Best in State winners are chosen from publications that receive All-Southern ratings and attend the SIPA convention.

Newspaper:
• Florida – Revolution, Freedom HS
• Georgia – Odyssey, Clarke Central HS
• North Carolina – Wingspan, West Henderson HS
• South Carolina – Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
• Virginia – Newsstreak, Harrisonburg HS

Yearbook:
• North Carolina – Westwind, West Henderson HS
• South Carolina – Legacy, Dutch Fork HS