FLORIDA SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS
2008 CONTEST CATEGORIES
(For work in 2007)
Dec. 17, 2007
All categories are judged by circulation division. Entry forms here.
Please use the same form for online and Spanish-language categories.
* FSNE GOLD MEDAL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE: The FSNE Gold Medal for Public Service is awarded for work of meritorious public service by a newspaper through distinguished reporting, writing and presentation. The medals will be awarded in each of three circulation classes from among the First Place winners in the four top categories: Daily Deadline, Features, Investigative and Explanatory. All the judges participate in selecting the Gold Medal winners. The contest chairs shall report the three winners to the FSNE president. The names of the winners shall be kept confidential until they are announced at the conclusion of the Awards Ceremony. Newspapers do not enter in this category separately
WRITING CATEGORIES:
1. DAILY DEADLINE: Reporting and writing, by an individual or a team, under the pressure of a daily deadline that reflects thorough coverage of a single spot news event. Each entry is limited to coverage from a single day. Entries should include online components, which judges will consider as a key element. Lack of online material will not disqualify an entry, but judges will note its strength, weakness or absence. Include a list of URL links for online components. [Limit: 3 entries per paper]
2. FEATURES & ARTS WRITING: A story, or collection or series of not more than three stories, written by an individual or team reporting on trends, personalities, travel, lifestyles, arts, criticism or topics of human interest and not working on a daily deadline. The quality of writing, including a compelling narrative form and the use of telling details and color, will be the principal factors in judging. Entries should include online components, which judges will consider as a key element. Lack of online material will not disqualify an entry, but judges will note its strength, weakness or absence. Include a list of URL links for online components. [Limit: 3 entries]
3. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING: A story, or collection of not more than 10 stories on the same subject, prepared by an individual or a team and based primarily on original reporting (as opposed to the findings of others). Stories may appear on a single day, in a consecutive series or in occasional reports reflecting continued investigation and new findings. Important factors will be the quality of the reporting and the importance of the findings to the public. Entries should include online components, which judges will consider as a key element. Lack of online material will not disqualify an entry, but judges will note its strength, weakness or absence. Include a list of URL links for online components. [Limit: 3 entries]
4. EXPLANATORY REPORTING: A story, or collection of not more than 5 stories, written by an individual or a team, that enhances public understanding of a significant and complex subject, demonstrating a mastery of the subject, lucid writing and clear presentation. Entries should include online components, which judges will consider as a key element. Lack of online material will not disqualify an entry, but judges will note its strength, weakness or absence. Include a list of URL links for online components. [Limit: 3 entries]
5. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION: A story, or collection of not more than five stories, written by an individual or a team, that uses public records to shed light on an important community matter and to effect public policy change. Quality of reporting and writing will be considered along with the outcome or result of the reporting efforts. Entry may include supporting materials (explanatory note, follow-up stories) that demonstrate the results of the published work. [Limit: 1 entry]
6. BEAT REPORTING: Five stories, by an individual, that demonstrates mastery of a single beat, understanding, range of work, enterprise reporting and good writing. [Limit: 3 entries]
7. SPORTS: A story, or collection or series of not more than three stories, written by an individual who is reporting on sports. Entries may include trends, personalities and topics of human interest. Columns will not be considered in this category. [Limit: 3 entries]
8. BUSINESS: A story, or collection or series of not more than three stories, written by an individual who is reporting on business news. [Limit: 3 entries]
9. HEADLINE WRITING: Three to six news and/or feature headlines representing the work of a single editor. No team entries will be allowed, and no individual can enter more than once. Entries must include the headline and complete story. Submissions may be accompanied by one-paragraph descriptions detailing difficulty of count, deadline, or circumstances that would not otherwise be obvious. [Limit: 3 entries]
10. EDITORIALS: Three examples of unsigned opinion reflecting the institutional position of the newspaper and prepared substantially by the same writer. [Limit: 3 entries]
11. COLUMNS: Three general interest columns, other than criticism and sports, expressing the views of the individual writer. [Limit: 3 entries]
12. SPORTS COLUMNS: Three sports columns expressing the views of the individual writer. [Limit: 3 entries]
DESIGN/VISUAL CATEGORIES:
13. PAGE ONE DESIGN: Five front-pages, consisting of three required and two from any other editions during the contest year. The three required are Wednesday, Jan. 3, the inauguration of Gov. Crist; Tuesday, Jan. 9, UF Gators win second national football championship; and Tuesday, April 17, the Virginia Tech shootings. These dates are chosen to highlight coverage of a major spot news story or a planned news event. Judging will be based upon use of art, design and typography. Newspapers that didn’t publish on the required days may submit a letter and an alternate front page of their choosing. [Limit: 1 entry (constituting five front pages)]
14. NEWS DESIGN: Any News or Business page of the newspaper other than Page One. This includes special section covers and pages. One page constitutes an entry. Pages consisting substantially of photographs or infographics are not allowed. Double-trucks are permitted, in broadsheet or tabloid format. Judging will be based on use of art, design and typography, and appropriateness to the materials displayed. [Limit: 3 entries]
15. FEATURE PAGE DESIGN: Any Feature page of the newspaper. This includes special section covers and pages. One page constitutes an entry. Pages consisting substantially of photographs are not allowed. Double-trucks may be submitted, in broadsheet or tabloid format. Judging will be based upon use of art, design and typography, and appropriateness to the materials displayed. [Limit: 3 entries]
16. SPORTS PAGE DESIGN: Any Sports page of the newspaper. This includes special section covers and pages. One page constitutes an entry. Pages consisting substantially of photographs are not allowed. Double-trucks may be submitted, in broadsheet or tabloid format. Judging will be based on use of art, design and typography, and appropriateness to the materials displayed. [Limit: 3 entries]
17. EDITORIAL CARTOON: Judged for artistic ability, originality, understanding of subject, creativity and overall editorial impact. One cartoon constitutes an entry. [Limit: 3 entries]
18. NEWS GRAPHICS/ILLUSTRATIONS: Charted information, diagram, graph or illustration that effectively explains or tells a story. One graphic or illustration constitutes an entry. [Limit: 3 entries]
19. SPOT NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY: A photograph taken by an individual or a team in the course of daily coverage of a single, unplanned and unscheduled event. [Limit: 3 entries, 1 photo per entry]
20. FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY: A photograph taken by an individual or team on the same subject. Photographs must be unposed, reflecting superior story-telling quality. Respect for the dignity of the subject is important. [Limit: 3 entries, 1 photo per entry]
21. SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY: A photograph by an individual or team that increase understanding and appreciation for individual and team sports. Deadline or non-deadline. [Limit: 3 entries, 1 photo per entry]
22. PHOTO STORY: A series of up to 15 photographs presented together or as part of a series telling a single story. [Limit: 3 entries, 15 photos per entry]
SPECIAL CATEGORIES:
23. SPECIAL SECTIONS: Judged for design and content. One special section, which may include any content, constitutes an entry. [Limit: 3 entries]
24. INNOVATION THAT DRIVES PRINT AUDIENCE: This will honor journalistic excellence, by an individual or a team, devoted to readership growth in print. The entry can be a single effort or a portfolio, presented to the judges in visual, digital or text format. It should show innovation and impact on print audience growth. The judges will consider authenticity, information value, creativity and impact. Please explain in a cover letter the results that show print audience growth, and include any supporting material. [Limit: 1 entry]
ONLINE CATEGORIES:
25. INNOVATION THAT DRIVES DIGITAL AUDIENCE: This will honor journalistic excellence, by an individual or a team, devoted to readership growth online. The entry can be a single effort or a portfolio, presented to the judges in visual, digital or text format. It should show innovation and impact on audience growth. The judges will consider authenticity, information value, creativity and impact. Please explain in a cover letter the results that show online audience growth and include any supporting material. [Limit: 1 entry]
26. ONLINE BREAKING NEWS: News coverage presented during the first 24 hours after an event. May include stories, photos, graphics, multimedia, slideshows, galleries, etc. Entries must include URLs or screen shots. [Limit: 3 entries]
27. BLOG/ONLINE COMMENTARY: Individual or group blog or online commentary on a single theme that engages readers using information, commentary and multimedia effectively. (“Theme” is interpreted broadly: Local affairs, books, politics, sports team, opinion, etc.) Entries must include URL and screenshots or printouts of up to three individual days’ entries. [Limit: 3 entries]
28. ONLINE SLIDESHOW: Online photo slide presentation that effectively tells a single story. Award recognizes effective use of the medium. Entries must include URL. [Limit: 3 entries]
29. VIDEO: Video presentations from the newspaper’s Web site. This can be breaking news, feature packages or longer enterprise projects. Award recognizes creative and effective use of the medium to tell a story. Judges will look for innovative use of original content, storytelling, technical and journalistic quality, and value to the reader. Entries should include URL or a disk with the video in an .mov file. Entry may include supporting stories from the print or online publications for context. One video constitutes an entry; videos must not be longer than 10 minutes. [Limit: 3 entries]
30. MULTIMEDIA: Multimedia package from the newspaper’s Web site. This can be breaking news or a non-deadline subject. Package may include a mix of video, audio, slideshows, music, text, etc. Award recognizes creative and effective use of the medium to tell a story. Judges will look for innovative use of original content in a variety of formats, reader interaction, ease of navigation, value to the reader. Entries should include URL. [Limit: 3 entries]
SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER CATEGORIES:
All Spanish-language entries will be judged in a single division, regardless of circulation size and frequency of publication.
SL1. NEWS REPORTING: A selection of up to five news stories (or a single series), by an individual or team, that shows exceptional reporting and writing and highlights a significant impact in the community. [Limit: 1 entry]
SL2. SPORTS WRITING: A story, or collection or series of not more than three stories, written by an individual or team reporting on sports. Entries may include trends, personalities and topics of human interest. [Limit: 1 entry]
SL3. FEATURES WRITING: A story, or collection or series of not more than three stories, written by an individual or team reporting on trends, personalities, travel, lifestyles, arts, criticism or topics of human interest and not working on a daily deadline. [Limit: 1 entry]
SL4. DESIGN: Any page of the newspaper, including 1A. This includes special section covers and pages. One page constitutes an entry. Pages consisting substantially of photographs are not allowed. Double-trucks may be submitted, in broadsheet or tabloid format. Judging will be based upon use of art, design and typography, and appropriateness to the materials displayed. [Limit: 1 entry].
SL5. GENERAL EXCELLENCE: Publications will be judged on overall editorial quality and design across all sections. Three complete issues constitutes an entry. [Limit: 1 entry]
SL6. OUTSTANDING HISPANIC SUCCESS STORY: A story or profile, written by an individual or team, of an individual or organization that has made a difference in the local Hispanic community. [Limit: 1 entry]
SL7. OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINMENT SECTION: Sections will be judged on overall quality of content, writing, design and variety of coverage. Three complete sections constitute one entry. One of the sections may be a special section focused on a specific entertainment event or personality, rather than general entertainment news. Sections may be in broadsheet or tabloid format. [Limit: 1 entry]
|