CONTEST PERIOD: Calendar Year 2003

The Details

NOTE: There are two new categories: environmental reporting and health reporting.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by Friday, Feb. 6, 2004.

ELIGIBILITY: Any news story written by a regular employee of an Arizona Associated Press member newspaper and published in that newspaper during the contest period.

CLASSIFICATION: The newspaper submitting the entry shall determine in which category it shall be entered.

DIVISIONS: METRO DIVISION - Newspapers in Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa.

NON-METRO DIVISION - All other newspapers.

ENTRIES: An individual may enter a maximum of three stories in each category. A series counts as one entry. Individual stories submitted as sidebars to a Public Service or FOI entry also may be entered in one category other than Public Service or FOI. In categories that call for a collection of work -- column writing, page design, editorial writing and headline writing -- an individual may submit one entry that includes three items. Details are in each of these categories.

ENTRY FEES: NON-METRO DIVISION - $50 per newspaper plus $5 per entry.

METRO DIVISION - $200 per newspaper plus $5 per entry.

HOW TO ENTER: Entries shall be submitted in the form of either tearsheets, facsimile reproductions, Web presentations or printouts from archives except for General Excellence, which requires complete newspapers. Articles may be printed from Web pages or archives as long as they appear exactly as they did in the newspaper. Web or archive versions of articles must be accompanied by a letter from the newspaper certifying that the article appears exactly as it did in the newspaper. Entries shall be submitted inside a regular size manila folder.

Each entry should be accompanied by two (2) copies of the entry form. One copy of the form should be affixed to the front of the folder. The second should be put inside the folder. Each form must include the name of the writer, newspaper, publication date, classification and category.

An entry blank is attached for your convenience. Headlines, bylines, art, etc., need NOT be obliterated. The entry must be clearly identified on the tearsheet by markings. A letter explaining background on the entry is optional. If such a letter is submitted, it should be affixed on the inside of the front cover of the folder.

Entries must be received by Friday, Feb. 6, 2004. Address them to: Barb Godec, News Contest, AP, 500 N. Third Street, Suite 120, Phoenix AZ 85004
 
 

Categories

BEAT REPORTING - For consistently outstanding coverage of a single topic, government body or group. Contestants may submit up to six stories per beat to illustrate familiarity with topics, sources and ability to break news.

DEADLINE REPORTING - For reporting of a breaking news story under deadline pressure. The entry must be a single story or group of related stories that appeared in a single day's edition. Entry must include a cover note explaining the circumstances of the story, including the time the story broke, the time of your publication's copy deadline for the story, and whether you are an AM or PM paper.

EDUCATION REPORTING: For outstanding coverage of an education story or issue

in a single article or series.

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING: For outstanding coverage of an environmental story or issue in a single article or series.

HEALTH REPORTING: For outstanding coverage of a health issue in a single article or series.

ENTERPRISE REPORTING - For stories demonstrating creative ideas, creative approach, initiative and reporting that goes beyond the routine. Entry may be a single article or series.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING - For a story or series that demonstrates the newspaper's ability to obtain hard-to-get information, facts and detail and put them in compelling story form.

FEATURE WRITING - For outstanding writing on human interest or feature topics. The entry must be a single article.

BUSINESS WRITING - For outstanding coverage of a business story or issue in a single article or series.
 
HEADLINE WRITING - For headlines that demonstrate creativity, clarity of expression and ability to capture the essence of a story. An individual may submit one entry including up to three headlines.

PAGE DESIGN - For outstanding design of any pages other than the front page. An individual may submit one entry consisting of 3 pages from any dates the designer chooses from the contest period.

FRONT PAGE DESIGN - For outstanding presentation of the newspaper's front page. An individual may submit one entry consisting of 3 pages from any dates the designer chooses from the contest period.

PUBLIC SERVICE - For exceptional efforts to improve public welfare by spotlighting an issue. Single story or series.

NEWS COLUMNS - Individual contestants may submit one entry including three columns illustrating excellence of writing and clarity of expression in news or editorial columns.

FEATURE COLUMNS - Individual contestants may submit one entry including three columns illustrating excellence of writing and clarity of expression in feature or specialty section columns, other than hard news, editorial or sports columns.

EDITORIAL WRITING - Individual contestants may submit one entry including three editorials illustrating excellence of writing, knowledge of an issue and persuasiveness.

SPORTS DEADLINE REPORTING - For reporting of a sports story under deadline pressure. The entry must be a single story or group of related stories that appeared in a single day's edition. Entry must include a cover note explaining the circumstances of the story, including the time the story broke or the sports event ended, the time of your publication's copy deadline for the story, and whether you are an AM or PM paper.

SPORTS ENTERPRISE - For outstanding sports enterprise or feature reporting in a single article or series.

SPORTS COLUMNS - Individual contestants may submit one entry including three columns illustrating excellence of writing and clarity of expression in sports columns.

GENERAL EXCELLENCE - For overall quality of newspapers published on three days. Newspapers will be judged on the quality of their reporting, writing, photography and presentation. Contestants should submit the entire newspaper from three days of their choosing.

STORY OF THE YEAR - All first-place winners in the aforementioned categories will compete in a single class for the outstanding story or series for the year.

FOI AWARD - For exceptional effort to protect or improve freedom of information in Arizona. An entry should include a one-page letter summarizing what the individual or newspaper did, and supporting documents or tearsheets.

Judging and Awards

Judging will be done by out-of-state newspapers. Judges may award honorable mentions, if desired, or no awards at all if they feel entries lack substance. First-place winners will receive a plaque and a $25 check. Story of the Year award will receive a special award and a check for $100. The awards will be presented at the Arizona APME awards banquet on May 15 in Phoenix.

Questions?

Please contact Barbara Godec at 1-800-352-4093.

We've posted the rules and entry forms on the Web, should you need extra copies: