Membership Categories for Publications

Publications that join the Evangelical Press Association are identified by category — a loose term that groups similar publications together. The only time the category classification really matters is during the annual “Awards of Excellence” contest, because publications in a given category compete with one another for EPA’s top publication prize.

Most of EPA’s categories are defined by a publication’s purpose, but several are based on format.

Here are EPA’s membership categories, with a brief definition of each:

Campus: A print publication produced by students— generally a newspaper or magazine. Advisers of these publications gain active membership in Advisers of Christian Collegiate Media (ACCM).

Christian Ministry: A print publication that serves workers in Christian education, churches, or other ministries.

Denominational: A general print publication serving as the official voice of a sponsoring denomination.

Devotional: A print publication offering daily devotional readings and Bible studies to inspire readers

General: A print publication that is not the voice of organizations or denominations.

Higher Ed: An institutional print publication that is the official voice of a college, university, or seminary.

Missionary: A print publication with a theme of evangelism (home and/or international)

Newsletter: A timely print publication informing people united by interest in a subject or organization.

Newspaper: A newspaper-format print publication, often serving a geographical area with timely news.

Organizational: A print publication that is the official voice of a group other than a denomination

Youth: A print publication intended for youth audiences up to college-age.

Campus (Digital): A digital publication or content-driven website produced by students. Advisers of these publications gain active membership in Advisers of Christian Collegiate Media (ACCM).

Christian Ministry (Digital): A digital publication or content-driven website that serves workers in Christian education, churches, or other ministries.

Denominational (Digital): A digital publication or content-driven website serving as the official voice of a sponsoring denominations.

Devotional (Digital): A digital publication or content-driven website offering daily devotional readings and Bible studies to inspire readers.

General (Digital): A general interest digital publication or content-driven website that is not the voice of organizations or denominations.

Higher Ed (Digital): A digital publication or content-driven website that is the official voice of a college, university, or seminary.

Missionary (Digital): A digital publication or content-driven website with a theme of evangelism (home and/or international).

Newspaper/News Portal (Digital): A digital news publication, news portal, or content-driven website often serving a geographical area or organization with timely news.

Organizational (Digital): A digital publication or content-driven website that is the official voice of a group other than a denomination.

Youth (Digital): A digital publication or content-driven website intended for youth audiences up to college-age.

If you have a question about your publication’s classification, or wish to propose a change to one of the existing category definitions, send e-mail to: director@evangelicalpress.com