[Skip to Content]

APEX 2026 Categories

Writing / Type of Media

  1. Feature Writing
  2. Regular Departments & Columns Enter a single best column/department or a series of up to 3.
  3. Interviews & Personal Profiles
  4. Writing Series Enter up to 3 articles.
  5. News Writing
  6. Editorial & Advocacy Writing Includes letters to the editor.
  7. How-To Writing

Writing / Topics

  1. Health & Medical Writing
  2. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  3. Technical & Technology Writing
  4. Mental Health & Wellness
  5. New Technology
  6. Investments, Financials, and Crypto Personal finance, markets, retirement, cryptocurrencies.
  7. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  8. History & Biography
  9. Nutrition / Fitness / GLP-1 Diet, training, weight loss, GLP-1 coverage.
  10. Academic Research
  11. Home & Lifestyle
  12. Military
  13. Agriculture

Magazines, Journals & Tabloids

  1. Print (Long) Entire issue, over 32 pages plus cover.
  2. Print (Short) Entire issue, up to 32 pages plus cover.
  3. Writing Entire issue judged on writing.
  4. Design & Layout Entire issue judged on design.
  5. Electronic Includes Web & PDF magazines.
  6. Custom-Published
  7. Magazine Series Up to 3 issues on one topic/theme.
  8. 1–2 Person-Produced One or two people do most copy, editing, layout.
  9. Most Improved Submit “Before” and “After” issues dated 1/1/25+.

Electronic Media

  1. Video Media
  2. Podcasts
  3. Electronic Publications Web, PDF, eBooks, and similar formats.
  4. Education & Training / Special Purpose
  5. Multimedia Interactive and non-interactive multimedia.
  6. Apps & Games Native or web apps and games with editorial or educational purpose.

Campaigns, Programs & Plans

  1. Financial & Investment Includes retirement topics.
  2. Employee & Benefit Communications
  3. Marketing & Public Relations
  4. Public Service Government, nonprofit, and corporate programs.
  5. Special Purpose
  6. Special Events & Meetings Includes conferences.
  7. Advertising Campaigns
  8. New Products / Services Launch
  9. Age-Specific Marketing Senior Citizens, Gen X, Gen Z, Youth, etc.
  10. Cost-Efficient Projects Ex: Independent/self-produced efforts or small teams on a shoestring budget
  11. Sports Marketing

Design & Illustration

  1. Design & Layout
  2. Covers
  3. Photography Single photographs, photo illustrations & photo spreads
  4. Infographics
  5. Best Redesigns Enter a "Before" and "After" 1/1/26
  6. Posters, Displays & Calendars Includes signage & exhibits
  7. Spreads
  8. Print Ads & Advertorials
  9. Logos & Graphics

Newsletters

  1. Online & Email Ex: Substack
  2. Writing Entire Issue
  3. Print Entire Issue: Content & Design
  4. 1–2 Person-Produced One or two people do majority of copy, edit, and layout
  5. Design & Layout Entire Issue

Print Media

  1. Employee & Benefit Materials
  2. Books
  3. Special Purpose
  4. Catalogs, Directories & Guides
  5. Meeting & Event Materials Includes Conferences

Websites

  1. Websites Entire site, including content and design.
  2. WordPress Sites Sites created or hosted with WordPress.
  3. Special Purpose
  4. Health & Medical
  5. Most Improved Submit “Before” and “After” dated 1/1/25+.
  6. New

Social Media / Content Creation

  1. Social Media Sites Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
  2. Best Single Blog Post
  3. Best Series of Blog Posts Up to 3 posts on a single topic/theme.
  4. Special Purpose
  5. Long Form Video e.g., YouTube (≈5+ minutes).
  6. Short Form Video e.g., TikTok, Reels.
  7. Streaming

One-of-a-Kind Publications

  1. Political / Government
  2. Association / Nonprofit
  3. Print
  4. Electronic
  5. Custom-Published

Annual Reports

  1. Electronic Includes Web and PDF.
  2. Print (Long) Over 32 pages plus cover.
  3. Print (Short) Up to 32 pages plus cover.
  4. 1–2 Person-Produced One or two people do majority of copy, editing, layout.

Workplace Skills & Development

  1. Webinars & Presentations
  2. Education & Training
  3. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  4. Continuing Education / Certification
  5. Dashboards & Data Visualization Dashboards, charts, and infographics in workplace settings.
  6. Accessibility & Compliance

Current Events & Trending Topics

  1. Climate & Environmental Sustainability
  2. Health & Medical
  3. Domestic Policy & Issues
  4. Social Issues Women's Rights, Civil Rights, etc.
  5. Economic Issues
  6. International Issues
  7. Infrastructure / Utilities