Judging 2011
For more information:
Phil Kaplan:
E-mail | 865-342-6285
Jack Berninger:
E-mail | 804-741-1565
Dates: Feb. 12-16
Site: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Hotel: University Place Conference Center & Hotel
Room rates: $119
Phone: Call 317.269.9000. Remember to ask for the group rate for APSE.
ENTRY DEADLINE
TBA
WRITING DIVISION RULES
Entries must be submitted within the edges of 8½-by-11-inch paper so that they can be photocopied easily. Folding is not permitted. Multiple sheets must be stapled (no paper clips) in the upper left-hand corner. Printouts are acceptable this year. Because writing entries are judged without identification of writer or newspaper, all headlines, graphics, bylines and other identifying objects must be removed.
The only exception is that informational graphics are allowed if they are clearly supplemental to the story’s content and not solely decorative. Remove or obliterate all references to the newspaper that appear in the body of the story or the informational graphics, if used. Entries must have been written by members of the Sports Department or directed by the Sports Department. Such entries may have appeared in any section of the newspaper.
No article may be entered in more than one writing division. Submission of all writing entries must include a separate enclosure on newspaper letterhead stationery, listing the paper’s numbered entry and name of each writer.
Preliminary judges will select the top 10 stories in each group as finalists. Each judge, separately and on a secret ballot, will list the stories in order from 1 to 10, with 1 being the best story. The final 10 will be given to a second judging group, who also will rank the stories 1-10 in the same fashion as the first group. The final judges’ ballots and the final 10 stories will be turned into the contest chair before 3 p.m. on [date TBA]. The chair will tally all the votes awarding points in reverse order (No. 1 story gets 10 points, No. 2 gets 9, etc.) and the entries with the top 5 points will be the five winners in the category. The other five entries will be honorable mention.
The five winning entries, including ties, will be announced in early April after the contest chair tallies all the ballots. The contest chair may move entries from one division to another but will do so only in extremely rare situations. It is the responsibility of the entering newspaper, based on the judging guidelines, to select the proper division in which an entry should be placed.
For articles that appeared in the newspaper as columns but are entered in game, feature or news divisions, the judging group will have disqualification authority.
In preliminary and final judging, entries should be evaluated using these guidelines:
Breaking news story
Article of a sports news development (trades, hiring’s, firings, franchise shifts, etc.) that occurred yesterday. An editor also can attach a cover letter that explains how work on the web site complemented the printed story.
Explanatory
Article along with any accompanying sidebars or graphics/charts that help supplement the story. The sidebars will not be required reading by the judges. They will be included to answer judges’ questions concerning why material may be missing from the single-story entry. An editor also can attach a cover letter that is a synopsis of the sidebars. Explanatory stories include trends, issues and original ideas. They shed new light on issues and personalities in the news. They are more than the feature and less than the project entry. They go beyond the “yesterday” of the breaking news story.
Game story
Article of a competition that occurred “yesterday.” It should catch the action, the drama, the excitement, the importance of the competition, the crowd. Are questions answered? Is there insight into why something happened? In the case of televised competition, does it give the reader an understanding that goes beyond what television can give? Is there enough on the winner and the loser?
Feature story
The best single article. No series; no sidebars. Judging will be on human interest, reader interest, and quality of writing and thoroughness of reporting.
Column writing
Judged based on style, writing quality, originality and local appeal. No restriction on subject matter and no requirement that they appear regularly.
Project reporting
Collection of articles that sheds new light on personalities and issues in the news, including trends and original ideas.
Investigative
Best single article or best series. Judging will be based on the entry’s enterprise, initiative, documentation, resourcefulness and original reporting in uncovering newsworthy and significant facts and developments that otherwise might not have been reported. Impact and aftermath of the work should be considered. Investigative work should rely on reporting of facts discovered or uncovered by the author rather than reports from anonymous sources offering unverified statements. Investigative entries must not include articles for which payments were made for information. Pure and truly significant investigative reporting is rare. Relying solely on quotes from an FBI source does not make a story investigative. Doing the work the FBI would do in order to build a story might be investigative.
HOW MANY CAN I ENTER?
A newspaper may submit a limited number of entries per category.
Breaking news story: three entries per paper; one article per entry; cover letter allowed.
Explanatory: 2 entries per paper; 1+ article per entry; cover letter allowed.
Game Story: 3 entries per paper; 1 article per entry; no cover letter.
Feature story: 3 entries per paper; 1 article per entry; no cover letter.
Column writing: 2 entries per paper; 5 articles per entry; no cover letter.
Project reporting: 1 entry per paper; 1+ articles per entry; cover letter allowed.
Investigative: 1 entry per paper; 1+ articles per entry; cover letter allowed.
WHAT’S A COVER LETTER
A cover letter actually isn’t a letter at all. It’s more like a form that gives judges pertinent information. You must follow this strict format or your letter will be tossed! The letter must be on a blank 8½-by-11 sheet of paper and can not identify the newspaper or writer.
Origin of the idea of the story:
(Place your explanation here …)
Timeliness of its publication:
(Place your explanation here …)
Difficulty in acquiring it:
(Place your explanation here …)
Impact, reaction, aftermath:
(Place your explanation here …)
Project reporting 1
(The numbered entry)
CLARIFICATION TO RULES
Circulation categories don’t change during the APSE dues year. The category for which you paid dues – if valid – is your contest category, even if your circulation increases or decreases before January. A paper may compete in a larger circulation category but not a smaller one.
All contest entries – writing and section divisions – must be made in the same category. Editors wanting to compete in a larger category must notify Phil Kaplan of the Knoxville News Sentinel (865-755-6326) – and the contest catchers – before submitting entries. They will be required to pay the higher dues for the higher division. When one staff publishes sports sections for several papers, they are considered one paper for APSE purposes.
Dues must have been paid accordingly, with the combined circulation determining the category. If you didn’t follow this procedure when you paid dues, your contest entries are subject to disqualification. Library printouts will be accepted. You must submit – on 8½-by-11 paper and unfolded – clippings or copies of clippings. In the section divisions, the rule regarding material that does not appear in the regular sports section or page A-1 is different for optional days than mandatory days because you have no choice on mandatory days.
For optional days, you have a choice. You can enter some other day (you have more than 300 from which to choose) to guarantee that all sports-related material for the day appears in your entry.
SECTION CONTEST RULES
Entries must include a 3-by-5 card or index card with section division, paper, city, daily circulation, circulation category, and days of publication. A daily section entry must contain four issues. This includes the two mandatory dates. The two optional issues in the daily divisions may come from any days except Sunday.
Sunday section entry must contain four issues, including the two mandatory dates. On mandatory dates, papers enter all sports-related content from that day’s paper, including special sections and page A-1 material. Optional day entries may include: self-contained sports sections, sports-related Page A1 material and special sections that may include live (or yesterday) content and regular-scheduled preview content. Stand-alone special preview (season and major event) sections are not allowed for optional-day entries.
Special sections must be accompanied by a 3-by-5 card or index card that specifies the section as a special section entry and lists the name of the newspaper, city, daily circulation and circulation category. Examples: Commemorative to mark the success of a team, a sports event (like Olympics) or the death of a major personality; a theme section on running, fishing, hunting, auto racing, etc. The section may contain live news (stories in which a team wins a championship) related to the theme, but it may not include unrelated articles.
DAILY AND SUNDAY
Newspaper may submit two mandatory dates and any two optional dates from the 2010 calendar year for both the Daily and Sunday categories. Judges will select – but not rank – the top 10 sections in each circulation category and will select as many as 10 honorable mentions.
SPECIAL SECTION
Newspapers may submit only one special section. This includes one-subject or one-theme sections issued one time. Judges will select – but not rank – the top 10 sections in each circulation category and will select as many as 10 honorable mentions.
EVALUATION GUIDELINES
Overall impact
• Does the section have spunk? Does it project impact on big events?
• Does it grab? Is it distinctive? Does it have imagination and originality?
Graphics
• Look for coordinated presentation of pictures, graphics and articles that give a grasp of the big stories. Look for clear execution: Does it make sense; is it attractive; does it help the reader understand? Does it illustrate? Do the graphics go with the articles they are supposed to illustrate? Are there enough pictures or perhaps too many? Are they sized properly? Are they easily understood?
• Judges may consider color reproduction.
Content
DAILY AND SUNDAY
The best sections offer coverage, news, features and opinion, supported by scores, results and standings of the day’s activities as needed to reflect the interest of the readership. There should be an appeal to the fanatic as well as the casual fan – and an attempt to satisfy a range of readership diversity. Look closely at three areas of content:
Subject matter: Determine the quality of staff-written material. Space should be used wisely. Big-event coverage should be coordinated to avoid overlap. News should be played properly, and judges should look at reaction to breaking news. Where there are few professional teams, judges should look for strong treatment of college, high school and other results. Even where there are no professional teams, there should be coverage of such national stories as the Super Bowl, World Series, etc.
Judges should look at the agate package – are there scores, statistics, standings and box scores to fit the needs of the readership? Examples: Does a paper with interest in pro teams run enough information in home team and league-wide box scores? Does a paper in a prep-dominated area run enough names and statistical leaders?
Enterprise: Judges must note if there is an effort to bring something extra. Does the section offer features, trend pieces, scoops, innovative standing features or reader nuggets? Do efforts show originality and a high level of reporting and writing? Is there an effort to entertain as well as inform? Are there light touches? Is there over-reliance on wires? Reliance on wires is OK on some days, but not as a steady diet.
Organization and editing: The section should be easy on the reader. Look for consistency in positioning of standing features. See if related material is grouped. Headlines should be clear, yet appealing. There should be the proper mix of breakout boxes or pullouts that enhance stories. At-a-glance information should be organized and well positioned. Judges should look for staff editing that improves content of wires.
SPECIAL SECTION
It should be well written, well edited – and truly special, in stories and graphics. For subjects such as fishing, running, Olympics, etc., are articles useful? Does content present a useful, informative approach?
WHERE DO I SEND SECTION AND WRITING ENTRIES?
TBA
