East Tennessee is defined as these counties, essentially from Crossville east to the North Carolina line:  Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union and Washington.

The GPC has been updated to add some categories in the broadcast and Internet divisions. For the complete list of categories, please click here. You may have more than one entry in a category, but unless it is a category that specifies multiple articles or segments in a single entry, each entry will consist of only one article and segment and will require its own entry form and fee.

The METHOD OF ENTRY has been expanded to allow either traditional delivery of hard-copy/CD/DVD entries or as electronic entries via e-mail. Please choose the method you prefer and follow the instructions below carefully.

The ENTRY FEE structure has changed. The first entry by members of SPJ (on record as of 2/01/13) will be FREE. Additional entries by members will be $25 each. The fee for non-members continues to be $25 for each entry. If you’re not currently a member, you may join SPJ HERE. (Please enter East Tenn Pro as your chapter.) SPJ members will receive the free entry for their personal work only.

Please note that the Horace V. Wells Jr. Award for Public Service may be entered by all media. Also, in addition to First, Second and Third places and Honorable Mention awards for all categories, the best entry out of all the First Place awards in all media will win the best-of-show Golden Press Card Award and a cash award of $100. (The judges have discretion not to make awards at any level if they deem no entry deserving.)

The deadline for material to be printed, aired or posted online is December 31, 2012.

The deadline for entering is March 22, 2013.

Here are the options for entry and payment.

A. Entry Methods (In all cases, the online entry form must be filled out and e-mailed per instructions.)

1. Electronic: Attach PDF of entry form along with print, audio or video file, or link to a hosting site, such as YouTube or Vimeo. Acceptable formats: Print: .pdf, .doc, .jpg (if .jpg entry is of article, please make sure text is large enough/clear enough to read). Audio: .mp3, .wav. Video: .avi, .mpg/.mpeg, .wmv, .mov. Send e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You should receive an e-mail acknowledging your entry’s receipt within two business days. If you do not receive the e-mail, please call Kristi Nelson at 865-342-6434 to verify that your entry was received. If entering Internet categories, please make sure the URL is on your entry form and send supporting materials as attachments.
2. Drop-off: Entries can be left with the front desk at the Knoxville News Sentinel, 2332 News Sentinel Drive near Western Avenue/Middlebrook Pike in Knoxville between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. Please mark envelope to the attention of Kristi Nelson, Editorial. Deadline for receipt is Feb. 28, 2012. Please enclose a copy of the entry form and your check, if applicable. Do not mail entries to this address.
3. Mail: Send entries to Kristi Nelson, 2406 Belt Road, Knoxville, TN  37920. Please enclose a copy of the entry form and your check, if applicable. The postmark or shipping date must be on or before March 22, 2013.

B. Payment Methods

1. Check: Make the check out to “ETSPJ” and mail to: GPC/Kristi L. Nelson, 2406 Belt Rd., Knoxville TN 37920.
2. Credit Card: We are using Square this year. You may use Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Type your credit card number, expiration date, security code and ZIP code on the entry form. If you prefer, for security reasons, you may email your security code, independent of your card number, to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Your entry form must be filled out online and submitted by March 22, 2013. If you are paying by credit card, please use the entry form.

The winners will be announced at an evening awards banquet Friday, May 17, 2013.

Entries are judged by members of an SPJ chapter in another state, and we will be judging their contest entries later in the year. If you are able to serve as judges for any categories, please contact GPC Chair Megan Venable Smith at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .