All prizes are awarded during a luncheon at the Pennsylvania Press Conference in May.
CLASSIFICATIONS
One entry only in every category unless otherwise indicated.
Class 1. General News Story Straight, factual report of current news; no feature-type material to be included. No in-depth reports. Sidebars permitted.
Class 2. Sports Story Feature or news. No series. Sidebars permitted.
Class 3. Home story Restricted to food, fashion, home decorating, gardening. No social issues permitted. Sidebars permitted.
Class 4. Feature or News Feature Story Sidebars permitted.
Class 5. Editorials/Political commentary or column Three articles to be submitted as one body of work.
Class 6. Columns On any topic other than politics. Must appear on a regular basis (daily, weekly, biweekly). Logos permitted. Three columns required.
Class 7. Business or consumer story Feature or news. Sidebars permitted.
Class 8. Series Must be identified as a series. Not eligible are stories written on the same subject as news develops, regular weekly features or profiles. Sidebars permitted.
Class 9. Interviews and profiles No question-and-answer format. Sidebars permitted.
Class 10. Page Design Submit any combination of full pages, with or without ads. Four to six pages will be judged as one body of work.
Class 11. In-Depth Report A single story with background, investigative or comprehensive reporting reflecting research and knowledge of subject matter. Sidebars permitted. No series.
Class 12. Health or Science story Sidebars permitted.
Class 13. Education story Feature or News. Sidebars permitted.
Class 14. Travel, arts and entertainment Reviews, stories, profiles, interviews. Sidebars permitted.
Class 15. Headline writing Feature or news. Enter three as one body of work. Include stories.
Class 16. Photography
News, feature photos — maximum of five, from a single assignment or multiple assignments.
Sports photos — maximum of five, from a single assignment or multiple assignments.
Class 17. Multimedia projects One project can include many components: graphics, video, photos, audio, plus text posted on a newspaper website and linked to a published story. Submit a time stamped hard copy and an active website or URL address.
Class 18. Religion story Feature or news. Sidebars permitted.
Class 19. Outdoors/Environmental story Feature or News. Sidebars permitted.
Class 20. Rookie Reporter Any three stories written by a reporter who completed three years or less of reporting experience, post-college, in 2011. Any of the three stories may be submitted in one other category. Sidebars permitted.
JUDGING
Out-of-state judges will be recruited to evaluate the entries, with the following point system: 5 points for first place; 3 points for second place; 2 points for third place and 1 point for honorable mention.
AWARDS
All winners in each category will receive certificates at the PWPA annual awards luncheon on June 2 at the Wyndham Hotel in Gettysburg. The entrant with the most points over 10 will be recognized with a Journalist of the Year plaque and a $250 cash award. In case of a tie, duplicate prizes will be awarded. If no one has 10 points, there will be no top winner.
Click here to download the PWPA 2012 Contest Entry Form.
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When will you rules/deadline for 2012 be posted?
The categories as listed on this website will remain the same for 2012 — as they were for 2011. The deadline for entry will be Feb. 15. Entries can be mailed to: Kay Stephens, PWPA contest director, 305 31st Street, Altoona, Pa. 16602.
Where do I find the actual entry form and info on the fees to enter the contest?
Where can we find the rules, particularly regarding membership and meetings?
In the past, I have printed out copies of articles/columns from our Website, but it was “revamped” and now some copies are unreadable. Are copies of stories acceptable, or do want tear sheets?
Also, do the entries need to arrive by Feb. 15 or be postmarked by then?
I ask that more so that I can maybe get some others at my paper to enter.
Thank you,
Gordon Glantz
Managing Editor
The Times Herald (Norristown, Pa.)
Last year at the awards luncheon I was able to see the winning images in the photography category. First place did not follow what I assumed were the rules. She sent the full page from the paper which made her images look stronger.They were not mounted clippings. Is that not a rule in the photography category? I want to enter my photos using my full page. Will I be disqualified?
It looks like a lot of everyone’s questions are answered on the second page of the entry form PDF. If you still have issues, you should contact Kay Stephens at: kstephens@altoonamirror.com
814-946-7456
Sorry these questions weren’t answered sooner, but I just noticed the comments waiting to be approved on the website.
Thanks,
Theresa Hegel, PWPA treasurer