Rules 2008

BEST OF GATEHOUSE

2008

THE BEST OF GATEHOUSE 2008 Highlighting and rewarding the most extraordinary journalism crafted by our newsrooms, and recognizing our best newspapers of the year.

j ELIGIBILITY

Denotes a change from last year. The Best of GateHouse competition is open to full-time newsroom employees of GateHouse Media Inc. Work produced pre-GateHouse ownership in 2008 also is eligible.

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DEADLINE

This is a calendar-year competition – only work published in 2008 is eligible. All entries must be postmarked by Jan. 16, 2009.

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Divisions

A: 17,501-circulation or greater dailies publishing five-times weekly or more B: 17,500-circulation or less dailies publishing five-times weekly or more C: Non-dailies (publishing four or fewer times per week)

Announcements

Prizes

Winners will be announced by e-mail and at www.GHnewsroom.com as soon as possible following judging. A book showcasing winners will be published and distributed soon after judging is complete. Watch www.GHnewsroom.com for a live blog about the judging. “Newspaper of the Year” prizes will be announced after the judging. Individual category champions and runners up will receive cash awards, as well as display pieces.

Newspaper of the year AWARD In each division, one newspaper will be named “Newspaper of the Year.” How to enter

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Submit two editions: Two clean copies from two days should be submitted. Locally produced special sections or advertising inserts may be left in those editions. One edition that published on or nearest to Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008. A second edition of your choosing from anytime in 2008. Submit narrative and questionnaire: A narrative from the editor or publisher should accompany the two editions. Not to exceed two double-spaced pages, the letter should highlight initiatives in culture, service, content and brand. Judges will look for action and results, rather than heartfelt commitment. Details such as project dates, before-and-after measurements, increases in circulation or revenue, and community commendations should be cited. (See Page 6 for questionnaire)

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Submit supporting material: Before-and-after tearsheets of a redesign, copies of awards, letters from readers may be submitted, within reason. Also include links and screenshots to new online initiatives, new editorial products and projects that show growth in readership in both print and online.

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Best pages and sections: In addition to a Newspaper of the Year award, awards will be given for the following pages and sections as part of this award: Local news, sports, features, opinioin, entertaiment sections or tabs and special sectins. Consider including tear sheets of your work in those sectins in yoiur Newspaper of the Year submissin. Packaging: Place the two editions, your narrative, supporting materials and best pages and sections in an envelope large enough to keep the entry as neat as possible. This will be submitted as part of a larger competition package. (See Page 5)

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Individual awards In each division, one newspaper will be named “Newspaper of the Year.” Categories

There are nine award categories in each of the three divisions. For each division and each category, one entry may be named champion. Judges will name as many runners up as they see fit. Judges reserve the right to move entries from one category to another, if appropriate. 1. News Writer of the Year: Recognizes the body of work of a news reporter.

A tip

2. Features Writer of the Year: Recognizes body of work of a reporter in topics such as – but not limited to – health and fitness, food, home and garden, religion and other lifestyle-oriented topics that may be found throughout your publication.

Body of work categories should show diversity in your entry. Treat your entry as if it were a small portfolio.

3. Sports Writer of the Year: Recognizes sports story and column writing. 4. Editorial Writer of the Year: Recognizes editorials produced by one writer. 5. Columnist of the Year: Recognizes news and features columnists. 6. Designer of the Year: Recognizes news, sports and features designers. 7. Photographer of the Year: Recognizes photojournalists.

Don’t forget Entries must be postmarked by Jan. 16, 2009.

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8. Project of the Year: Recognizes the efforts of an individual or group in the exemplary coverage of an issue or public service. Project could be a special section or series.

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9. Multimedia initiatives: Recognizes efforts of an individual, group project or bodies of work that include breaking news coverage, blogs, video, photo galleries, databases or other interactive projects. Categories 1 through 7: Awards in these categories are given to an individual and are based on Find online body of work. Three submissions constitute one You can download contest entry. For reporters, three stories equal one entry. rules, entry forms and find If a multi-day series is involved, the entire series answers to questions at constitutes one-third of an entry, regardless of the www.GHnewsroom.com. number of main bars, sidebars, etc., involved. Webonly content is eligible. For page designers, three pages constitute one entry. However, a singletopic, multi-page spread would equal one-third of an entry. Any series, jump pages with connection to a main page, or the like, equal one-third of an entry. For photographers, one photo constitutes one-third of an entry. However, multiple photos in a single package equal one-third of an entry. A photo story equals one-third of an entry. Multi-day series photography equals one-third of an entry. Web-only content is eligible. Categories 8 and 9: Awards in these categories recognize multiple staff members or newspapers, and are not body of work categories. For more information on entering the individual competition, see the next section.

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Individual awards How to enter

(Continued)

Please note that for individual submissions to be eligible for recognition, newspapers also must enter the “Newspaper of the Year” competition. Individual award entries must arrive in the same package as the “Newspaper of the Year” entry. Follow these step-by-step instructions for entering individual awards categories carefully – failure to follow instructions may result in disqualification. Please note that full tearsheets are required in every category. Entry forms are on the last page of this document and can be photocopied. Categories 1-5, reporting: 1) Neatly cut out the entire page on which your story appears. If it jumps, cut out the jump page and staple it to the first tearsheet in the upper left corner. 2) Do this for each of the three submissions comprising your entry. 3) Neatly fold the entry and place it inside a manila folder. 4) Staple a completed entry form to the front of the folder. *Web-only content submissions: See note below. Category 6, designers: 1) Neatly cut out your page from the newsDon’t forget paper. If you have multiple pages Entries must be postmarked Jan. 16, 2009. comprising one-third of your entry (see “Individual Awards: Categories” on page 3), staple them to the main page in the upper left corner. 2) Do this for each of the three pieces comprising your entry. 3) Neatly fold the entry and place it inside a manila folder. 4) Staple a completed entry form to the front of the folder. *Web-only content submissions: See note below.

A must

For individual submissions to be eligible, newspapers also must enter the “Newspaper of the Year” competition.

Category 7, photographers: 1) Neatly cut out the page on which your photo(s) appear. If there are multiple pages comprising one-third of your entry (see “Individual Awards: Categories” on page 3), staple them to the main page in the upper left corner. 2) Do this for each of the three pieces comprising your entry. 3) Neatly fold the entry and place it inside a manila folder. 4) Staple a completed entry form to the front of the folder. *Web-only content submissions: See note below.

note

Online-only content is eligible for recognition in every category. Submissions must include a printout of a screenshot that shows the page URL.

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Category 8, Project of the Year: 1) Neatly cut out the entire page on which your story appears. If it jumps and/or publishes multiple days, cut out the jump page and staple it to the first tearsheet in the upper left corner. If more than one day is involved, staple all pages in the order they appeared. If a section is being submitted for consideration, please submit a complete, clean copy. 2) Neatly fold the entry and place it inside a manila folder. 3) Staple a completed entry form to the front of the folder.

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Category 9, Multimedia Initiatives: All online-only entries must include: 1) A letter explaining the project and why the project is more appropriate for online. 2) A printout of a screenshot of each link that shows the URL to the main and secondary project pages of your newspaper Web site.

GateHouse Media is not responsible for lost, misdirected or late entries; participants are responsible for choosing a reliable method of delivery. Judges’ decisions are final. Contest may be discontinued or modified at any time without notice. There will be no transfer or substitution of prizes.

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How to submit your entries Entries from one newspaper must arrive in one package. Follow mailing instructions carefully.

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Place Newspaper of the Year editions, narrative, best pages and sections, supporting material inside envelope with division letter clearly labeled on exterior.

Place each individual category entry in a manila folder and staple completed entry form to front.

DIVISION A

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Place Newspaper of the Year envelope and individual entry folders inside large envelope or box, with division letter clearly labeled on exterior.

Entries should be postmarked no later than Jan. 16, 2009, and mailed to: GateHouse Media Inc. ATTN: Jennifer Babor 1101 W. 31st St., Suite 185 Downers Grove, IL 60515 Notification will be sent upon receipt.

DIVISION A

Questions about packaging?

Contact Brad Dennison, vice president of content/news operations for GateHouse Media, at [email protected] or (585) 802-3688.

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Newspaper of the year QUESTIONNAIRE This questionnaire must be submitted with your Newspaper of the Year entry. Offer as many specifics as possible. You’re also encouraged to submit a narrative up to two double-spaced pages that highlights work accomplished within your newsroom in 2008. Name of newspaper: City & state: Web site: Circulation: Total Newsroom full-time employees: n Reporters: n Photographers: n Designers: Were there any structural changes made to your newsroom this year and why?

What new initiatives did your newspaper launch this year?

What improvements did you make to your story telling and packaging (public service projects, alternative story formats) this year?

How did you involve readers in your newspaper (Reader Advisory Boards, focus groups, contests, readersubmitted content) this year?

How did you embrace a web-first culture (News Now, web updates, video) this year?

What were the major challenges your newsroom faced this year?

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ENTRY FORM

THE BEST OF GATEHOUSE 2008 DIVISION (Circle one)

A B C

See page 2 for your circulation division

NEWSPAPER NAME, CITY, STATE

____________________________________________________________________________ Name, Phone NUMBER, E-mail ADDRESS of each entrant

____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Category (check one)

submission title (if needed)

___ 1. News Writer of the Year ___ 2. Features Writer of the Year ___ 3. Sports Writer of the Year ___ 4. Editorial Writer of the Year ___ 5. Columnist of the Year ___ 6. Designer of the Year ___ 7. Photographer of the Year ___ 8. Project of the Year ___ 9. Multimedia/Web-only

_______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________

Don’t forget

Entries must be postmarked no later than Jan. 16, 2009.

ENTRY FORM

THE BEST OF GATEHOUSE 2008 DIVISION (circle one)

A B C

See page 2 for your circulation division

NEWSPAPER NAME, CITY, STATE

____________________________________________________________________________ Name, Phone NUMBER, E-mail ADDRESS of each entrant

____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Category (check one)

submission title (if needed)

___ 1. News Writer of the Year ___ 2. Features Writer of the Year ___ 3. Sports Writer of the Year ___ 4. Editorial Writer of the Year ___ 5. Columnist of the Year ___ 6. Designer of the Year ___ 7. Photographer of the Year ___ 8. Project of the Year ___ 9. Multimedia/Web-only

_______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________

Don’t forget

Entries must be postmarked no later than Jan. 16, 2009.