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Photography Categories

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Entries for photography categories must be submitted as J.Pegs. 

 

All photographs must be the entrant’s original work and must have been taken between 1 January and 31 December 2023.


The manipulation or adjustment of digital files are subject to strict rules outlined in more detail under competition rules.

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ENTRY FEES

Non-Members: £50 per entry per category.

SJA Members: £20 per category.

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DIVERSITY

The SJA recognises the historical under-representation on the British Sports Journalism Awards shortlists of women journalists; Black journalists; journalists from diverse ethnic communities; and journalists with disabilities. In an effort to address this, entry fees will be waived for journalists from these under-represented groups who do not have an employer willing to underwrite their application.

 

Entry fees will be waived if you meet one of the following criteria: 


I confirm that I am from a non-white ethnic minority and do not have an employer willing to underwrite my application.
 

I confirm that I am female and do not have an employer willing to underwrite my 
application.
 

I confirm that I have a disability under the terms of the Equality Act 2010 and do not have an employer willing to underwrite my application. 

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MEMBERSHIP

Not an SJA member? – Join the SJA for the annual membership fee of £30.

Members receive discounted entry fees to the awards as well as many other benefits, for more information visit: https://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/membership/

 

 

FREELANCE

Freelance: Entry fees for freelancers are £50 in total (£20 for SJA Members) no matter how many categories they enter. The number of categories any one entrant can enter still apply. 

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If you enter as a freelancer and win, you will only be credited as a freelancer. If you require a newspaper or agency to be credited, entry fees of £50 per entry per category (£20 if SJA member) will apply, and the name of the newspaper or agency must be stated on the entry form at time of entry. An employer cannot be credited retrospectively.

CANON SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

The Ed Lacey Trophy is awarded to the photographer who, in the opinion of the judges, has been the overall best sports photographer of 2023 and has demonstrated an outstanding range of photographic skills. This will be judged on submitted entries into the categories listed below.

 

All other awards are subject to entered submissions which ore our panel of judges.

CANON PORTFOLIO

To consist of 10 photographs representing a variety of sports and a range of photographic disciplines at a variety of sports events. Photographers can only enter one portfolio into this category.

SPECIALIST PORTFOLIO

To consist of 10 photographs of one particular sport, showing a range of photographic disciplines. Photographers can submit two portfolios from different sports into this category and this will be counted and charged as two entries. 

FOOTBALL PORTFOLIO

To consist of 10 photographs from football showing a range of photographic disciplines. Entries to this category cannot be entered into Specialist Sports Portfolio.


Photographers can only enter one portfolio into this category.

PICTURE

This category is judged as the outstanding single picture. Photographers can enter up to three pictures in this category, this will be counted as one entry. 


Entries to this category cannot be entered into Sports News Picture.

NEWS PICTURE

This category is judged as the outstanding single picture that best illustrates a sports news story of 2023. Entries to this category cannot be entered into Sports Picture. Photographers can enter up to three pictures in this category, this will be counted as one entry.

YOUNG SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER

This category is open to photographers aged 25 or under on 31 December 2023. 


Previous gold winners are not eligible to enter. Entries must consist of 5 photographs representing a range of photographic disciplines. Portfolios can consist of photographs from just one sport or multiple sports. Photographers can only enter one portfolio into this category.


Note: The cost of entering this category is at the reduced rate of £20 regardless of SJA membership.


Note: The winners of the Young Sports Photographer category will be announced prior to the awards ceremony via the SJA website. The winners will receive a complimentary ticket to attend the event on Monday 25 March 2024.

COMPETITION RULES

  • All entries must be submitted and paid for via the online entry system: 
    www.BritishSportsJournalismAwards.co.uk

  • Entry into the competition implies acceptance of the rules. 

  • Failure to comply with any of the rules may result in disqualification.

  • The organisers retain the right, within the context of the competition and related promotions, to reproduce articles, photographs or broadcast material, or to give permission for the reproduction without any payment or fee. 

  • The decision of the judges will be final. 

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Photography rules

  • Entries for photography categories must be submitted as JPEG. There is no limit on the number of photographers that a newspaper, magazine, agency or website may enter in any category.

  • All photographs must be the entrant’s original work and must have been taken between 1 January and 31 December 2023.
    Photographers must be UK based

  • Judges reserve the right to move pictures from the portfolio categories into the Picture and News Picture categories for consideration

  • By entering you declare that you are a professional photographer and the pictures you are entering are your own work and were taken in 2023. 

  • Entries can be colour or black and white or a combination of both. 

  • The manipulation or adjustment of digital files are subject to the following restrictions: the original structure of a digital image (scan or digital camera file) may not be altered except by the equivalent of traditional darkroom techniques such as brightness, contrast, basic colour adjustment, spotting, dodging and burning. The use of photo enhancement software to create ‘drama’ or HDR style 
    to images is not acceptable. No other changes of the original digital file or part of  it are acceptable. Composite photographs, multiple exposures, the removal of image content are also excluded from the competition. 

  • Prior to the shortlist being announced shortlisted photographers may be asked to provide original JPEG files of their shortlisted entry. 

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Photography Rules
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