Contest Edition: Announcements and Deadlines | February 2026

Contest judging comes early in 2026 due to partnership with PNMA-Sign-Up Today!

Thank you to those who participated as a judge for the 2025 Michigan Press Association contest! There were over 120 incomplete category assignments at the end of an extended deadline. In order to participate in the 2026 contest, you must have also provided at least one judge. Judging can take a few minutes up to a few hours and can always be shared with colleagues. More judges = lighter assignments. Many find it to be a great resource for content/story ideas, advertising and discovering new revenue streams.

Please submit at least one judge for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association

by clicking HERE.

PNMA Advertising Contest: Judging has started but only seven judges have signed up. They need 36.

PNMA Editorial Contest: Judging begins in March. They require 55 judges to fairly assign categories.

These are the number of other state members we use to assign judging for our contests also.

Thank you to all who participate in the contest as a reciprocal judge!

Contest Deadlines EXTENDED!

Due to technical issues, overlapping judging deadlines and generally hearing that our members need more time, we will extend the contest deadlines. We hope this helps alleviate some stress and will allow more of you to participate. Click HERE to view 2026 rules, registration and entry information on the contest site.

Information regarding the two cash prize awards is on the website as well. To answer some FAQs: Both awards are setup to receive entries in the contest editorial portal. They will be judged once by division (by PNMA judges). Then those winners will be judged in a second round by a panel of retired professors, publishers and editors, to determine the prize winners.

EXTENDED Editorial Deadline:

Monday, March 16, 2026

EXTENDED Advertising Deadline:

Monday, March 23, 2026

EXTENDED Magazine Deadline:

Friday, March 27, 2026

Important Dates:

2026 Contest Deadlines EXTENDED

Editorial: March 16

Advertising: March 23

Magazine: March 27

APA Journalism Foundation Student Internship Program

Currently taking applications from active member publications.

Deadline: Friday, April 3, 2026

Click HERE for more information or to apply.

Click the graphics above to learn more about the two newest AMA categories, each awarded with a cash prize!

Low-cost webinars that help media professionals develop new job skills, without leaving the office.

Click HERE to learn more

APA Boards elect officers and directors

L to R: Robert Bozeman, Teresa Woodruff, Jonathan Stinson, Jeff Martin, Darrell Sandlin

The APA membership elected directors and officers for both the APA and Foundation boards at its luncheon Friday, February 13 at the Downtown Embassy Suites in Montgomery.

Officers and Directors for the Foundation elected for the ’26-’27 board are: President, Jonathan Stinson (The Redstone Rocket); Vice President, Ashley Remkus (Alabama Media Group).

Directors for 1st Term: PJ Gossett (Journal-Record/Hamilton); Kaitlin Hopkins (The Messenger /Gadsden); Linda Stiefel (The Fort Payne Times-Journal.)

Directors for 2nd Term: Cindy Fisher (Selma Sun) Todd Stacy (Alabama Daily News); Stephanie Rebman (Birmingham Business Journal).

The APA board selected the following newspaper executives for 2026-2027: President, Robert Bozeman (Evergreen Courant); Board Chair, Teresa Woodruff (Moulton Advertiser); First vice president, Jeff Martin (Montgomery Independent); Second vice president, Brady Cox (East Lauderdale News)

Board members for even-number districts to serve a second two-year term: Eddie Dodd (The Abbeville Herald); Charles Whisenant (The Arab Tribune); Ashley Trice (Lagniappe).

For a first term on the APA board the members elected the following: Patrick Graham (The Mtn. Valley News); Christa Jennings (The Coosa Co. News); Nicole Smith (The Daily Mtn. Eagle);

John Allan Clark (Times-Standard Herald).

Board elections for both companies are held each year at the APA Winter Media Summit.

2026 Media Summit: In Case You Missed It

Click HERE to view Mollie's slides from her presentation and workshop. Free resources and tools to improve your presence and interactions in your community!