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2007-2008 Better Newspaper Contest Rules

The complete rules can be downloaded as a PDF file here.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE CONTEST
One of the reasons for MNA's existence, as laid down in the association's Articles of Incorporation (Art. III) is: "To secure improved standards in the practice and the profession of journalism." The purpose of this annual contest, therefore, is to recognize excellence in the various aspects of newspaper journalism so that the practice and profession in Minnesota may be advanced.

WHO MAY ENTER
All active and associate members of MNA in good standing. To be considered "in good standing," dues for 2007 and all past dues must be paid in full by September 8, 2008, the contest entry deadline. Entries will be accepted only from members meeting these criteria.

DEADLINE
Monday, September 8, 2008, 5 p.m. No entries postmarked later than September 88 will be accepted. Hand deliveries must be made to the MNA office by 5 p.m., Monday, September 8.

TIME PERIOD
Anything published from September 1, 2007, through August 31, 2008. Unless specified as a 2006 date, all dates given are in 2008. For weeklies, “the weeks which contain” means the calendar week from SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

JUDGING
Experienced newspaper editors and publishers from Iowa Press Association will be selected as judges. We will obtain judges who have been prizewinners in their own association's contest. Judges will be directed to award a first and second place in all categories where merited, or just a first place. Honorable mentions may be awarded at judges' discretion.

PRESENTATION
Awards will be presented at the 142nd Annual MNA Convention at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel South. Winners will be notified by letter from the MNA office. We will ask all winners not to publicize the fact, but wait until the Januaryconvention to do so.

HOW TO ENTER
First, read the rules! We have tried to make them clear. Judges will be instructed to give weight, in case of a tie, to the entry which most closely follows instructions. Failure to comply with instructions will be grounds for elimination from the contest. If you have questions, write or call Barbara Trebisovsky at the MNA office, 800/279-2979 or 612/278-0240.

DO NOT CLIP OUT ENTRIES. We want to see the whole page or, in some categories, the whole newspaper. Indicate the material you are entering by outlining it with a heavy felt-tipped pen. Remember: nothing less than a full-sheet entry will be accepted! Attach a label to each entry. (Make copies of the label sheet which is enclosed.) On the label is (1) name of category, (2) circulation class, (3) 2008 MNA Directory circulation, (4) name of newspaper, (5) town, and (6) name of entrant, where appropriate. Do not mount any entries on cardboard.

In categories which recognize individuals, if a person works for several newspapers under the same ownership and his or her work goes into more than one newspaper, he or she will be limited to two entries per category. Here’s an example to make it clear: A person whose editorials are published in Newspapers A and B under the same ownership may not submit more than two separate editorials. Stories or a series done by more than one writer will be counted as a single entry (one of two allowed) for the writer listed first on the contest entry form. Other writers on that series will still be able to enter twice more in that category.

In categories that require the entry of three issues, these three issues count as ONE entry at $7, NOT $21. Submit all three issues together.

In categories for individuals that allow either one or two entries, each of those entries requires a separate $7 fee. Each entry should be labeled separately. (For example, if a person submits his or her two best ads, this would be a $14 charge and each ad should be labeled as a separate entry.)

COMMON STAFF OR COMMON OWNERSHIP
If newspapers have A) the same ownership with common staff, OR B) the same ownership with common content (excluding editorial page material and news service material), then the smaller circulation paper will enter under the circulation of the largest paper in the group.When entering news categories, apply this rule to your news staff and news content.When entering advertising categories, apply this rule to your ad staff and ad content.

PACKAGING INSTRUCTIONS:
Proper packaging of entries will help the contest judges, and the MNA staff will appreciate it too.

The complete rules book can be downloaded as a PDF file here

For BNC rules, click here.