format. Print stories and photographs should be submitted as PDFs.

Have all the links you need for online submissions.There should be links to audio and video. If you only have originals, email us at spj.excellenceinjournalism@gmail.com.

Stories must have been published between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, by a news outlet or individuals based in Northern California.

Deadline: Entries must be time-stamped by 11:59 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Sept. 27 , 2023.

Multiple entries: Only stories or projects entered in the Public Service, Best Scoop or Outstanding Emerging Journalist categories may also be entered in one other category.

Fee: $30 per entry for SPJ members*; $40 per entry for non-members; $10 per entry for students.
*To be eligible for the $30 member entry fee, you must be a member of both the SPJ national organization AND the SPJ Northern California chapter at the time-stamp of entry. Membership is good for 12 months, based on the date you joined. Chapter membership entitles you to free or reduced member admission to NorCal chapter activities, including awards dinners. See www.spj.org/join.asp to join SPJ and the NorCal chapter.

No refunds or cancellations on EIJ entries

Detailed instructions on how to submit an entry

After you register, you must follow these steps:

1. Provide Entry Information.
a) Choose the appropriate category & sub-category.
b) *Read* the instructions for each category & sub-category.
c) Enter high-level information about the entry and your media organization.
d) Click Continue.

2. Upload Entry Files
a) The instructions for the category & sub-category will be repeated at the top of this page. Follow them.
b) Upload any files.
Note that for audio & video we *prefer* links to the stories online. Only upload audio or video files if the stories are not available online. Note the 50 MB limit – and the file format limits (specified on the page). If you have a special circumstance, email us at spj.excellenceinjournalism@gmail.com.
c) When you are done, click Continue.

Note: If you are not ready to submit the entry, you may stop here. You will not be able to make changes once you have paid your entry fee. To return to your entry later and complete it, click “Your EIJ Awards Entries” in the menu bar at the top of the page.

3. Review & Add Entry to Cart
a) Review all the information on this page.
b) Click the orange “Add more files?” or “Edit your entry details” button if you need to make changes.
c) If the entry is ready to go, click the checkbox that says “This entry is in the correct category and all of the information I have provided is accurate.”
d) Click the orange “Add Entry to Cart” button.

4. Manage Your Cart
a) Click the orange “Checkout to Pay" button.
Note: If you don’t see that button, click “Your Cart” in the menu bar at the top of the page.

5. Provide Payment

• Select “pay by check” and submit your entries.
• Send a check for the full amount to: SPJ NorCal, 44 Page St., Suite 504, San Francisco, CA 94102

• Select "pay by check" and submit your entries.
• Use PayPal to send the amount you owe to treas.spjnorcal@gmail.com.

Privacy Statement

As an entity that acts responsibly, we work hard to make sure services are balanced with the appropriate level of privacy and security for our users. Our Privacy Principles help guide decisions we make at every level.

Make the collection of personal information transparent. We show users the information they input. We are transparent about the information we have collected from users and how we use that information to deliver our services. We will not sell your information elsewhere.

Be responsible with the information we hold. We recognize our responsibility to protect the data that users entrust to us. We take security issues seriously and keep information private.