Online reporting

Increasingly, readers are finding their news online — on desktops, through mobile devices and across social media services that transcend platform. Wick news organizations are working hard to bring readers the news they need in the format they choose.

The winning entry will demonstrate that editors and reporters have command of the tools at their disposal. It may be a single story that includes a photo gallery and keywords that brought big traffic. It may be a Web forum that engages readers, or a simple hashtag that allowed readers to communicate with each other on Twitter due to a sophisticated response from the news site. It might prove that editors have stretched themselves with BLOX tools or Google business apps.

The Online Reporting category is distinguished from the Breaking News category by the breadth of tools used and the innovative thought behind the presentation. While Breaking News by definition refers to disseminating news quickly, the Online Reporting winner may be more deliberative and isn’t necessarily tied to any news event.

Send links or screenshots that demonstrate that facility, along with a short description of the project, the names of those who worked on it and any other supporting information.

Opinion

2013 winner, Green Valley News

 

The editorial pages are the soul of our newspapers. These awards go to the newspapers that best capture the diverse opinion of their communities and help to lead the discussion on important matters. Judges will pay attention to the persuasiveness of editorials, whether columns are local, compelling and well written, and the quality and quantity of contributions from readers.

To enter, send three pdfs of newspaper opinion pages. Please send one from December 2013, one from February 2014 and a third from April 2014. Each should have a local editorial.

Enterprise

2013 winner, Half Moon Bay Review

 

This category recognizes exceptional work that goes beyond merely reporting events of the day. These are stories that uncover something important or illuminate important stories in a way that adds depth of understanding. They could be stories on an ongoing environmental issue in town, personnel problems at the high school, a probe into the police department’s arrest record or some other heretofore unknown or little known problem.

Winning entries should be no more than five links or pdfs. (Pdfs may be necessary to show print layout.) Judges will consider art, layout, depth and clarity of writing.

Community Pride

 

Your newspaper is a pillar of the community. This award acknowledges your efforts to affect positive change in your hometown. For example, winning entries may focus on a downtown revitalization effort, the need for school construction or coverage of your community’s work to end domestic violence.

Winning entries will likely include more than a one-off story and can be a collection (no more than five links or pdfs, please) of news stories, Web story printouts, editorials, photos, Web forums (an excerpt is fine) or some other evidence of your best work. They should also include a cover letter with a brief explanation of the work, evidence of positive change as a result and the people responsible for the work.