ALL CONTENT MUST PROPERLY FOLLOW ALL COPYRIGHT LAWS, PRACTICES & POLICIES.
Online Multimedia Story
Schools will pre-submit up to two online multimedia stories per campus.
Students will submit up to two stories published on their school newspaper's website within the 2025-2026 Frisco ISD school year. The story can include text, photos, videos, and/or audio (no more than 1 minute long) and at least one additional layer of coverage that includes a sidebar, links to related resources, interactive reader features, etc. Students can use social media for the post as well. Video and audio used in the story should enhance the story content. Material should be clearly accessible and easy to navigate on their school’s SNO site.
Evaluation Standards:
Story Structure: Story is properly structured and formatted. It provides a comprehensive look at the topic/issue.
Grammar: Story contains proper grammar, spelling and capitalization.
Comprehensiveness: Story provides comprehensive look at the topic/issue.
Elements: Elements used to create engagement beyond the text of the story such as photos, videos, audio, hyperlinks, infographics, social media, etc. are used appropriately and enhance the story..
Accessibility: Material should be clearly accessible and easy to navigate. Stories should be published to campus SNO sites.
Ethical Standards: All items in the story should adhere to ethical standards and journalistic style (headlines, captions, copy).
General News Package
Schools will pre-submit up to two packages per campus. Total running time may not exceed 3 minutes. (time limit is met + or - three seconds).
A package is a prerecorded news story containing (usually) a reporter’s voice-over, videotaped b-roll shots and soundbites. A reporter intro and outro is required, but the student can choose to be on camera or not. The news package must be from the 2025-2026 Frisco ISD school year. Campuses must provide a YouTube Link for the package from their school-provided YouTube channel.
Evaluation Standards:
Story contains an engaging lead, takes a unique angle, and is effectively developed and well-structured.
Use of various videography techniques, including shot variety, proper composition, focus, camera and tripod movements, exposure and white balance.
Correctly framed and focused interviews with accurate lower thirds.
Audio is properly balanced with no distracting background noise and effective use of natural sounds.
Voiceover matches general broadcast etiquette (professional, enthusiastic, conversational tone).
Script and video complement one another to tell the story.
Include your campus’ outcue/sign-out.
Editing is free of glitches, jump cuts.
Sports News Package
Schools will pre-submit two packages per campus.Total running time may not exceed 3 minutes. (time limit is met + or - three seconds).
A package is a prerecorded news story containing (usually) a reporter’s voice-over, videotaped b-roll shots and soundbites. A reporter intro and outro is required, but the student can choose to be on camera or not. The sports package must be from the 2025-2026 Frisco ISD school year. Campuses must provide a YouTube Link for the package from their school provided YouTube Channel.
Evaluation Standards:
Story contains an engaging lead, takes a unique angle, and is effectively developed and well-structured.
Use of various videography techniques, including proper composition, shot variety, focus, camera and tripod movements, exposure and white balance.
Correctly framed and focused interviews with accurate lower thirds.
Audio is properly balanced with no distracting background noise and effective use of natural sounds.
Voiceover matches general broadcast etiquette (professional, enthusiastic, conversational tone).
Script and video complement one another to tell the story.
Include your campus’ outcue/sign-out.
Editing is free of glitches, jump cuts.
Anchor Reads
Schools will enter a max of two submissions for this category. Total running time may not exceed 60 seconds (time limit is met + or - three seconds).
Students will compete in delivering single anchor reads using provided content prompts. Students will record the anchor read submission, and they will enter them into the competition via this link by the designated date of March 13, 2026. Students should create their anchor read incuding information from a minimum of TWO of the articles linked below:
Article #3: https://www.friscoisd.org/departments/summer-camps/home
Evaluation Standards:
Judges will look for accuracy of facts, balance, news style, an interesting lead, transitions between points.
Script contains no bias/reporter opinion and paraphrases with proper attribution.
Script has an effective closing, correct grammar, and overall structure.
Scripts should be well timed and written in broadcast style.
Contestant delivers the information with strong inflection, diction and enunciation.
Contestant on-camera presence should be professional and poised in manner.
Social Media Promo/Sports Highlight Video
Schools will enter two entries per campus. Only individual student submissions. No team submissions will be accepted. Total running time may not exceed 1 minute (time limit is met + or - three seconds).
Students will submit a sports highlight video or social media promo that aired or was produced and published within the 2025-2026 Frisco ISD school year. Campuses must provide a social media or YouTube link for the promo/video.
Evaluation Standards:
Storytelling: The theme and message is consistent throughout the video with good pacing.
Video Quality: Well-lit, clear visuals, smooth camera work, variety of shots. Traditional and creative composition proper used to aide storytelling.
Audio Quality: All audio elements used are relevant well balanced and complement the visual storytelling.
Editing & Creativity: Smooth transitions, effective pacing, balanced color grading, appropriate use of effects.
Legal & Ethical Standards: All content adheres to copyright laws and policies.
Audience Engagement/Entertainment Segment
Schools will enter two entries per campus. Total running time may be between 1-3 minutes (time limit is met + or - three seconds).
Students will submit a audience engagement/entertainment segment that was aired within the 2025-2026 Frisco ISD school year. Campuses must provide a published link to the video.
Evaluation Standards:
Technical expectations may vary based on the type of video submitted, however, the following will cover most videos:
Video Quality: Well-lit, clear visuals, smooth camera work, variety of shots and composition proper used.
Audio Quality: Clear dialogue, balanced audio levels, no distracting background noise, effective use of music and sound effects (as applicable).
Creativity: Unique concept, strong storytelling, visual style, engaging graphics and on-camera presence.
Editing: Smooth transitions, effective pacing, balanced color grading, appropriate use of effects.
Legal & Ethical Standards: All content adheres to copyright laws and policies.
Narrative Short Film
Schools will enter two entries per campus. Total running time may be between 1-7 minutes (time limit is met + or - three seconds).
Students will submit a narrative short film that was produced and published within the 2025-2026 Frisco ISD school year. Campuses must provide a published link to the film.
Evaluation Standards:
Technical expectations may vary based on the type of video submitted, however, the following will cover most videos:
Storytelling: The story contained strong character development and a well-structured plot to create a resonating narrative.
Video Quality: Well-lit, clear visuals, smooth camera work, variety of shots. Traditional and creative composition proper used to aide storytelling.
Audio Quality: All audio elements used are relevant well balanced and complement the visual storytelling.
Editing & Creativity: Smooth transitions, effective pacing, balanced color grading, appropriate use of effects.
Legal & Ethical Standards: All content adheres to copyright laws and policies.
Documentary Photo (Photojournalism)
Schools will enter two individual entries per campus. Submitted photos should be a resolution of 1200 x 1800 pixels with a (300 dpi).
Students will submit photos that tell the best story from a moment or event during the 2025-2026 school year. The photos should be captured as a candid and display proper exposure, white balance, composition and focus. The photos should include a proper caption written in the ABCD format.
Evaluation Standards:
Technical expectations may vary based on the type of photos submitted, however, the following will cover most photo:
Storytelling: The photo tells a great story of what happened in the moment or summarizes the experience of an event. It contains emotion and color.
Photo Quality: The photos contain proper exposure, white balance and focus.
Composition: The photographer applied composition elements properly to make the center of visual interest clear.
Caption: The caption was written in the correct ABCD format without any factual, grammatical, capitalization or spelling errors.