HOW TO ENTER 2019 APSE CONTEST
Contest chair: Lisa Wilson of The Athletic. Lisabellwilson46@gmail.com. 716-812-1929.
Contest judging info: Feb. 15-19 (judges should be there for a 4 p.m. meeting Saturday; judging begins Sunday and runs through Wednesday) at:
Hampton Inn and Suites St. Petersburg/Downtown
80 Beach Drive NE
St. Petersburg, Fla. 33701
727-892-9900
Rate is $179 per night. Deadline for reservations is Jan. 14, 2020.
Here’s the link to make hotel reservations: https://apsportseditors.com/apse-2020-winter-conference-schedule/
Please read the rules closely:
- For writing entries, we will once again use story links from websites. This means if you have a paywall you need to provide us with a contest username and password (on your entry key), good through March 31, 2020. It also means you will no longer need to copy, paste, glue, redact, etc. Don’t worry, if for some reason you are unable to provide links to your website, we provide alternate instructions below (although it will involve some copying, pasting, etc.).
- Circulation categories have changed. Instead of going by set in stone numbers (ex. Over 150,000, 75,000-150,000, etc.), the contest committee will place each organization into a category based on size. The largest 25 percent of organizations will be in Category A, the next largest 25 percent in Category B, the third largest 25 percent in Category C, and the smallest 25 percent in Category D. That information is provided at the bottom of these instructions. Your organization’s size is based on the circulation or online numbers you provided when you paid dues. You are allowed to play up (enter a category that includes larger organizations) but not down. If you want to play up, please contact Lisa Wilson.
- Beat writing entries will no longer require a multimedia component among the five submissions. We will return to two wildcards, although one of the wildcards can be multimedia.
CONTEST DEADLINE
All section entries must be postmarked on or before Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. All writing entries must be submitted by midnight local time that same day via Google drive.
A FEW IMPORTANT PREGAME NOTES…
Before you begin, please read these important notes:
- Instructions
Please read the instructions carefully. Try to follow the protocols. Entries that do not adhere to the rules may be disqualified.
- Cover letters part I – content
Rules for cover letters are specific. Please adhere to them strictly. Do not write a thesis explaining the story, provide only the information allowed under the cover letter guidelines (provided near the bottom of this document).
- Cover letters part II – creating them
Please follow the instructions for creating cover letters closely. They are Google docs and need to be created so that judges can view them. Instructions on how to create them, and change the settings so judges can read them, are provided.
- Entry key notes
Please use the entry form provided in your Google folder.
Here is an example of a blank entry key:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Og81MN0gQRaCciu4lweAtoyTDdwAT6j4LtNOx9kAqMI/edit
Here is an example of a completed entry key:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r-1ISGpiSmmwhL7GXW-BgXkc2NtaOtIiYZp2xDRt_Ok/edit
It is essential that all entry keys are turned in with full and complete information on the authors of the work – please do not come back later, after the winners have been revealed, to ask that names be added.
If you have an entry with multiple authors, keep the list of names at five or fewer. For entries with more than five names, use “Staff.”
Also, please include your organization’s name as you would like it to appear on a winner’s plaque or in a news story (for example, The New York Times rather than just New York Times).
Again, please be thorough. Once results have been published, changes need to be made on at least five platforms, including the awards banquet program and for any plaques or certificates.
- One entry per writer per category
With the exception of the beat writing category, no article may be entered in more than one writing category.
There is a limit of one entry per writer per category, although a writer may be entered in the same category a second time (and only a second time) if he/she is a member of a team (two or more writers) entry. A single team may not be entered twice. This includes the video and multimedia categories.
Items entered in the project category cannot be also entered in another category. You have to choose.
You also cannot enter material as a project and as a special section, if it ran that way. Again, you have to choose.
- Section mandatories
All sections are from 2019.
The mandatory dates are:
Sunday – Jan. 13 and Sept. 29. (Sundays only. No “weekend” sections or other days).
Daily – One paper chosen from the week of June 10-15 and Nov. 4-9 (only Monday through Saturday are eligible).
OFF-SITE JUDGES NEEDED
APSE will be utilizing off-site judging in certain categories again this year. If you are unable to make it to St. Petersburg and wish to judge – or if you have a staff member who won’t be going to St. Petersburg who would like to participate – email apsecontest@gmail.com and put OFF-SITE JUDGING in the subject line. Off-site judges will judge in a window from Jan. 22 to Feb. 14.
GOOGLE DRIVE
All entry keys and cover letters will be submitted via Google Drive.
Having trouble? Shoot the contest chair an email at lisabellwilson46@gmail.com (make sure to copy to apsecontest@gmail.com) with QUESTION or PROBLEM in the subject line) or call Lisa at 716-812-1929. Our goal is for the contest to be a breeze to enter. So please help us make that a reality.
CONTEST ESSENTIALS:
- All section entries must be postmarked on or before Jan. 10, 2020. All writing entries must be submitted by midnight local time that same day.
- Mandatory dates: Sunday – Jan. 13, 2019 and Sept. 29, 2019; Daily – One paper chosen from the week of June 10-15, 2019 (Monday through Saturday are eligible) and one paper chosen from the week of Nov. 4-9, 2019.
- Instructions on how to prepare your section entries (daily, Sunday and special section) are provided below. Send all section entries to the appropriate catcher, listed below:
Category A, send to:
Kathy Laughlin
Sports Editor
Sun Sentinel
333 SW 12th
Avenue
Deerfield Beach, FL, 33442
Category B, send to:
Mike Sherman
Sports Editor
Tampa Bay Times
490 First Ave. S
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Group C, send to:
Nick Feely
Managing Editor – Sports
The Villages Daily Sun
1100 Main St.
The Villages, FL 32159
Category D, send to:
Iliana Limon Romero
Sports Editor
Orlando Sentinel Media Group
633 North Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
- Judging will take place Feb. 15-19 (Saturday through Wednesday) at the Hampton Inn and Suites St. Petersburg/Downtown (80 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33701, phone number 727-892-9900). Rate is $179 per night. Deadline for reservations is Jan. 14, 2020.
- If you are attending judging, be there for a 4 p.m. meeting Saturday, Feb. 15. Please make this meeting to receive judging instructions and meet your judging partners.
- Bring your laptop or tablet. Paperless judging means we have to access the entries digitally.
- To enter, you must have a Google account. You’ll need this both to submit entries and to judge come February.
- If you’re a judge, please email apsecontest@gmail.com with your cell phone, work email and gmail – and make sure to include your news organization.
- Once your entry key is finished in Google Drive, you must notify contest chairman Lisa Wilson. Please double-check that all links are correct and active. All entries will be checked as quickly as possible, but may not be checked immediately. Please be patient.
- Questions? Contact Lisa Wilson at lisabellwilson46@gmail.com (please copy to apsecontest@gmail.com) and put CONTEST QUESTION in the subject line). I’ll respond to everyone as quickly as I can. Please do what you can to avoid waiting until the last minute before the entry deadline.
HOW TO ENTER:
HOW TO PREPARE SECTION ENTRIES
If for some reason you are unable to obtain back copies of sections, a PDF may be entered. Please send a PDF only as a last resort. It is much easier for the judges to read an actual newspaper.
How does the section contest work?
There are section categories for daily, Sunday and special sections.
Entries must include a 3-by-5 index card with section division, news organization name, city, daily circulation, circulation category, and dates of publication. These cards must be stapled to the upper right corner of your section fronts (please do NOT use paper clips).
The information on the card should mirror the following format:
Section division: (Example Daily)
Newspaper: (Example Daily Bugle)
City: (Example Dallas, Texas)
Daily circulation: (Example 212,000)
Dates of publication: (Example Two dates from the mandatory windows and two optionals of your choosing for Daily sections; Two mandatory dates and two optionals for Sunday.)
Circulation category: (A, B, C or D. This is indicated at the bottom of this form).
Daily and Sunday section entries
Daily section entries must contain four issues: Two mandatory dates and two optional dates.
Sunday section entries must contain four issues: Two mandatory dates and two optional dates.
NOTE: Sunday entries MUST BE published on Sundays – “weekend editions” that are published on Saturday (or Monday or any date other than Sunday) will be disqualified.
Optional day entries may include: self-contained sports sections, sports-related A1 material and special sections that 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 that are not live may not be entered with optional entries. The preponderance of material in a special section must be live for it to be included.
On mandatory dates, papers enter all sports-related content, including special sections and material from other sections of the paper – for instance, A1 outtake or breaking news would be included.
Judges will select – but not rank – the top 10 sections in each circulation category and will select as many as 10 honorable mentions.
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. Judges should look closely at a couple 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 local results. Even where there are no professional teams, there should be coverage of such national stories as the Super Bowl, World Series, etc. Game coverage should have strong analytical and commentary components. Judges should look at the agate package – are there scores, statistics, standings and box scores to fit the needs of the readership within the confines of available space? Examples: Does a paper with interest in pro teams run enough information in home team 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.
Special section entry
Newspapers may submit only one special section. This includes one-subject or one-theme sections issued one time.
What’s not eligible: Special sections sold only as stand-alone products on newsstands or elsewhere are not eligible. The special section must have been part of the regular newspaper run.
What else is not eligible: Stories entered as a special section entry may not also be entered as a project writing entry.
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.
How are special sections judged?
Does the section have spunk? Does it project impact on big events?
Does it grab? Is it distinctive? Does it have imagination and originality?
Photos and graphics: Is there a coordinated presentation of pictures, graphics and articles that give a grasp of the big stories? Does it make sense? Is it attractive? Does it help the reader understand? Does it illustrate? Judges may consider color reproduction.
Is it well written, well edited and truly special. Is the content useful, informative and/or entertaining?
HOW TO PREPARE WRITING/PHOTO ENTRIES
Writing and photo entries will all be submitted as website links. These will all go on a single contest entry key. One will be provided in your Google folder, titled “Entry key.” If it is not there, or somehow gets lost, contact Lisa and she can provide you with a new one.
Here’s how to fill out your APSE contest entry key:
- Change the status at the top to “In Progress” while you are filling it out. This is to ensure nobody else grabs it before it is completed.
- Fill out the top fields:
- Name of Organization (Please provide complete name, as you would like it to appear on a winner’s plaque and in stories about the winners. Example: The New York Times, rather than just New York Times).
- Daily circulation (this number should be the same one you provided us when you paid your 2020 dues).
- A contest username and password for your website, if it is needed (valid through at least March 31, 2020)
- Completely fill out each writing
category. Some of this information might seem redundant, but keep in mind that
these entries will be copied and pasted different places, so it is important to
include everything.
- The name of your organization
- A contest username and password for your website, if needed.
- The name of the reporter or reporters credited with the story or group of stories. Please note, if more than five reporters worked on an entry, please say “staff.”
- The link to the cover letter, when needed. (Instructions on how to submit a cover letter are included below).
- The headline on the story.
- The link to the story.
Note: For categories with multiple stories/videos, everything listed above is the same, there are just spaces for multiple entries.
Here is an example of a completed story entry:
BREAKING NEWS 1
ORGANIZATION: The Athletic
WEBSITE USERNAME (IF NEEDED): Athletic Judge
WEBSITE PASSWORD (IF NEEDED): TheAthletic
REPORTER(S): Nicole Auerbach
LINK TO COVER LETTER: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J30P5XayV772-znX1Mr3bYtslVRn58lokwO_mo-gchM/edit
HEADLINE ON STORY: ‘We don’t need to wait another six years’: College football leaders ready to discuss eight-team Playoff
STORY LINK: ‘We don’t need to wait another six years’: College football leaders ready to discuss eight-team Playoff
Here is an example of an entry that includes multiple elements:
BEAT WRITING 1
ORGANIZATION: The Athletic
WEBSITE USERNAME (IF NEEDED): Athletic Judge
WEBSITE PASSWORD (IF NEEDED): TheAthletic
REPORTER: Jon Krawczynski
LINK TO COVER LETTER: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OlaSCtqvkkozp8e3s3KBWM_zBNEq_SF8pIS2hgIkeaM/edit
*** HEADLINE ON STORY 1 (BREAKING NEWS): Sources: Jimmy Butler requests trade from Timberwolves
STORY LINK: https://theathletic.com/534624/2018/09/19/sources-jimmy-butler-requests-trade-from-timberwolves/
*** HEADLINE ON STORY 2 (GAMEDAY COVERAGE): Ricky Rubio walks into Target Center and blows a hole in the Wolves’ defense
*** HEADLINE ON STORY 3 (ENTERPRISE): The happy reunion and fast divorce of Jimmy Butler and Tom Thibodeau
*** HEADLINE ON STORY 4 (WILDCARD): Exclusive: Kevin Garnett on the Jimmy Butler saga — ‘It’s a shit storm up there’
*** LINK TO ENTRY 5 (WILDCARD):
MULTIMEDIA LINK: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talknorth/you-betcha-154
- Create cover letters for categories that need them. Place these in the “cover letters” subfolder inside your Google folder. Instructions on how to do that are provided below.
- Copy the cover letter links and paste them in the correct place on your entry form.
- Double-check everything. Is all the information on your entry key correct (authors, headlines, etc.)? Do your links all work? Is your contest username/password valid? Are your cover letters all there and have their advanced options been changed so judges can read them?
- Change the “Status of Entry” at the top of the page to “Completed”
- Notify Lisa Wilson that your entry is completed and ready to go.
HOW TO SUBMIT/GET LINK FOR A COVER LETTER
In short, you will create cover letters for the necessary categories and place them all in the “cover letters” folder in your Google drive folder. Once they are there, you will open each cover letter, copy their links and paste them onto your entry key.
Here’s how to create your cover letters and get the links …
- Log in to Google Drive.
- Get your upload link at the bottom of this document.
- The link will take you directly to your publication’s folder, which includes a subfolder for cover letters.
- Ready? Click on the link. Then open your “cover letters” subfolder.
- In the top right corner, click the “Open in Drive” button.
- Now we come to a fork in the road.
- Have you already created your cover letter and just need to upload? Yes? Great. On the left is a button titled “NEW.” Click on it to reveal its menu. You want “file upload.” Find the cover letter on your desktop and upload it.
Now, after the file is uploaded, click on the blue box in the upper right corner that says “share.” A new box will pop up that says “share with others.” In the bottom right, click on “advanced.” A new box will appear. There will be an option that says “private.” Click “change.” Click on the circle next to “On – anyone with the link.” Click save.
- Need help uploading? Directions straight from google: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2424368)
- Wait, you say you have NOT created your cover letter yet? No problem. Let’s get started.
* On the left is a button titled “NEW.” Click on it to reveal its menu.
* You want “Google Docs.” Click on it. You’ll get the following message: “Create in a shared folder? The created item will have the same sharing permissions as the selected folder.” Click yes.
* Name the document. In the left-hand corner you’ll see “unnamed document.” Click on that text and enter your title — “Breaking News 1 cover letter,” “Columns 1 cover letter,” etc.
* In the upper right corner, there should be blue box that says “share.” Click that. A new box will pop up that says “share with others.” In the bottom right, click on “advanced.” A new box will appear. There will be an option that says “private.” Click “change.” Click on the circle next to “On – anyone with the link.” Click save.
- Now you’re ready to fill out your cover letter. Just follow the cover letter instructions.
- The bonus for you is the google doc has been created right there in your publication’s folder, no need to upload. They should already be in the correct folder.
- Now, regardless of how you created your cover letters, open each one separately. Once opened, this is the link you will use on your entry key.
- Paste each link onto the entry key.
- Double-check to make sure each entry has the correct cover letter link and that their advanced options have been changed so that judges can read them.
HOW TO PREPARE WRITING ENTRIES
It’s easy.
- Copy the link of the story from your website and paste it onto your entry key.
- Fill out other information on the entry key: name of organization, author(s) and headline.
- If a cover letter is needed, create that and put it in your “cover letters folder.” Once it is there, open it, copy the link and paste it onto the correct place on the entry key.
That’s it. When it’s done, email Lisa and let her know.
If you are UNABLE to use story links off your website …
No problem. You will just need to create google docs for your stories and place them in your google drive folder. This is done exactly the same as creating cover letters (see instructions above), except instead of placing the completed entry in the “cover letters” folder you will just place them in your general folder (no subfolder). Once a story is created and in that folder, open it, copy the link and paste it on the entry form. You will need to make sure the complete story is on the new google doc, but you do not need to redact anything (author, name of paper, etc.).
How to submit your writing entries:
- Log in to Google Drive.
- Get your upload link from the bottom of this document.
- The link takes you directly to your publication’s folder, which includes a subfolder for “entry key”.
- Fill out the entry key in that folder.
- Double-check your entry key. Everything is filled out correctly? All the links to your website work? All your usernames and passwords are valid? All the links to cover letters are working and the advanced options have been changed so judges can read them?
- If so, you are done. Notify Lisa that your entry is ready.
Let us know when you’ve finished your entries
* Send an email to apsecontest@gmail.com – IMPORTANT: Put the name of the news organization plus ENTRY COMPLETE in subject line. Make this a fresh, new email, and not part of a chain of any earlier correspondence.
* Include a copy of your ENTRY KEY as an attachment. This is as a backup to your google drive.
CONTEST BASICS
Who can enter?
Any APSE member that has paid its 2020 dues.
If you haven’t paid your 2020 APSE dues, there’s still time to pay them and become eligible to enter APSE’s annual contests. Sign up here: https://apsportseditors.com/become-an-apse-member/
What are the writing categories?
BREAKING NEWS
Three entries per organization; one article per entry; cover letter required.
Article of a sports news development (trades, hirings, firings, franchise shifts, etc.) that occurred in the most recent news cycle.
Online or print stories can be submitted.
A cover letter should explain:
- Who from your organization broke the story
- When the news was obtained relative to publication
- Publication time online
- How it might have been expanded upon for print.
For judging purposes, only the final story and cover letter must be read, but up to three examples of complementary material may be included and read at the judges’ discretion. Judges, using their discretion, will weigh the various elements of a breaking news story: timeliness, thoroughness, exclusivity, significance. These should be explained in the cover letter. Complementary material should show how the original breaking news story developed and should be from the day the story broke, or the day after if the story broke late at night. Do not include sidebars or followup stories that were published days later.
EXPLANATORY
Two entries per organization; one article per entry; cover letter required.
Article along with any accompanying sidebars or graphics/charts that help supplement the story.
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.
NOTE: If you include optional sidebar material, place it as a link on your entry key. Label it “Optional Material.”
Explanatory stories include trends, issues, original ideas and it should explain something. 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 (Class C AND D ONLY)
Two entries per organization; one article per entry.
The best single article by a single author. No series; no sidebars. No cover letters.
Judging will be on reader interest, and quality of writing and thoroughness of reporting.
BEAT WRITING
Two entries per organization; five articles per entry; cover letter required.
Collection of articles by a single author that shows authoritative, newsy and innovative coverage of a beat.
Each entry should consist of five pieces: at least one breaking news story (it can be coverage of breaking news, but judges are allowed to give more weight to beat writers who were first with the news); one event or game coverage story (this can include a column or sidebar); one enterprise piece; and two wild-card entries, from any of the aforementioned categories (or other stories or analysis related to the beat). One of the wildcard entries can be a multimedia entry if desired.
Multimedia is defined as a website post with the author’s name on it that includes:
- Anything interactive (stay or go, football picks, report cards, etc., and charts)
- Charts that further explain something in the story, or more clearly shows something written about in the story
- Video that the writer shoots and publishes (rather than just a video embedded in a story)
- Podcasts
Entries should include a cover letter with a synopsis of how the combined submissions demonstrate excellence on the beat. The cover letter should note other metrics that show authority and audience engagement on the beat.
This is the only category where stories can be entered for a second time — the five articles that make up the entry can (but do not have to) be also entered in other categories (for instance, a breaking news story can be entered in Breaking News and also as part of the Beat Writing entry).
FEATURES
Three entries per organization; one article per entry; no cover letter.
The best single article. No series; no sidebars.
Judging will be on human interest, reader interest, quality of writing and thoroughness of reporting.
COLUMNS
Two entries per organization; four articles per entry; no cover letter.
Judged based on style, writing quality, originality and local appeal.
No restriction on subject matter and no requirement that they appear regularly.
PROJECTS
One entry per organization; 1-10 articles per entry (refer to category explanation for more detail); cover letter required.
A project sheds new light on personalities and issues in the news, including trends and original ideas. It is pre-planned content that is conceived and executed as a larger body of work. It is not ongoing coverage of a news event over a period of time where a number of stories are compiled for an entry.
For judging purposes, the project is limited to 10 stories. Links to additional material may be attached and read at the judges’ discretion.
There should be a synopsis of the supplementary material in the cover letter. The material is not required to have appeared in a single day or on consecutive days.
Multimedia can be entered as a project to allow the full scope of the project to be judged. This should be done by providing a link or links on your entry key. Like other entries, it must include information on who worked on the multimedia entry (author(s)).
***NOTES****
- You CANNOT enter the same work in both Projects and Multimedia, or Video or any other category. You have to choose. Just like you can’t take a sidebar from your project entry and enter it in Features and three more pieces of an entered project and enter them in Explanatory.
- Stories and material entered as a special section may not also be entered as a project writing entry.
- Discovery of the same material entered under Project and in Multimedia or any other category will result in both entries being disqualified.
INVESTIGATIVE
One entry per organization; 1 to 10 articles per entry; cover letter required. (There are no circulation categories in Investigative: all entries are judged across all categories)
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.
NOTE: A maximum of 10 articles can be submitted as part of the official entry. You may submit more articles as supplementary material if you choose. The judges may read the supplementary material but are not required to. If you include supplementary material, place it as a link on your entry key. Label it “Supplementary Material.”
MULTIMEDIA
Two entries per organization.
Multimedia includes interactive graphics, audio, slideshows or combinations thereof, or anything else that falls under the broad description of multimedia other than simple videos (which must be entered in the video portion of the contest). Entries will be judged, foremost, on the strength of storytelling. Visual and auditory quality will be considered.
A single entry may be a series on the same topic (such as following a team through a season) with a limit of five installments per entry.
A cover letter (follow standard format above) can be submitted with the entry. In instances where the multimedia entry supplemented a written story, that should be summarized in the cover letter. The story itself may be submitted for background purposes and can be read at the judges’ discretion. The written story will not be a part of the material judged. NOTE: If you include a supplementary story, place it as a link on your entry key. Label it “Supplementary story.”
Judges will select a Top 5 and up to five honorable mention entries — unless the number of entries, at the contest chair’s discretion, supports expanding the number of entries honored.
VIDEO
Two entries per organization. The video must have been done by the organization’s editorial department. If an organization is affiliated with a TV station it must be the website not the TV station that produced the video. Video produced by television stations is not allowed.
Entries will be judged, foremost, on the strength of storytelling. Visual and auditory quality will be considered.
A cover letter (follow standard format above) can be submitted with the entry(s). In instances where the video entry supplemented a written story, that should be summarized in the cover letter. The story itself may be submitted for background purposes and can be read at the judges’ discretion. The written story will not be a part of the material judged. NOTE: If you include supplementary story material, place it as a link on your entry key. Label it “Supplementary Material.”
Judges will select a Top 5 and up to five honorable mention entries — unless the number of entries, at the contest chair’s discretion, supports expanding the number of entries honored.
Categories for video contest entries are the same as for Multimedia and all other contest entries, by circulation for news organizations with a daily print product or unique monthly visitors for website/digital-only members (listed below).
WHAT ARE THE PHOTO ENTRIES?
ACTION PHOTO
Two entries per organization; one photo per entry.
The best single action photo.
No cover letters.
Judging will be on quality of photo.
A photographer can only be entered in this category once.
FEATURE PHOTO
Two entries per organization; one photo per entry.
The best single sports feature photo.
No cover letters.
Judging will be on quality of photo.
A photographer can only be entered in this category once.
COVER LETTER FORMAT
How do I write a cover letter?
A cover letter actually isn’t a letter at all. It’s a form that gives judges pertinent information. You must follow this strict format or your letter may be tossed. So PLEASE take care to adhere to this (in the case of breaking news there is allowance for other material as specified – see above):
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 …)
Headline: (Your story’s headline, so we can distinguish between cover letters)
Where can I enter a story?
With the exception of the beat writing category, no article may be entered in more than one writing division. There is a limit of one entry per writer per category, with a single exception: a writer may be entered in the same category a second time (and only a second time) if he/she is a member of a team (two or more writers) entry. A single team may not be entered twice. Example: Writer A could be entered once individually. She also could be entered a second time for an entry co-authored by Writer B. Or, Writer A could be entered twice as a part of a team, as long as the teams were not the same.
The same rule applies in the multimedia and video categories.
What’s my contest category?
Entries will be judged by category determined by the level at which the news organization pays APSE dues: for news organizations with daily print products, this is determined by average daily circulation; for website-only news organizations, this is determined by unique monthly visitors:
Here are the categories:
Category A: Largest 25 percent of APSE members. (This year, it is “83,000 and over” circulation).
Category B: Second-largest 25 percent of APSE members. (This year, it is “38,000-82,999” circulation).
Category C: Third-largest 25 percent of APSE members. (This year, it is “14,001-37,999” circulation).
Category D: Smallest 25 percent of APSE members. (This year it is “14,000 and under circulation).
All contest entries – writing and section divisions as well as video and multimedia – must be made in the same category. Editors wanting to compete in a larger category must notify contest chair Lisa Wilson before submitting entries. Those “playing up” 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. To enter individually, these papers need to pay dues individually. Questions on your organization and how it fits in should be directed to APSE President Todd M. Adams.
When one staff publishes sports sections for several papers, 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.
How are writing entries judged?
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, which 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. The chair will tally all the votes awarding points in reverse order (No. 1 story gets 10 points, No. 2 gets 9, etc.). It is the responsibility of the entering news organization, 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 breaking news divisions, the judging group will have disqualification authority.
If you still have questions, email Lisa at lisabellwilson46@gmail.com or call 716-812-1929.
LIST OF ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS WITH CONTEST LINKS:
CATEGORY A
Arizona Republic: https://tinyurl.com/umxd9xc
Austin American-Statesman: https://tinyurl.com/vybr2yd
Bleacher Report: https://tinyurl.com/ror3qml
Boston Globe: https://tinyurl.com/w6hbtsr
Boston.com: https://tinyurl.com/r4pmc6m
Chicago Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/som22og
ESPN: https://tinyurl.com/rffc8tc
ESPN’s The Undefeated: https://tinyurl.com/w7k59hk
FloSports: https://tinyurl.com/w4f7rxy
For The Win: https://tinyurl.com/rtztonx
Hartford Courant: https://tinyurl.com/r3jq85u
Houston Chronicle: https://tinyurl.com/u35kx8k
Kansas City Star: https://tinyurl.com/ukwc6zx
Miami Herald: https://tinyurl.com/v3bx9kc
Newsday: https://tinyurl.com/wahg3cs
NJ Advance Media: https://tinyurl.com/ruy52c9
Orlando Sentinel: https://tinyurl.com/v25592w
Philadelphia Inquirer: https://tinyurl.com/wbdn5w2
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: https://tinyurl.com/umbny5q
San Jose Mercury News: https://tinyurl.com/v6kplsj
South Florida Sun Sentinel: https://tinyurl.com/rx29scw
Southern California News Group: https://tinyurl.com/vf2343s
Star Tribune (Minneapolis): https://tinyurl.com/u4rby2b
Tampa Bay Times: https://tinyurl.com/ulhvd24
The Advocate: https://tinyurl.com/rmvog5p
The Athletic: https://tinyurl.com/ryoxqx8
The Buffalo News: https://tinyurl.com/r9pmx5u
The Dallas Morning News: https://tinyurl.com/slpeeuz
The Denver Post: https://tinyurl.com/wzm8l6b
The Los Angeles Times: https://tinyurl.com/vryhrmh
The New York Times: https://tinyurl.com/w9298qw
The San Diego Union Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/tlkxax6
The Seattle Times: https://tinyurl.com/vjyrvds
The Virginian Pilot: https://tinyurl.com/yxyq6yjw
The Washington Post: https://tinyurl.com/rnfq2n2
USA TODAY: https://tinyurl.com/rqwkdvy
Yahoo Sports: https://tinyurl.com/tkhv6ql
CATEGORY B
Albany Times-Union: https://tinyurl.com/uoboxvu
Bergen Record: https://tinyurl.com/u9grvfm
Boston Herald: https://tinyurl.com/rcscvfp
Clarion Ledger: https://tinyurl.com/u588yq8
Gambling.com: https://tinyurl.com/tfmpy2o
Indianapolis Star: https://tinyurl.com/tcovxou
Knoxville News Sentinel: https://tinyurl.com/velxzyy
Las Vegas Review-Journal: https://tinyurl.com/t8h7sp4
Lexington Herald-Leader: https://tinyurl.com/tv554cw
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: https://tinyurl.com/tl4axdy
Naples Daily News: https://tinyurl.com/snfvlww
Omaha World-Herald: https://tinyurl.com/uhygojb
Raleigh News & Observer: https://tinyurl.com/uz4ve9c
Richmond Times-Dispatch: https://tinyurl.com/s84gvzd
Roanoke Times: https://tinyurl.com/uhz976v
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: https://tinyurl.com/yx2ryzt8
Stuart News: https://tinyurl.com/vx99qjo
The Baltimore Sun: https://tinyurl.com/u9xhske
The Charlotte Observer: https://tinyurl.com/tfg6fne
The Cincinnati Enquirer: https://tinyurl.com/vbzlx8t
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis): https://tinyurl.com/rafcckm
The Courier Journal: https://tinyurl.com/s78e5rt
The Detroit News: https://tinyurl.com/tq99wgt
The Gazette: https://tinyurl.com/whugozd
The Harrisburg Patriot News/Penn Live: https://tinyurl.com/uawoowu
The Morning Call: https://tinyurl.com/vb8wpsf
The Oklahoman: https://tinyurl.com/ub3c6pv
The Palm Beach Post: https://tinyurl.com/v39gmne
The Pioneer Press (St. Paul): https://tinyurl.com/vjzaqhl
The Press Democrat: https://tinyurl.com/tv8kzmm
The Register Guard: https://tinyurl.com/ssefbh5
The Spokesman-Review: https://tinyurl.com/syj27k9
The Springfield Republican: https://tinyurl.com/vtbe9db
The Tennessean (Nashville): https://tinyurl.com/vaj3sut
The Toledo Blade: https://tinyurl.com/wp2nstb
The Villages Daily Sun: https://tinyurl.com/u3p56uj
Tulsa World: https://tinyurl.com/vyyve53
CATEGORY C
Altoona Mirror: https://tinyurl.com/r9lcp7h
Auburn Undercover: https://tinyurl.com/vxvsa2g
Beaumont Enterprise: https://tinyurl.com/ulpz7qn
Columbus Commercial Dispatch: https://tinyurl.com/w35466u
Corpus Christi Caller-Times: https://tinyurl.com/u4dwsbw
Deseret News: https://tinyurl.com/snmxqor
Greeley Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/t3q93qm
Greensboro News & Record: https://tinyurl.com/vqko8bu
Idaho Statesman: https://tinyurl.com/vhs7gc7
Inside Carolina: https://tinyurl.com/vm2gyug
Lewiston Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/qowqwse
Mail Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/unxxr42
Northwest Herald: https://tinyurl.com/yx4by96m
Pensacola News Journal: https://tinyurl.com/rssqpwg
Peoria Journal Star: https://tinyurl.com/yx7umkkz
Racine Journal Times: https://tinyurl.com/sxkfq7m
Savannah Morning News: https://tinyurl.com/uso646k
South Bend Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/sxkfq7m
Sun Journal: https://tinyurl.com/waj34zx
Syracuse Post-Standard: https://tinyurl.com/r29v845
Tallahassee Democrat: https://tinyurl.com/u2falua
The Bryan College Station Eagle: https://tinyurl.com/qw5gd6k
The Champaign News Gazette: https://tinyurl.com/uzsx3sb
The Citizens Voice: https://tinyurl.com/v7sj98g
The Desert Sun: https://tinyurl.com/se4dkjk
The Free Lance Star: https://tinyurl.com/upbl3tv
The Jackson Sun: https://tinyurl.com/sozadoy
The News-Press: https://tinyurl.com/u7h7yf9
The Scranton Times-Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/wkbln38
The Star Press: https://tinyurl.com/wpdpcbw
The State: https://tinyurl.com/sz62wwx
The Wichita Eagle: https://tinyurl.com/uqkbvq6
Wilmington StarNews: https://tinyurl.com/vlhdqll
The Victoria Advocate: https://tinyurl.com/r846m9a
Winston-Salem Journal: https://tinyurl.com/w27glw8
CATEGORY D
Athens Banner Herald: https://tinyurl.com/wvxm8j6
Casper Star-Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/yx7zxzbv
Cherokee Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/sck2oma
College Hockey News: https://tinyurl.com/ttto5us
Columbia Missourian: https://tinyurl.com/unlrpwo
Daily American Republic: https://tinyurl.com/tzqre3y
Daily News Journal (Murfreesboro): https://tinyurl.com/tdrh26o
The Aiken Standard: https://tinyurl.com/swmqq26
The Daily Record: https://tinyurl.com/sunrlab
Denton Record Chronicle: https://tinyurl.com/vsstn47
Durham Herald-Sun: https://tinyurl.com/whjw6zq
Florence Morning News: https://tinyurl.com/rutevb8
Gamecock Central: https://tinyurl.com/ut2rpfm
GoPowercat.com: https://tinyurl.com/sho6cp6
Idaho State Journal: https://tinyurl.com/uu2ta3e
Laramie Boomerang: https://tinyurl.com/uvhkuk2
Lawrence Journal World: https://tinyurl.com/u8t92hn
Marietta Daily Journal: https://tinyurl.com/tlycf44
Mon Valley Independent: https://tinyurl.com/wttd2fu
Monticello Herald Journal: https://tinyurl.com/vxbn786
News and Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/uueaqbt
PowerMizzou.com: https://tinyurl.com/rbcjpcc
Quincy Herald-Whig: https://tinyurl.com/s5xn5h8
Rome News Tribune: https://tinyurl.com/wldatb2
Roswell Daily Record: https://tinyurl.com/rnlb2zg
Santa Cruz Sentinel: https://tinyurl.com/wtaky9h
Shasta County Sports: https://tinyurl.com/vwb6ltk
The Carlisle Sentinel: https://tinyurl.com/wt4oo6v
The Leaf Chronicle: https://tinyurl.com/s8j675d
The Manhattan Mercury: https://tinyurl.com/yx38yvaw
The Post-Star: https://tinyurl.com/uf37v2u
The Wilson Times: https://tinyurl.com/wgt7noj
Tider Insider: https://tinyurl.com/wffc93w
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: https://tinyurl.com/wvkadsg
Wyoming Tribune Eagle: https://tinyurl.com/sl46tjb
