HEADLINE CONTEST
Recognize the best headline writing across print and digital media. Submit your work or help evaluate entries from across the industry.
About the contest
The ACES Headline Contest recognizes headlines that stand out for clarity, originality, and effectiveness.
Entries are evaluated on:
- How well the headline reflects the story
- Its voice and originality
- Its ability to capture attention
Entries come from national, regional, corporate, and student publications.
Winners are announced each year at ACES VCON, the annual virtual conference.
Key dates
- Eligible work: April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026
- Submission deadline: May 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
- Judging: Summer 2026
- Winners announced: September at ACES VCON
Enter the contest
If you’re submitting work, here’s how the process works from start to finish.
Start here
You can enter in one of two ways:
- As an individual
Submit headlines written or edited by one person.
→ You’ll submit 5 headlines - As a staff
Submit headlines created by multiple editors from the same organization.
→ You’ll submit 8 headlines
You may submit one portfolio per person or per staff.
What to prepare
Each submission is a portfolio of headlines.
- All headlines must have been published between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
- A single entry can include:
- Main headline
- Subheads
- Decks
- Summaries
- Jump heads
If they belong to the same story, they count as one entry.
How to format your submission
- Submit each headline as a PDF.
- Print: export from the original page file.
- Digital: use print-to-PDF.
You can:
- Crop the page to show only the relevant content.
- Or include the full page (you must indicate which headline should be judged).
What judges need to see
- Include enough of the article for the headline to make sense.
- Full text is not required, but context must be clear.
- Photos and captions may be included and will be considered.
File naming rules
All files must follow this format. Incorrectly labeled entries will be disqualified.
Individual entries
LastnameFirstname_Category_Date (YYYYMMDD)
Example: StipeMichael_CategoryC_20260331
Staff entries
LastnameFirstnameCompany_Category_Date (YYYYMMDD)
Example: StipeMichaelREM_CategoryS_20260331
Notes
- Company names may be abbreviated
- Use numbers if needed for multiple entries
Example: StipeMichaelREM2_CategoryS_20260331
Fees
Individual entries
- ACES members: Free
- ACES student members: Free
- Nonmembers: $50
- Student nonmembers: $20
Staff entries
- Standard: $50
- Student: $25
Categories
Choose the category that best matches your audience.
Each category accepts both individual and staff entries.
Category A: National media organizations
Audience is national or not limited to a specific region.
Category B: Regional or local media organizations
Audience is limited to a city or region.
Category C: Industry, corporate, or nonprofit content
Content created for a specific audience, not the general public.
Category S: Student media organizations
Content created entirely by students.
Submit your entry
Upload all PDFs through the submission form.
Deadline: May 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Make sure your files follow the required naming format before submitting.
Prizes
Professional individual
- 1st place: $300 and a plaque
- Honorable mention: Certificate
Student individual
- 1st place: $125 and a plaque
- Honorable mention: Certificate
Staff entries
- 1st place: Plaque
- Honorable mention: Certificate
Become a judge
Help evaluate entries and recognize the best headline writing across the industry.
Why take part
Judging gives you a close look at how editors across different organizations approach headline writing.
You’ll:
- Review real submissions from across the field.
- Compare different editorial approaches and styles.
- Take part in selecting the year’s top work.
Requirements
- Judges are selected from a volunteer database.
- You may not judge a category where you or your coworkers have entries.
Timeline
- Judging takes place over the summer.
- Winners are announced in September at ACES VCON.
Questions
Please direct inquiries to info@aceseditors.org. We welcome your questions and suggestions.