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CATEGORY DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS
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NOTE:
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SPECIAL AWARDS (Categories 101, 102 and 103)
REQUIRE A LETTER OF NOMINATION FROM THE PUBLISHER OR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR.
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NEW for 2014:
Many of the contest categories are now open to all local media companies (print, broadcast, digital, etc). These categories (#101 thru #14) are noted in the category descriptions as, (Open To All Local Media Companies). Judges will award winners in these categories regardless of the media platform.
The following contest categories are open to All Local Media Companies:
Category 101 - ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
This award will be presented to an individual who has shown outstanding leadership in your organization and has been employed by your media company during the contest year. A letter of nomination should be submitted by the nominee's boss or supervisor, or a senior-level executive that works closely with the candidate. Multiple letters are acceptable. This letter should be a maximum of two typewritten pages and should include specific, thoughtful reasons for nomination. Criteria to be considered include measurable results of this person's efforts (e.g., retention and development of sales staff, community leadership in advertising & marketing area, revenue growth, development of new advertising products, etc.).
Category 102 - BEST DIGITAL SALES MANAGER OF THE YEAR
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
This award will be presented to an individual responsible for leading your company’s digital sales team resulting in revenue increases directly associated with digital products. Criteria to be considered include measurable results of this person's efforts (e.g., sales staff recruitment/training, product/service development, year-over-year revenue growth, etc.). A letter of nomination should be submitted by the nominee's boss or supervisor, or a senior-level executive that works closely with the candidate. Multiple letters are acceptable. This letter should be a maximum of two typewritten pages and should include specific, thoughtful reasons for nomination.
Category 103 - BEST INNOVATION
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
This award will be presented to an advertising staff that has embraced a culture of innovation or to a member of the staff that has created such a culture. A letter of nomination should be submitted by the nominee's boss or supervisor, or a senior-level executive that works closely with the candidate. Multiple letters are acceptable. This letter should be a maximum of two typewritten pages and should include specific, thoughtful reasons for nomination. We are specifically looking for strategies that make innovation repeatable at your company. Do you include time for innovation at every staff meeting? Have you appointed an innovation champion? Are you rewarding employees for developing new ideas? Be sure to share some of the results from these efforts to support your nomination. You do not need to submit this entry in a specific circulation class.
Category 1 - BEST EVENT MARKETING
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
Entries in this category must include a description of the ‘live’ event being promoted within your market. Description should include a complete overview of the marketing timeline, all promotional/sponsorship material and a summary of the results detailing the size of the event, revenue generated and whether or not this event will be repeated in the future.
Category 2 - BEST PROMOTION TO BUILD AUDIENCE OF ALL PRODUCTS
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
Entries in this category must include materials used to promote the local media website, newspaper, broadcast station(s)and/or digital products in order to increase overall audience. Entries should demonstrate the media company’s efforts as part of an ongoing campaign. Materials should include samples of direct mail pieces, radio and/or television advertising (audio recordings are required), billboard advertising (photos accepted in PDF, JPG or GIF formats), digital advertising (screen shots of your newspaper’s website or URL listing required), advertising in other local media outlets, etc. Please include a brief letter noting results for the local media company (letter should not exceed one typewritten page).
Category 3 - BEST ADVERTISING SALES PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
Entries in this category must include materials used to promote the local media company’s products to current and prospective advertisers as an effective advertising vehicle. Materials may include brochures, demographic information, readership profiles, maps and other graphics, circulation information, URL’s, testimonials, etc. Please include a brief letter noting results for the company.
Category 4 - BEST INTERNAL COMMUNICATION
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
Entries in this category must include materials used to communicate news and information about the company and its programs to employees. Entries should demonstrate the company’s efforts as part of an ongoing communications program. Materials should include original samples of newsletters, policy manuals, brochures, employee bulletins, Intranet (screen shot(s) required), etc. Please include a brief letter noting results for the company and its employees (letter should not exceed one typewritten page).
Category 5 - BEST RATE CARD
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
Entries in this category should consist of all rate cards used to sell your primary products. PDF’s and screen shots of on-line rate cards are accepted.
Category 6 - BEST NEW LOCAL CONTEST
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
Entries for this category must have appeared for the first time during the contest calendar year. Description should include an overview of the contest, all print, broadcast and/or digital promotional material and a summary of the results detailing the number of contest entries, sponsors’ participation, prizes awarded and new revenue directly attributed to the contest.
Category 7 - BEST PUBLIC SERVICE/COMMUNITY EVENT PROMOTION
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
Entries in this category must include materials used to promote the local media company’s involvement in a community event or organization, its promotional efforts on behalf of a community event or organization, or the company’s public relations activities. Entries should demonstrate the company’s efforts as part of an ongoing public service campaign. Materials should include house ads, samples of direct mail pieces, radio and/or television advertising (audio recordings are required), billboard advertising (photos accepted in PDF, JPG or GIF formats), digital advertising (screen shots of your website or URL listing required), etc. Please include a brief letter noting results for company and community event or organization (letter should not exceed one typewritten page).
Category 8 - BEST AD SERIES
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
Entry must have appeared in print (newspaper or magazine) and include three or more ads in a series. Overall design should be original and not from clip art service (one or two pieces of clip art is acceptable as long as it is not the focus of the ad). Judging will be based on uniqueness of copy, stylization, graphics, overall impact, and coordination of the theme.
Category 9 - BEST NEW SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
(ROP AND/OR CLASSIFIED – Newspaper or Magazine)
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
This entry must be a new special section published in print (newspaper or magazine) and introduced and published for the first time during the contest calendar year. It may have been published once or up to a maximum of four times during the contest year. Please include a brief letter noting results for advertisers and the newspaper (letter should not exceed one typewritten page).
Category 10 – BEST WILCARD - NICHE PRODUCT
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
This entry should be a niche print or digital product developed and targeted to a specific group in your community and not from one of the below niche product categories. It should be a stand-alone publication. Please include a brief letter explaining whom the product is distributed to, how it is distributed and why it is successful in your community.
Category 11 – BEST UNDER 18 MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
This entry should be a print or digital publication that is published at least two times per year and focused exclusively on readers under 18 years of age. Entry will be judged on layout, creativity, promotions, advertising and content. In a brief letter, please explain how the product is distributed and why it is successful in your community.
Category 12 – BEST MULTIMEDIA AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCT
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
This entry should be an automotive publication that is published in print or digitally at least four times per year. Please explain how this product is distributed and why it is successful in your community.
Category 13 – BEST MULIMEDIA REAL ESTATE OR HOMES PRODUCT
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
This entry should be a “homes” publication that is published in print or digitally and is distributed separately from your main product. Please explain how this product is distributed and why it is successful in your community.
NEW: Category 14 – BEST MULIMEDIA WELLNESS/MEDICAL PRODUCT
(Open To All Local Media Companies)
This entry should be a print or digital publication that focuses on Wellness and/or Medical issues within your community and is distributed separately from your main product. Please explain how this product is distributed and why it is successful in your community.
NOTE: The following contest categories are open to Newspaper Publishers Only
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL CATEGORIES ARE DIVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING CIRCULATION CLASSES:
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**NON-DAILY NEWSPAPERS** (Publishes 3 times per week or less)
Class A: Up to 50,000 (non-daily)
Class B: Over 50,001 (non-daily)
**DAILY NEWSPAPERS** (Publishes 4 times per week or more)
Class C: Up to 25,000 (daily)
Class D: Over 25,001 (daily)
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Category 15 - BEST ROP ADVERTISING SECTION
(Open to Newspapers Only)
This category includes all regularly published (at least monthly) retail advertising sections such as food, entertainment, lifestyles, fashion, etc., designed to increase advertising lineage. Entries should not include business or homes sections (see Categories 26 and 27). Please include a brief letter noting results for advertisers and the newspaper (letter should not exceed one typewritten page).
Category 16 - BEST PRINT CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION
(Open to Newspapers Only - All Newspaper Classes Combined)
This category includes a grouping of regularly published (at least monthly) classified advertising, which may or may not have editorial support, sold regularly and exclusively by the classified advertising department. Examples include: auction sections, church sections, coupon sections, pre-school sections, etc., but not signature sections or pages (see Category 24). Please include a brief letter noting results for advertisers and the newspaper.
Category 17 - BEST GENERAL INTEREST PROMOTION SPECIAL
(Open to Newspapers Only)
This category should be a retail advertising special section (published a maximum of four times yearly) such as bridal, newcomers, senior citizens, travel, progress or community edition, but should not be for a single merchant group such as a shopping mall (see Category 18). Judging will be based on originality, overall appearance, relevant editorial and advertising support, and results. Do not enter business publications/sections or homes publications/sections in this category (see Categories 26 and 27). Please include a brief letter noting results for advertisers and the newspaper (letter should not exceed one typewritten page).
Category 18 - BEST SHOPPING AREA PROMOTION SPECIAL SECTION
(Open to Newspapers Only)
This category is for special sections (not necessarily published on a regular schedule) published to promote a shopping center, mall or other specific advertising area. Judging will be based on the most original and creative ideas. Please include a brief letter noting results for advertisers and the newspaper (letter should not exceed one typewritten page).
Category 19 - BEST SINGLE BLACK & WHITE ROP AD
(Open to Newspapers Only - All Newspaper Classes Combined)
Judging will be based on uniqueness of copy, stylization, graphics and overall impact. Overall design should be original and not from clip art service (one or two pieces of clip art is acceptable as long as it is not the focus of the ad). Any size ad is eligible.
Category 20 - BEST SINGLE BLACK & WHITE CLASSIFIED AD
(Open to Newspapers Only - All Newspaper Classes Combined)
Judging will be based on uniqueness of copy, stylization, graphics and overall impact. Overall design should be original and not from clip art service (one or two pieces of clip art is acceptable as long as it is not the focus of the ad). Any size ad is eligible.
Category 21 - BEST SINGLE ROP AD - TWO OR MORE COLORS
(Open to Newspapers Only)
This entry must be locally sold, created and printed by your newspaper. Entry may consist of any size ad utilizing color in ROP advertising or in-paper promotional advertising. Section covers should not be entered unless they are advertisements. Overall design should be original and not from clip art service (one or two pieces of clip art is acceptable as long as it is not the focus of the ad). Judging will be based on uniqueness, stylization, graphics and overall impact.
Category 22 - BEST SINGLE CLASSIFIED AD - TWO OR MORE COLORS
(Open to Newspapers Only - All Newspaper Classes Combined)
This entry must be locally sold, created and printed by your newspaper. Entry may consist of any size ad utilizing color in classified advertising or in-paper promotional advertising. Overall design should be original and not from clip art service (one or two pieces of clip art is acceptable as long as it is not the focus of the ad). Judging will be based on uniqueness of copy, stylization, graphics and overall impact.
Category 23 - BEST COVER DESIGN
(Open to Newspapers Only)
This category is for the best front page of a special section. Overall design should be original and not from clip art service (one or two pieces of clip art is acceptable as long as it is not the focus of the ad). Judging will be based on uniqueness of copy, stylization, graphics and overall impact.
Category 24 - BEST SIGNATURE PAGE OR SIGNATURE SECTION
(Open to Newspapers Only)
Judging will be based on originality, overall appearance, graphics and coordination of the theme. A signature page or section consists of business card-type ads supporting one theme, such as local merchants showing their support for the high school football team, etc.
Category 25 - BEST GRAPHICALLY DESIGNED CLASSIFIED SECTION
(Open to Newspapers Only)
Judging will be based on the overall appearance, organization and use of indices within the classified section, which have positively impacted overall readership and volume for advertisers. Judges will look for the most effective use of graphic design relating to overall typography. Color, if used, also will be considered. Entries will be judged on quality, not quantity of ads.
Category 26 - BEST BUSINESS PUBLICATION OR BUSINESS SPECIAL SECTION
(Open to Newspapers Only)
This entry should be a business publication or special section, which includes advertising geared specifically to the business community. Judging will be based on originality, overall appearance, and relevant editorial and advertising support.
Category 27 - BEST HOMES PUBLICATION OR HOMES SPECIAL SECTION
(Open to Newspapers Only)
This entry should be a "homes" publication or special section that includes advertising geared specifically to the area of homes. Judging will be based on originality, overall appearance, and relevant editorial and advertising support. This section must run in the newspaper
Category 28 - BEST CLASSIFIED SPECIAL SECTION
(Open to Newspapers Only)
This entry should be a classified advertising special section such as a special automotive section, employment section, or rental section. (Do not enter Homes Publications – see Category 27) This should be a section that was published separately from the regular classified section and contains editorial relating to the advertising
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