Higher Goals Categories

New for 2026

610 Visual Storytelling: The entire digital presentation of a story or collection of related stories including editorial content, use of multimedia elements (video, audio, social media integration, animation, etc.), and user experience.

Categories that require hard copy entries to be mailed to Nashville:

507 Photography Use – Print (two consecutive issues)
514 Publication Design (two consecutive issues)
515 Publication Redesign (1 issue after redesign and 1 issue prior to redesign)
702 Single-Theme Section or Issue
511 Cover (optional to mail, but recommended if your cover’s physical features warrant it)

The categories in Higher Goals are:

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Editorial

401 Article Series: Multiple original articles on a topic from two or more consecutive issues (not a regular column or feature). Maximum 5,000 words combined.

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness of research and sources

402 Biblical Exposition: Any original article with the biblical or theological treatment of a doctrine or Scripture passage.

Judging Criteria: Clarity | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness of research

403 Critical Review: An original review of book(s), video and movies, drama, music and concerts or other media.

Judging Criteria: Critical perceptivity | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Informs about subject | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Reviewer’s subjective response

404 Department: Regular section with a recurring title, with one or more writers. Submit from two consecutive issues. Maximum 5,000 words combined.

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness

405 Devotional: An original inspirational biblical or spiritual piece to aid spiritual growth, with application. May be part of a series.

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Emotive impact | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice)

406 Editorial: Any opinion piece written by an editorial staff member.

Judging Criteria: Cogency of arguments | Critical perceptivity | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Quality of writing (including style/voice)

407 Evangelism: An original article to Christians meant to help believers learn to share the gospel more effectively.

Judging Criteria: Faithfulness to the Gospel | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Motivational effectiveness | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice)

408 Fiction: An original short story (including a parable).

Judging Criteria: Believable characters | Believable conflict | Credible resolution | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Quality of writing (including style/voice)

409 First-Person Article: Autobiographical account.

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness

410 Freelance Article: Articles in this category must be entered by a freelance writer who is an EPA Associate member. The article must have appeared in an EPA member publication or, if published in a non-EPA publication, it must have a faith-relevant theme. (Publication members are not eligible to enter this category.)

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness

411 General Article – Short: Any original nonfiction article with a word count of 900 or less.

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness

412 General Article – Intermediate: Any original nonfiction article with a word count between 901 and 1,600.

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness

413 General Article – Long: Any original nonfiction article with a word count between 1,601 and 3,500.

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness

414 Humorous: An original fiction or nonfiction article or editorial using humor to communicate.

Judging Criteria: Effectiveness of humor | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Imagination | Perception shown | Quality of writing (including style/voice

415 Interview Article: An original article based on in-depth interviewing (can be a Q-and-A or use direct and indirect quotations).

416 Personality Article: An original biographical account, either historical or contemporary.

417 Poetry: A single original poem.

Judging Criteria: Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Language use | Perceptiveness | Rhythm/metre | Tone and theme

418 Reporting: Any news story originating with the publication.

Judging Criteria: Fairness/objectivity | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness of research and sources

419 Standing Column: A regular column under a recurring head by one or more authors. (Submit columns from two consecutive issues.)

Judging Criteria: Critical perceptivity | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Well-expressed opinions

420 Student Writer of the Year: An original article by an undergrad student writer and published in an EPA member publication. (Entered by publication.)

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness

Design & Photography

501 Cartoon: A single original cartoon (or panel, or cartoon in comic book format) not illustrating an article.

Judging Criteria: Originality | Draftsmanship | Design | Concept | Impact

502 Original Art – Digital/Mixed Media: Original illustration based on or incorporating photographic elements. May include special use of type.

Judging Criteria: Composition | Technique | Appropriateness to context | Clarity of communication | Impact for reader

503 Original Art – Traditional: Original non-photographic illustration. (May be a cartoon illustrating an article. May include use of type.)

Judging Criteria: Composition | Technique | Appropriateness to context | Clarity of communication | Impact for reader

504 Single Photo – Candid: Original photo of subject acting naturally or spontaneously in uncontrolled lighting and conditions.

Judging Criteria: Impact | Composition | Creativity | Technique | Appropriateness for context

505 Single Photo – Controlled: Original photo (not stock) of subject posed in situation with controlled lighting and other conditions.

Judging Criteria: Impact | Composition | Creativity | Technique | Appropriateness for context

506 Photo Feature: Text and photography for a single article originating with the publication.

Judging Criteria: Impact | Design/layout | Creativity | Technique | Text-photo coordination

507 Photography Use – Print (2 consecutive issues): The use of photography for the publication as a whole. Submit two consecutive issues by mail. (Restricted to Print members.)

Judging Criteria: Overall impact | Overall technical quality | Artistic success of images | Cohesiveness of photos within layout | Fit with publication purpose

508 Photography Use – Digital: The use of photography for the website or digital publication as a whole. (Restricted to Digital members.)

Judging Criteria: Overall impact | Overall technical quality | Artistic success of images | Cohesiveness of photos within digital presentation | Fit with publication purpose

509 Table of Contents: Overall concept and design that includes blend of typography, text, photo, and/or illustration.

Judging Criteria: Organization and layout | Creativity and style | Skill of execution | Aesthetic appeal | Typography

510 Typography and Lettering: Use of typography and/or lettering to enhance communication and appearance. Can be a single page, a spread or an entire article.

Judging Criteria: Creativity | Skill and execution | Appropriateness to context | Impact and communicative power | Use of color (including black)

511 Cover: A single cover, which must use the publication name. (Open also to digital members who produce a digital publication with a cover.) (You have the option to mail in submission if physical nature of cover warrants review.)

Judging Criteria: Skill of execution | Creativity | Aesthetic appeal | Typography (including logo) | Communicative power

512 Infographic: The visualization of a concept or narrative that relies on a compilation of statistics, imagery, visual data and minimal text, designed to communicate a topic quickly and clearly.

Judging Criteria: Creative approach | Informative and practical | Clarity of information | Accurate data representation | Visual design

513 Two-Page Spread Design: Graphic presentation that includes blend of typography, text, photo, and/or illustration (Submit as a single image of the spread, not two separate files).

Judging Criteria: Use of space | Creativity/aesthetic appeal | Use of art and photography | Design and typography | Appropriateness for context

514 Publication Design (2 consecutive issues): The graphic presentation of editorial content of the publication. Submit two consecutive issues by mail. (Restricted to Print members.)

Judging Criteria: Graphic vitality | Graphic execution | Continuity and pacing | Distinctiveness | Appropriateness for content

515 Publication Redesign: For significant design change. Submit hard copy of one issue with the new design, plus the corresponding issue from the previous year by mail. (Restricted to Print members.)

Judging Criteria: Improved graphic vitality | Improved execution | Improved continuity/pacing | Improved distinctiveness | Improved fit with content

Digital (Print members are not eligible to enter digital categories unless they hold a dual print/digital membership)

601 Blog: Single Post: A single blog post from a website serving exclusively as a blog. Can be from a clearly identified blog hosted on a publication’s or organization’s website.

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Use of imagery/emotion

602 Blog: Website: A complete blog website authored by one person or a group of individuals. Can be hosted on a publication’s or organization’s website, but must be clearly identified as a blog.

Judging Criteria: Design/Use of imagery/Aesthetic appeal | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization/navigation/mobile responsiveness | Quality of writing (including style/voice)

603 e-Newsletter (2 consecutive issues): A digital newsletter informing people united by interest in a subject or organization.

Judging Criteria: Design/Use of imagery/Aesthetic appeal | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Idea (timeliness, appeal, takeaway value) | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice)

604 Website design: Overall aesthetic appeal and usability of a content-driven website.

Judging Criteria: Aesthetic appeal | Use of graphic elements | Organization/navigation | Usability/mobile responsiveness | Page load times

605 Podcast: Single Episode: A single audio program (episode) presented as a broadcast version of editorial content.

Judging Criteria: Originality of treatment | Effective development of topic | Cultural relevance | Clarity of thought | Production quality

NEW 606 Video Podcast—Single Episode: A single video program (episode) presented as a broadcast version of editorial content.

Judging Criteria: Originality of treatment | Effective development of topic | Cultural relevance | Clarity of thought | Production quality

607 Social Media Video – 3 minutes max: A single video that tells a story in 3 minutes or less. May contain a CTA, but cannot be marketing or self-promotional throughout.

Judging Criteria: Script (messaging) | Production (lighting, sound, music, graphics, video quality) | Performance (acting, speaking, presentation) | Creativity/Uniqueness | Impact/cultural relevance

608 Short-form Video – 3 to 15 minutes max: A single video that tells a story or shows an interview in 3 to 15 minutes. May contain a CTA, but cannot be marketing or self-promotional throughout.

609 Long-form Video – 15 to 60 minutes max: A single video that tells a story or shows an interview in 15 to 60 minutes. May contain a CTA, but cannot be marketing or self-promotional throughout.

610 Visual Storytelling (NEW): The entire digital presentation of a story or collection of related stories including editorial content, use of multimedia elements (video, audio, social media integration, animation, etc.), and user experience.

Judging Criteria: Creativity | Quality of writing | Quality of multimedia content used | Visual design | Quality of integration between multimedia elements and story

Other

701 Feature Article: The entire multi-page presentation of a single feature article, including editorial content, related sidebars, title, use of imagery, overall design.

Judging Criteria: Design/use of imagery (photos, graphics, illustrations) | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Thoroughness of coverage

702 Single-Theme Section or Issue: In-depth treatment of a single topic with multiple articles, including editorial content, related sidebars, title, use of imagery, overall design. This can be a multi-page section within an issue or the entire issue. Submit entire issue by mail. (Restricted to Print members.)

Judging Criteria: Design/use of imagery (photos, graphics, illustrations) | Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Titles

703 Titles: Enter three feature story titles that powerfully draw readers into each story. Submit entire article for each title.

Judging Criteria: Creativity | Relevance to the story | Audience appeal | Typography & Design

704 Cause of the Year Article — Faith & Technology: Any original article with a central theme of Faith & Technology.

Judging Criteria: Grammar/punctuation/sentence structure | Organization and flow | Quality of writing (including style/voice) | Relevancy to topic | Thoroughness of research and sources

705 Cause of the Year Illustration/Photo — Faith & Technology: Any original illustrative artwork or photo with a central theme of Faith & Technology.

Judging Criteria: Composition | Technique | Appropriateness to context | Clarity of communication | Impact for reader

Updated November 2023