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Welcome to the 2026 National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest!
Enter the Professional Contest Enter the High School Contest
IWPA Professional Contest Director: Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas, mwolfastro@gmail.com
IWPA High School Contest Director: Joshua Friedberg, joshfrmusic@gmail.com
For Illinois submissions, the following fee structure applies per entry:
| Membership Status | 1st Entry Fee | Each Additional Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Member | $20.00 | $15.00 |
| Non-Member | $25.00 | $20.00 |
| Student | $10.00 | $10.00 |
* A one-time, $25 late entry fee is assessed to all professional contest entrants after the NOON January 21, 2026 deadline.
For the Illinois High School Communications Contest, the following deadline and fee apply per entry:
| Membership Status | Entry Fee | HS Contest Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Student | $10.00 | February 18, 2026 (NOON) |
Deadline Dates:
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Early Bird Deadline | January 21, 2026 (NOON) |
| Final Book Deadline | February 4, 2026 (NOON) |
| Final Deadline | February 18, 2026 (NOON) |
| Affiliate Judging Complete | March 16, 2026 |
| Winners must be members by | March 25, 2026 |
| National Judging Complete | April 22, 2026 |