Nevada Press Association The best in Nevada journalism since 1924
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Who judges the contest?
Each year, Nevada trades with a press association from another state. We judge their contest entries; they judge ours. So the judges are volunteers from newspapers — editors, ad managers, reporters, photographers, designers, etc., who are professionals with expertise and experience. They’re also looking at the entries through the eyes of a typical reader who wants all the fundamentals to be performed competently, but also wants to see exceptional work that goes above and beyond the standards.
What do the winners get?
At the NPA’s annual banquet, usually in September, the award-winners are recognized with plaques and certificates as the best of the year in Nevada journalism. A publication and the NPA’s web site list all the results from recent years. These awards date back nearly a century, and some of the greatest names in Nevada’s newspaper history have been winners. If you’re wondering if there’s any cash prize, no — not from the Press Association. Some companies reward their employees for winning.
How do I decide what to enter?
Read some of the past winners for news and feature writing, check out the photos that stood out for judges, look at the designs and advertisements. Consider, too, the perspective of the judges. They read great stories every day, and they see amazing photography. Will this stand out for them? Here’s another idea: volunteer with the NPA to judge another state’s entries. You’ll get an education.
Do I need to be a member of the Nevada Press Association to enter?
Here’s the rule: If your work appeared in an NPA member publication during the contest year, then it’s eligible for the contest. Most of the time, the publications enter in the various categories. But individuals may enter their work by signing up as an open-call contestant. Here’s how.
For magazines, it works a little differently. They do not need to be members, but there is a $25 surcharge on top of the per-entry fee. We encourage them to become members.
How much does it cost?
Each entry is $8.
My story or photo only appeared online. Can it be entered in the contest?
Yes. As long as it was published on the site of an NPA member, it’s eligible for the contest. Several of our members are online-only publishers.
Is the work published online judged against print entries?
Yes. In most categories — say, for Best Feature Writing — stories in print are judged the same as those published online. However, there are several categories, such as Best Digital News Feature Storytelling, that are looking for video, graphics and other elements used online or on mobile devices.
