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The rules, categories and other details about the 2020 contest are included below.
Online Entry
The Nevada Press Foundation sponsors the Awards of Excellence and uses an online entry and judging system hosted by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
The main contest page is betternewspapercontest.com, where contestants go to submit their entries digitally. Seven categories still require hard copies to be mailed but even those must be registered on the contest website. Note that for most categories, the entry may have been published in print or online.
The website will open for entries on April 17. NPA will also email to previous participants a PDF with information about the contest and an interactive entry tally sheet. You can also download a copy of the interactive tally sheet here and use it to keep track of your entries.
The deadline for entries is Friday, May 29.
Details
Contest dates: All entry material must have been published originally between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020. Entries are limited to regular and affiliate NPA members who have paid 2020 dues. If your publication is not a member and you are interested in joining, please contact NPA. Individuals may also enter work published in NPA-member publications (see “Open Call”).
Deadline: To qualify, entries must be posted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 29. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by that same date.
Address: Nevada Press Foundation, 102 N. Curry St., Carson City, NV 89703
Questions? Contact Richard Karpel or Nora Carrick at 775-885-0866 or rkarpel (at) nevadapress dot com.
Fees: The fee is $9 per entry received by May 22, and $10 per entry received after May 22. Payment must be received before entries will be judged. Please make checks payable to the Nevada Press Association.
Results: Winning entries will be announced around Labor Day and the order of finish will be presented at the 2020 NPA Convention and Awards Banquet, which is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26 in Pahrump.
Groups
- Urban — News organizations that serve the Las Vegas or Reno metro areas
- Rural — News organizations that serve rural areas of the state
- Magazines
(Note: News organizations that wish to compete against larger publications may “move up” to Urban even if they’re largely rural.)
Mail-in Categories
Complete the entry information online, as you would any other entry. After it has been submitted, print the entry label generated by the website and attach it to your mail-in entry. Mail or ship the entries to the Nevada Press Foundation at 102 N. Curry St., Carson City, Nevada 89703
Entry Preparation
You may first want to visit the Better Newspaper Contest site to view a tutorial of the entry process.
You must use a current version of Firefox or Chrome to access the contest site.
Click on “Contestant Login” on the navigation bar at the top of the page. You will see a screen like the one below. Note that the “file tab” at the top left defaults to “Contestant Manager”.
Choose the 2020 Nevada Press Awards of Excellence from the menu in the “Select a Contest” list. Then select your media organization from the drop-down list .
LOGIN
If you used the system in 2019 and you were the Contestant Manager, your password should be the same. If you’ve forgotten the password, click the “Forgot Password” link and the website will email you a reminder. If you need help, contact us at admin (at) nevadapress dot com.
If you are logging in for the first time, use the default password contained in the instructions in the bottom right corner of the first page of the Call for Entries we emailed to your news organization. The first person from your organization to log in should be the Contestant Manager, who will coordinate entries for your publication. Once you’ve logged in, change the password and enter your email address. The Contestant Manager can register Authorized Entrants from the same news organization, who will then be able to submit entries as well.
- After you log in, click the “Submit Entry” link on the left side of the page below the “Welcome to the BNC” message.
- Select the Division in the drop-down menu on top. (The categories are organized by Division — i.e., General, Visual, Advertising, etc. — as noted in the list of categories below.)
- Select the Category you want to enter.
- Complete the “Headline or Title of Entry”. If you are entering a single story, use the headline for the story that appears on the PDF or web link you are submitting. For other kinds of entries, use a general description of what you are entering as the title.
- Go to the “Next Step”. If you are uploading content, click the “Browse” button and navigate to the desired file on your computer or network. Select Open and then Upload. Please keep file sizes under 3 MB.
- If you have more content to upload, click the “Browse & Attach More Files” link and repeat the process described above.
- If you are using web links instead of, or in addition to, uploading content, you can enter them in the fields marked “Paste URL/Link here”.
- Scroll down on the page to add Credits and Comments. (NOTE: If your site requires a login and password for judges to get past a paywall, register a generic profile on your website and include the password and other login details in the Comments field.)
- Click Submit. Continue to the next entry. DON’T FORGET TO CLICK SUBMIT!
- After completing all of your entries, you can pay online or you can use the interactive tally sheet included with the Call for Entries that was emailed to your news organization. Just print out the tally sheet and send it along with payment to the Nevada Press Foundation.
The system will keep track of the entries you have submitted even after you log out. They will be listed on your “Manage Entries” page.
When you have finished submitting all entries, please email us at admin (at) nevadapress.com so we can begin to confirm your entries.
Contest Categories
GENERAL
#1 GENERAL EXCELLENCE (mail-in only)
Entries should reflect the best of Nevada print journalism. All entries must be complete copies without preprint ad inserts. Submit two copies of four issues, one from each of the following calendar periods:
- April 1-June 30, 2019
- July 1-Sept. 30, 2019
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2019
- Jan. 1-March 31, 2020
Note: For newspapers with weekend or Sunday issues, at least two (2) of the entries must be from weekday editions. We want judges to see more examples than just your Sunday efforts.
#2 OUTSTANDING JOURNALIST
Recognizes outstanding service and performance to the profession of journalism. Entrants may come from any segment of the newsroom. Each nomination must include four samples of the nominee’s work, along with a brief resume and brief descriptions of his or her journalistic achievements during the contest period. Limit of two entries per news organization. There will be only one winner in each Group in this category, i.e., no second- or third-place winners.
#3 JOURNALIST OF MERIT
Designed to encourage journalists with less than five years of reporting experience to stick with journalism. It’s our way of saying, “You have a future in this profession.” Entrants may come from any segment of the newsroom. Limit of two entries per news organization.
Must submit a brief resume of the nominee as well as written statements about his or her journalistic achievements. Each nomination must be accompanied by four samples of the nominee’s work during the contest year. There will be only one winner in each Group in this category, i.e., no second- or third-place winners.
#4 COMMUNITY SERVICE
Rewards work that has a lasting, positive impact in the community. The work may take the form of a series of stories or photos, an editorial crusade, a marketing campaign focused on an important local issue, or some other manifestation of community-oriented service, and it must be related to a single project, drive or campaign. We encourage you to submit a letter of explanation, especially if the work itself does not contain evidence of its community impact. Limit of two entries per news organization.
#5 STORY OF THE YEAR
Recognizes the best story published in Nevada during the period of competition. May be a single story, a main story and sidebar, or a series on a single subject. Articles entered in this category may be entered in other categories as well. There will be only one winning entry in this category, i.e., no second- or third-place winners. Limit: No more than eight articles per entry will be accepted.
#6 BREAKING NEWS REPORTING
Entries consist of a single story or multiple stories published over a period of 24 hours, with the focus on coverage of a specific event in print and on the web. No series. Entries may include articles, sidebars, graphics, video, audio, slideshows, interactive features or other components of breaking news.
DO NOT SUBMIT stories with a separate PDF for each page. To learn how to combine them, search on the phrase “combine PDFs into single document”.
#7 FEATURE WRITING
Entries consist of a single story or a main story published together with a sidebar. No series. Entries should have a human-interest focus. Entertainment, lifestyle and health or general-interest features and profile/interviews may be entered in this category.
#8 NON-STAFF STORY
Entries consist of a story or series written by an individual who is not an employee of the publication. Entries may be news or feature-oriented, but may not be opinion columns. (See #15 for Non-Staff Column.) Limit: No more than eight articles per entry will be accepted.
#9 BUSINESS SPOT NEWS STORY
Entries consist of a single story or a main story published together with a sidebar, with the focus on breaking news relating to commercial issues. Entries may include sidebars, graphics, video, audio, slideshows, interactive features or other components of breaking news.
#10 BUSINESS FEATURE STORY
Feature story about commerce in general or about a particular business or business person. Entries consist of a single story or a main story with sidebar.
#11 EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM
Reporting that illuminates an important and complex subject, and demonstrates mastery of the subject. Entries consist of a single story, a main story with sidebar or a series that explains in depth an issue of significant importance to the community. Limit: No more than eight articles per entry will be accepted.
#12 NEWS FEATURE STORY
Entries consist of a single story or main story and sidebar that expands on a breaking news event or analyzes its impact on the community.
#13 INVESTIGATIVE STORY
Reporting on a single subject that reflects investigative enterprise. May be a single story, a main story and sidebar or a series. If the story leads to further developments, you may submit additional reporting published after the end of the contest year attesting to its impact. A letter of clarification may be submitted. Limit: No more than eight articles per entry will be accepted.
#14 LOCAL COLUMN
Entries consist of three columns written by the same columnist. The column must appear regularly and be written by an employee of the news organization. Limit of one entry per columnist.
#15 LOCAL NON-STAFF COLUMN
Entries consist of three columns written by an individual who is not employed by the news organization. The columnist must reside in Nevada (or California for publications in that state) and the column must appear at least monthly. Limit of one entry per columnist.
#16 SPORTS SPOT NEWS STORY
Entries consist of a single story or a main story published together with a sidebar, with the focus on breaking sports news. Entries may include sidebars, graphics, video, audio, slideshows, interactive features or other components of breaking news.
#17 SPORTS FEATURE WRITING
Entries consist of a single story or a main story with sidebar focused on human interest in sports or recreation.
#18 LOCAL SPORTS COLUMN
Entries consist of three columns written by the same columnist. Must be a sports column that appears regularly in the sports section and is written by an employee of the news organization. Limit of one entry per columnist.
#19 ENTERTAINMENT WRITING
Entries consist of three pieces by the same writer on subjects pertaining to the arts, entertainment or other leisure activities. Pieces may consist of any combination of advances, columns, features or news stories. Limit of one entry per writer.
#20 CRITICISM
Entries consist of three pieces of criticism, review or essay, not including editorials or news columns. Limit of one entry per writer.
#21 FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Writing and reporting promoting the principles of the First Amendment and the public’s right to know. Entries may consist of stories, editorials, columns, video and/or audio files, or any other manifestations of journalism. Must also include a letter of explanation describing the work and its impact in the community. Limit: No more than eight pieces in an entry. Award will be presented to a news organization, not an individual.
#22 EDITORIAL OF THE YEAR
Recognizes the best unsigned, house editorial expressing a news organization’s institutional opinion. One editorial per entry. Please indicate on the entry who wrote the editorial. There will be only one winning entry in this category, i.e., no second- or third-place winners.
#23 EDITORIAL WRITING
Entries consist of three samples of editorial writing by the same writer. No personal columns; only unsigned editorials expressing a news organization’s institutional opinion. Please indicate on the entry who wrote the editorials. Limit of one entry per writer.
#24 EDITORIAL PAGE (newspapers only)
Recognizes the best opinion page published in a newspaper in Nevada. Submit four editorial pages, one from each of the following calendar periods::
- April 1-June 30, 2019
- July 1-Sept. 30, 2019
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2019
- Jan. 1-March 31, 2020
Must indicate in a letter of explanation the content that is generated locally. Limit of one entry per newspaper.
#25 HEADLINE WRITING (newspapers only)
Entries consist of three separate headlines written by the same writer or editor. Each entry must include full news pages and/or web articles that clearly indicate the headlines being submitted, and must identify the name of the writer or editor. Limit of one entry per writer or editor and five entries per news organization.
#26 SPECIAL SECTION – EDITORIAL (newspapers and mail-in only)
Entries consist of a special edition or section created and distributed by a newspaper with emphasis on the editorial content. Does not include regular weekly publications such as TV books, real-estate sections, entertainment magazines, etc. Submit two complete copies of the section. Limit of two entries per newspaper.
#27 SPECIAL PROJECT (mail-in only)
Entries consist of a book, calendar, special edition or other special project produced separately from the regular publication schedule. Submit two copies of the project. Limit of two entries per publication.
VISUAL
#28 OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Entries consist of three examples of excellence in graphic design, incorporated in a page layout, original graphic, illustration or other design element created by an individual or design team. For instance, three illustrations by the same artist would qualify as one entry. Two page layouts and an illustration would also qualify as one entry. Limit of one entry per designer or team and two entries per news organization. There will be only one winner in each Group in this category, i.e., no second- or third-place winners.
#29 OUTSTANDING VISUAL JOURNALIST
For photographers, videographers and other journalists who report the news visually. Entries must include four to six samples of the nominee’s work along with a brief resume and brief descriptions of his or her journalistic achievements. Individual photos, photo essays and website slide shows each represent one sample of a nominee’s work. Limit of two entries per news organization. There will be only one winner in each Group in this category, i.e., no second- or third-place winners.
#30 OVERALL DESIGN (mail-in only)
Recognizes design excellence in print publications. Entries consist of complete issues without preprint ad inserts. Submit two copies each of four issues, one from each of the following months: May 2019, August 2019, December 2019 and March 2020. (Magazines published quarterly may submit Spring, Summer and Fall issues from 2019, and the Winter issue from 2020.) Limit one entry per publication.
#31 PAGE ONE DESIGN / COVER DESIGN
Recognizes design excellence in print publications. Entries consist of four examples of a newspaper’s front page, or a magazine’s cover design. Limit one entry per publication.
#32 EDITORIAL CARTOON OF THE YEAR
Recognizes the best original opinion-oriented cartoon created for a publication by a staff member or freelancer. No syndicated cartoons. Entries consist of a single cartoon. Limit: Four entries per cartoonist. There will be only one winning entry in this category, i.e., no second- or third-place winners.
PHOTOGRAPHY
#33 NEWS PHOTO COVERAGE
Entries consist of a photo or photos from a single news event, even if the photos were taken by different photographers.
#34 FEATURE PHOTO
Entries consist of a photo or photos illustrating a single story that is not directly related to a specific breaking news event. Photos should have a storytelling quality or contain unusual elements. No portraits.
#35 MULTIPLE-PHOTO ESSAY OR GALLERY
Single subject addressed primarily through the use of two or more photos, with accompanying text being a secondary consideration. Entries consist of a complete photo essay or photo gallery. Regular news or feature stories that just happen to include multiple photos are not eligible to compete in this category. Photos submitted cannot be directly related to a breaking news event. Entries may include photos taken by more than one photographer.
#36 PORTRAIT
Entries consist of a single photo of a person or a small group of people.
#37 PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
Photo enhanced through digital effects for the purpose of illustrating a specific article, feature or theme. Entries must include a single photo illustration and a letter of explanation describing the changes made to the original photograph. No commercial photos.
#38 SPORTS PHOTO
Entries consist of a single photo of a sports-related event. No portraits.
#39 PHOTO OF THE YEAR
Recognizes the best photo published by a news organization in Nevada. Photos submitted in this category may be entered in other categories as well. There will be only one winning entry in this category, i.e., no second- or third-place winners.
ADVERTISING
#41 COLOR PRINT AD
Entries consist of a single color advertisement created and produced locally. No house ads.
#42 BLACK AND WHITE PRINT AD
Entries consist of a single black and white advertisement created and produced locally. No house ads.
#43 ADVERTISING INNOVATION
Recognizes new ideas and concepts in advertising. The innovation may be encompassed in the substance or style of a particular ad or series of ads (print or digital), or in the manner in which the advertising was presented or distributed. Entries must consist of the ad or ads, along with a letter explaining why it should be considered innovative.
#44 AD SERIES
Entries consist of a series of ads for a single advertiser, published in separate editions or on separate pages of the same issue. No house ads.
#45 SPECIAL SECTION OR CAMPAIGN – ADVERTISING (mail-in only)
Conceptually unified section or campaign featuring multiple advertisers. May be encompassed in a single page, section, supplement or insert. Emphasis is on uniqueness of product and quality of design. This category is for one-time or annual sections. (See #47 Niche Magazine for regular publications.) Submit two copies of the page, section, supplement or insert. Limit of two entries per publication.
#46 IN-HOUSE ADVERTISING
Entries consist of a single ad or campaign promoting advertising, circulation, editorial or an event hosted by the publication. Campaign promotions may include rack cards, electronic advertising, flyers, etc. Entries must include a letter of explanation about the strategy behind the promotion and the results it achieved.
#47 NICHE MAGAZINE (newspapers and mail-in only)
Regularly published non-newsprint magazine devoted to a particular market or demographic. (For one-time or annual sections, see #45 Special Section.) Submit two copies of a single issue of the magazine. Limit: Two entries per newspaper.
#48 ADVERTISING GENERAL EXCELLENCE (mail-in only)
Entries should reflect the best of Nevada print advertising. Submit two copies each of four issues, one from each of the following calendar periods:
- April 1-June 30, 2019
- July 1-Sept. 30, 2019
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2019
- Jan. 1-March 31, 2020
Note: For newspapers with weekend or Sunday issues, at least two of the entries must be from weekday editions. We want judges to see more examples than just your Sunday efforts. Entries will be judged on the overall quality of the advertising content.
#53 SPECIAL EVENT
Sponsored, hosted or promotional events, including but not limited to food or musical festivals, conferences, expos, trade shows, job fairs, candidate debates, scavenger hunts, bar crawls, panel discussions and issue forums. Entries consist of promotional ads or other marketing material, event directories or agendas, news coverage, etc. Entries must include a letter of explanation describing the event and highlighting its benefits to the publication and community.
WEB PUBLISHING
#W1 GENERAL ONLINE EXCELLENCE
Recognizes overall excellence of a news organization’s online presence. Entries consist of six deep links (i.e., not the home page) to content on a website. Entrants should consider including links to web pages that vary in style, purpose or functionality, as opposed to, for instance, linking to identically formatted story pages.
#W2 VIDEO PROGRAM OR SERIES
Regular program or a special video series on a related theme or topic, available on the news organizations’s website or hosted channel. Entries must consist of links to three different shows of a regular program, or to the first three episodes in a video series. The web pages linked in the entries may include other elements, in addition to video, that contribute to the production.
#W3 PODCAST OF THE YEAR
Entries consist of three different episodes of a podcast program posted on the content provider’s web site or hosted channel. There will be only one winning entry in this category, i.e., no second- or third-place winners.
#W4 DIGITAL INNOVATION
Website tool, feature or section that utilizes design elements or functionality unique to the web in order to tell stories and/or present information innovatively. Entries may include up to four links that demonstrate the tool, feature or section.
#W5 DIGITAL HIGH-IMPACT AD
Single ad with dominant placement on or before the home page. Examples include reveal, prestitial and summit ads. Entries consist of a link to the live ad on the publication’s website, or a discrete animation of the ad.
#W6 DIGITAL ANIMATED AD
Looped image or video ad. Entries must be submitted as an animated GIF, HTML 5 Banner, flash animation or short video.
#W7 DIGITAL STATIC AD
Single website ad of any size that is static on the page. Entries consist of a link to a web page containing the ad or a PDF of a web page containing the ad.
