These are the deadlines for the 2025 NFPW Professional contest
- Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024 – Professional Contest entries must be published, printed or broadcast during these dates
- Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 – Contest opens
- Noon, Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025 – Deadline to submit entries without paying the $25 late processing fee
- Noon, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 – Final book deadline; book judging begins
- Noon, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 – Final contest deadline
- Midnight, Wednesday, Mar 12 – New Mexico contest judging ends
- Noon, Tuesday, Mar 25 – Membership deadline for first place winners to advance to national contest
- Tuesday, Mar 25 – New Mexico contest directors confirm entrants are members and advance affiliate entries to national contest
- Wednesday, Mar 26 – National judging begins
- Wednesday, Apr 23 – National judging ends
- June 2025 – National winners list is posted online with appropriate fanfare
- Saturday, Sep 13, 2025 – National winners honored at during NFPW’s annual conference in Golden, Colorado
These are the deadlines for the 2025 High School contest
- Feb. 1, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025 – High School Contest entries must be published, printed or broadcast during these dates
- Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 – NFPW high school contest opens
- Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 – Final contest deadline — noon in the submitter’s time zone
- Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 – At-large contest judging begins
- Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 – At-large contest judging ends
- Wednesday, Apr 23, 2025 – National judging ends
- Sep 13, 2025 – National winners honored at NFPW contest awards luncheon in Golden, Colorado