2026 GPA Better Newspaper Contest opens for entries Dec. 8

Members of Georgia Press Association can begin making entries to the Better Newspaper Contest advertising and editorial contests on Monday, Dec. 8, at the website www.newspapercontest.com/georgia. The deadline for making entries is Friday, Jan. 23. Contest rules can be downloaded from the contest website or below. They will be emailed to all publishers, editors and advertising directors in December.

Changes to note:

All daily newspapers will compete together.
A new advertising contest category, Best Magazine Ad, has been created.
A new editorial contest category, Sports Special Section, has been created.
A new award will be given by the Georgia Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities will be given.
A new award, the Center for Integrity in News Reporting Award of Excellence – Georgia, will be awarded, along with a $5,000 prize to one reporter.

All details about these changes are in the rules for each contest.

Please click the link to download the rules for the advertising contest:

GPA AD CONTEST RULES 2026

Please click the link to download the rules for the editorial contest:

GPA BNC Rules 2026

2025 Better Newspaper Contests Winners Announced!

Winners of the 2025 Better Newspaper Contest were announced at Georgia Press Association’s 138th Annual Convention on June 20.

Please click the link to the right to see the editorial contest presentation: 2025 BNC Awards Slideshow Compressed

Please click the link to the right to see the advertising contest presentation: 2025 Advertising Contest Show Compressed

Please click the link to the right to see the complete list of editorial awards: Better Newspaper Contest Press Release 2025.

Please click the link to the right to see the complete list of advertising awards: 2025 ADVERTISING AWARDS

This photo by Katie Goodale of The Augusta Chronicle was chosen by Illinois judges as the Photo of the Year. Photo of the Year is chosen from among all first-place contest photos. This photo won first place in Division A for sports photo.