[These are the categories that the Smedias had in 2015. While they will be largely the same for subsequent years, categories are subject to change and may be added or removed from year to year.]
Print Journalism
Publication
NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the newspaper that sustains the highest quality of journalism, editorial standards, production values and overall professionalism despite budgetary and other limitations.
Submit three (3) issues of the newspaper published since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your three (3) articles, behind your form. Your articles can be mounted on A4 pages.
MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR
Awarded to one publication produced either as a once-off (e.g. rag mag) or regular publication. Open to any magazine.
Submit three (3) issues (except in cases where the publication is a once-off) published since April 1st, 2014. Printed copies not PDFs please.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, secure your three (3) submissions together with elastic bands or string.
SMALL COLLEGE OR SOCIETY PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the best newspaper, magazine or society publication produced by a Small College or Society. Applications for small college publication, are only acceptable from colleges with 4,000 full-time students or less. Society Publication applications are open to any society publication.
Newspapers: submit two issues of the newspaper published since April 1st, 2014.
Magazines and society publications: submit two (2) copies – except in cases where the publication is a once-off, submit one (1) copy – published since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, secure your two (2) or one (1) newspapers or magazine together elastic bands or string.
LAYOUT AND DESIGN OF THE YEAR
Open to any publication produced in student media, awarded for innovative and intelligent creativity in design and layout.
Submit three (3) issues (except in cases where the publication is a once-off then one (1) copy will suffice) published since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, secure your three (3) or one (1) submissions together with elastic bands or string.
INDIVIDUAL
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the best student journalist of the year reporting on news and current affairs. This can include campus, national and international news. Judges will be looking for an ability to dig out original information and present it with imagination and style.
Submit three (3) articles published in student media since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your three (3) articles, behind your form. Your articles can be mounted on A4 pages.
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR-IRISH (IRISEOIREACHT SCRÍOFA)
Awarded to the best student journalist of the year reporting on Irish news and current affairs. This can include Irich campus, national and international news. Judges will be looking for an ability to dig out original information and present it with imagination and style.
Submit one (1) article published in student media since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your one (1) article, behind your form. Your articles can be mounted on A4 pages.
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – NATIONAL PRESS
This award is open to students who have managed to get their work published in the national press during the academic year.
Submit two (2) articles published in the national press since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your two (2) articles, behind your form. Your articles can be mounted on A4 pages.
FEATURES WRITER OF THE YEAR – NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS
Awarded to the best student features writer of the year covering news and current affairs. This can include campus, national and international news. Judges will be looking for analytical skills and a fluent and compelling writing style.
Submit three (3) articles published in student media since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your three (3) articles, behind your form. Your articles can be mounted on A4 pages.
FEATURES WRITER OF THE YEAR – ARTS & POP CULTURE
Awarded to the best student features writer of the year writing about the arts or pop-culture. Judges will be looking for entertaining, stylish, authoritative criticism, which offers a fresh, illuminating view of a performance, film, album or popular cultural topic. Submit three (3) articles published in student media since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your three (3) articles, behind your form. Your articles can be mounted on A4 pages.
COLOUR WRITER OF THE YEAR
This is awarded to the finest writer of features with a particularly satirical slant and distinctly humourous tone. Imagination and wit are key.
Submit three (3) articles published in student media since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your three (3) articles, behind your form. Your articles can be mounted on A4 pages.
Editor of the Year
Awarded to the editor of any publication to show commitment, enthusiasm and editorial insight as reflected by the publication.
Submit three (3) issues published since April 1st, 2014.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, secure your three (3) newspapers together elastic bands or string.
SCIENCE EDUCATION WRITER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the writer producing the most consistently high quality science education publications over the course of the year.
Submit a minimum of one (1), maximum of three (3) articles published in student media since April 1st, 2014. Please don’t send torn pages from the newspaper with jagged edges and all. Please paste them on A4 paper. The Judges are people you want to impress.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your article(s), behind your form. Your articles can be mounted on A4 pages.
Sports Writer of the Year
Awarded to the journalist producing the most consistently high quality sports writing over the course of the year.
Submit three (3) articles published in student media since April 1st, 2014. Please don’t send torn pages from the newspaper with jagged edges and all. Please paste them on A4 paper. The Judges are people you want to impress.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your three (3) articles, behind your form. Your articles can be mounted on A4 pages.
Short Story of the Year (*Can be group publication also)
Awarded to the most original, well-written work of short fiction. Applications can include published or unpublished material. Every applicant is however restricted to just one entry. Entry requirements: A hard copy or you can email your story to us in word format to smedias@oxygen.ie Please note you must still send in your application form. Stories should not exceed 4,000 words.
* Rules for submission: Post in your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket. If you email your entry, please state that on the entry form.
Radio
Production
RADIO PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR – ARTS & FEATURES
Awarded to the best radio production covering the arts, culture and entertainment. This can include magazine shows, comedy programmes, drama, non-news documentary, arts coverage, interviews and all other arts, culture and entertainment shows. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student radio.
Submit one (1) episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since April 1st 2014. Acceptable format: CD.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) CD, behind your form.
RADIO PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR – NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS
Awarded to the best radio production covering news and current affairs. This can include news broadcasts, panel discussions, interviews and other news and current affairs related shows. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student radio.
Submit one (1) episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since April 1st, 2014. Acceptable format: CD
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) CD, behind your form.
Radio Documentary of the Year
Awarded to the best radio documentary production. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student radio.
Submit one (1) episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since April 1st, 2014. Acceptable format: CD
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) CD, behind your form.
IRISEOIREACHT TRÍ GHAEILGE (RAIDIÓ)
Awarded to the best radio production through Irish. This can include news broadcasts, panel discussions, interviews, music show, and other news and current affairs related shows. Can be produced for broadcast on student, local or national radio but must not be for paid work or professionally assisted.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) CD (episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since April 16th, 2014, behind your form.
Individual
Radio DJ(‘s) of the Year
Awarded to the student(s) who present the best music show broadcast on student radio. The show may also include chat and / or interview but some element of music is essential. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student radio.
Submit one (1) show, or montage of shows (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since April 1st, 2014. Acceptable format: CD
* May apply as duo or group DJ’s
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) CD, behind your form.
Radio Journalist of the Year
Awarded to the best student radio journalist of the year reporting on news and current affairs. This can include campus, national and international news. Judges will be looking for an ability to dig out original information and present it with imagination and style. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student radio.
Submit one (1) show, or montage of shows (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since April 1st, 2014. Acceptable format: CD
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) CD, behind your form.
TV or Film
Visual
The RTE2 New Voices Award
RTE TWO are looking for new, young presenters who add to the diversity in Irish broadcasting, in a way that more accurately reflects contemporary Irish life. In particular, RTE TWO is interested in groups and individuals are who currently under-represented in Irish broadcasting.
Click here for more!
TV Production of the Year
Awarded to the best student TV production of the year. This includes news, arts, and entertainment shows. Must be produced expressly for broadcast on student or campus television.
Submit one (1) episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since April 1st, 2014. Acceptable format: DVD.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) DVD, behind your form.
Short Film of the Year
The Short Film of the Year will be awarded to the film that shows the greatest imagination and production values despite budgetary and other limitations.
Students work may be shot on film, digitally or on video, but all work must be submitted in DVD format.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) DVD, behind your form.
LÉIRIÚCHÁIN TEILIFÍSE I NGAEILGE – FAISNÉIS AGUS DRÁMAÍOCHT
Awarded to the best Drama or Documentary Television Production in the Irish language. Submit one (1) episode, or montage of episodes (maximum 1 hour), broadcast since April 1st, 2014. Acceptable format: DVD.
Obviously, all entries in this category are to be in Irish. No Bearla please!
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) DVD, behind your form.
Written
Film Script of the Year
Awarded to the most original, well-written, imaginative script showing the most insight to the cinematic form. Scripts may be filmed or unfilmed at time of submission.
Script should be formatted as a film script and submitted as a hard copy (paper).
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your script, behind your form.
Photography
News Photographer of the Year
Awarded to the photographer best capturing news events and current affairs on camera. The work should either have been published in the student press OR be the work of a full-time student, in which case the work can be unpublished, but of publishable quality. This should not be confused with photographer of the year.
Submit three (3) prints. Photocopies or newspaper reproductions will not be accepted. Prints to be no larger than A4 size.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your three (3) photos, behind your form.
Sports Photographer of the Year
We’re looking for the most dynamic, creative and technically impressive pieces of the year. It doesn’t need to have been published, you just have to be a full-time student.
Submit three (3) prints. Photocopies or newspaper reproductions will not be accepted. Prints to be no larger than A4 size.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your three (3) photos, behind your form.
Photographer of the Year
Awarded to one individual for an outstanding sample of photography produced since April 1st, 2014. The judges will be looking for excellence in composition, subject matter and for startling images.
This category should not be confused with news photographer of the year. The work should either have been published in the student press OR be the work of a full-time student, in which case the work can be unpublished, but of publishable quality.
Submit three (3) prints. Photocopies or newspaper reproductions will not be accepted. Prints to be no larger than A4 size. Submit three (3) photos of variety, different subjects, themes, etc.
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place your three (3) photos, behind your form.
Web
Blog/Vlog (Video Blog) of the Year
The award for Blog/Vlog of the Year will be presented to the third level student who combines incisive writing, creative use of images and design, and regular output to build a compelling blog. Or to the third level student who combines creative and insightful ideas, into distinguished video blogs.
* Rules for submission: Submit the URL. (Write it clearly on your application form). The blog must have a minimum of 10 posts by closing date for entries.
WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the best maintained, frequently updated, user-friendly and informative website. Students’ Union sites, clubs and societies homepages and college news sites all welcome.
Entry requirements – Submit the URL. (Write it clearly on your application form)
* Rules for submission: Post in your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket. Please state the URL of you submission on your entry form.
Web Designer of the Year
Awarded to the designer of the most innovative, exciting and entertaining student website of the year. Where website of the year is about clearly and easily imparting information, web designer of the year is more about exploring the possibilities of new media technologies. Judges will be looking for programming skill, visual flair and imagination. The website cannot have been designed for commercial gain, but class projects, personal websites, flash [etc] cartoons and online games are all accepted.
Entry requirements – Submit the URL. (Write it clearly on your application form)
* Rules for submission: Post in your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket. Please state the URL of you submission on your entry form.
Animation
Short Animation of the year
Awarded to the best animation created by a student in Ireland since April 1st, 2014. Finalists will be shown on the night and hosted on the oxygen.ie website. Must be produced expressly as part of a student project or for student broadcast.
Entries must be under 3.00 in length and submitted on DVD!
* Rules for submission: Place your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket, place one (1) DVD, behind your form.
Other
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
To enter, post in your application form as per all categories and email a pdf of one entire issue of your publication to events@studentmarketingnetwork.ie with ‘your name and people’s choice’ as the subject line. It has to have been published since April 1st 2014.
The winner will be chosen by vote on www.oxygen.ie
* Rules for submission: Post in your entry form (downloaded and filled in from the website) in an A4 clear plastic pocket. In the subject line of your email state your ‘name and People’s Choice’ (for eg. John Smith People’s Choice) on the form.
The Road Safety Authroity Award for Journalism on Road Safety
Awarded to any form of media, be it written, published or broadcasted on television, radio, internet or otherwise; highlighting the issue of Road Safety in Ireland. Please note that in the case of print entries you need only submit one (1) written sample.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION AWARD
”What the European Commission means to me”
The EU in my county
Awarded to the best article on the topic “The EU in my county“. Articles need not have been previously published but if they have it must have been in a student publication.
The EU in my county “is a written competition.
Entries must be in English and must not be more than 750 words.
Only one entry per student is allowed and the work must be the students’ own.
The deadline for receipt of entries as per the Student Marketing Network rules.
Please take a look at the competition rules here