The SPJ D.C. Pro chapter honors outstanding journalism with its annual Dateline Awards. Here are answers to some frequently-fielded questions, as well as a few inside tips to make submitting easier.
General Guidelines
- You don’t have to be an SPJ member to apply to the Dateline Awards. Journalists based in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are eligible.
- Work that is entered must be of local interest (specific to the contest region) or about the workings of Washington, D.C. and the greater metro region (Northern Virginia and Maryland), for a wider audience.
- More than 18 categories exist across seven divisions. Read the full descriptions here.
- If you are a correspondent for a media outlet or publication outside the D.C. metro area, you may qualify to enter the Correspondent Award competition. This is a category for distinguished coverage of the Washington area by a correspondent based here, whose work is published or broadcast for an audience outside the Washington, D.C., area.
- The Robert D.G. Lewis Watchdog Award is awarded to one finalist pulled from all submissions, whose entry best exemplifies journalism that protects the public from abuses by those who would betray the public trust. Judges pick this award from existing submissions. It includes a cash award of up to $1,000.
- Entries cost $32, which includes a $2 processing fee. PayPal and credit card are the only forms of payment accepted.
- You can submit in multiple categories (series and commentary, for instance) as long as they are different stories.
Submission Tips
Like many SPJ chapters, the D.C. Pro chapter uses the Better Newspaper Contest platform to manage its contest.
Helpful briefs are below, but you can also download this PDF with step-by-step instructions on using the BetterBNC portal.
When it comes time to submit, you’ll find a whole list of categories under each division, and they each have their own number code. Sometimes the amount can feel overwhelming, so we’ve created this PDF that breaks down each division and the categories under each.
Entries are not assigned to judging until the end of the contest, so you can create your profile, submit your pieces, and return to edit and refine your entries prior to the contest close. You enter the contest at https://betternewspapercontest.com/DCDatelineAwards. Once you press the “Enter the Contest Here” button, choose “Open Call Contestant Login” at the bottom left of the pop-up box.
- If you’ve applied to the SPJDC’s Dateline Award contest since 2016, you already have a profile in the system. Use the “Forgot Password” link if you’ve forgotten your password. If you’ve changed organizations or emails, you can create a new profile, or contact the contest manager to update your information in the system.
- If you’re new to the BNC platform, you’ll need to create a profile for your submissions. While you’re waiting for official approval to the system, you can still enter your submissions in the system. They will automatically be added to the entries once your profile is approved.
Navigate to the “My Contests” page using the “Open Call Contestant” choice at the top menu. Choose the “2026 Washington, D.C., SPJ Dateline Awards” under the pick-list that appears to be entered in this year’s contest.
Use “Manage Entries” to submit entries.
You can submit your clips in PDF files, or via links. If the media organization website has a paywall, please enter sign-on information in the “Comments” field on the submission form so judges can access the clips.
You will see a confirmation page upon submission: this is your official confirmation that your submission was received. You will not receive an email confirmation, so please screenshot this page if you’d like to retain a copy for your records.
After you’ve submitted your work, you still need to pay for your entries. To do this:
- Click the blue “Calculate Entry Fee” at the top right of the screen.
- Select the pieces with their associated entry fees by clicking the check box(es) under the column heading, Select Entries to Pay.
- Scroll until you can choose the “Check out with PayPal” option at bottom. PAYPAL is the only accepted form of payment.
- Process through the PayPal sign-in process.
- You will see a confirmation page after you’ve paid for your entries. Please print this screen for your records: there is no automated email receipt.