Policy on AI in KSPA Contests

As we continue to work towards creating the best environment for learning and growth for student journalists in Kansas, we have introduced measures to safeguard the integrity of KSPA contests from artificial intelligence.

This policy will apply to the Regional and State writing and visuals contests. 

Artificial intelligence performs very well when given a set of facts, quotes and descriptions. Generative AI synthesizes those elements well and can write in a journalistic style or create images that could pass for photojournalism. In that way, AI is perfectly suited to “cheat” on Regional or State Contests. 

KSPA’s goals remain the same: encouraging learning, providing feedback and developing journalists through competitions. The use of artificial intelligence by competitors would damage these goals. The use of artificial intelligence is prohibited in all KSPA contests.

During the course of submitting their entry, all Regional/State writing contest students will confirm that their contest entry is entirely composed of their own original work and was not aided by the use of AI. 

KSPA wants to ensure students in writing contests submit their best, original work. For that reason, students must complete their Regional/State writing entries in a supervised setting. Any school with State/Regional writing students must monitor the entirety of students’ work on the writing project and ensure that the projects are done without the assistance from other people or the use of unapproved websites, including artificial intelligence. This supervision does not apply to visual contests. 

When to proctor:

The KSPA adviser should arrange the proctored situation, whether during school/class, before school or after school. The window the 2025 Regional Writing Contest is Monday, Jan. 27 – Thursday, Jan. 30. 

Where to proctor:

The KSPA adviser can arrange for the proctored contest time to be in school or gather students in a location away from campus. KSPA will not provide local locations to proctor the contest. 

Who can proctor:

The adviser may proctor the contest themselves or ask for another school staff/faculty member to proctor. 

How to proctor:

During your time proctoring the contest, please be sure you have a clear view of all student screens. Those screens should only be accessing the following four windows: 

• KSPA website to access writing prompts
• Google Doc or Word Doc to type their entry
• Google Forms to submit their entry
• AP Stylebook Online (www.apstylebook.com) 

The entire entry must be completed in one “sitting” — students cannot visit the prompt and complete it later. Similarly, they cannot divide the time that they use to work on the contest during two different blocks of time. 

Students should not access artificial intelligence websites, such as ChatGPT. 

Students should only use screens that you can see, such as laptops and tablets. Students may not use their cell phones during the contest. 

Students are responsible for their independent work. Please do not help them with the creation and writing.