2007 Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards Society of Professional Journalists–Region 10 PMB 282 10115 Greenwood Ave. North Seattle, WA 98133-9197 DATED MATERIAL POSTMARK DEADLINES: February 1 and February 8, 2008 Complete rules, categories and entry form included

2007 Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards ELIGIBILITY Entries must have been published or broadcast in 2007. Winners will be notified May 31, 2008.* FEE $15 per entry, payable to SPJ DEADLINES TO ENTER

All broadcast, online and alt-newsweeklies entries: Postmarked by Friday, Feb. 1, 2008

All daily newspapers: Postmarked by Friday, Feb. 8, 2008 ENTRY FORMS Copy the enclosed entry form as needed. Information also is posted at www.spj.org/blog/blogs/region10 WHAT TO INCLUDE Enclose a list of all entries, sorted by category, with the names of entrants and entry titles EXACTLY as they should appear on awards.

Please verify all name spellings and update the list with last-minute substitutions. The list MUST MATCH the contents of the submission. SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO: Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards PMB 282 10115 Greenwood Ave. North Seattle, WA 98133-9197 QUESTIONS SPJ Region X Director Tom Henderson Lewiston, Idaho (208) 743-9600, ext. 225 thendeson@lmtribune.com or SPJ Contest Coordinator Ruth Pettis Seattle (206) 781-8097 ruthpett@earthlink.net

NOTE: *Awards will be given in descending order. A category will have at least a first place or no awards will be given. Only one honorable mention will be given in a category.

CATEGORIES GENERAL EXCELLENCE Region 10 brings back its General Excellence category for all divisions. Daily newspapers, radio, online and television stations will submit newspapers or newscasts from April 10, October 3 and a wildcard date of their choosing. Alternative weeklies will submit the first issue published on or after April 10 and October 3, plus a wildcard week of their choosing. Judges will look for overall excellence of content, local coverage, reporting, photography, editing, layout and graphics. Entry fee for the General Excellence category is $40.

DAILY NEWSPAPERS 1. Spot News — Coverage of any breaking news. 2. Comprehensive Coverage (single day) — Coverage of a single subject or event in one day’s paper. 3. Comprehensive Coverage (multiple days) — Coverage of one subject in a series or over time. Limit one entry per newspaper. 4. Investigative — Delving deep into an issue using investigative reporting techniques. 5. Watchdog — Reporting based on the best use of public records. 6. Crime and Justice — Reporting on law enforcement and the criminal justice system. 7. Government — Coverage of the civic arena, including politics and elections. 8. Education — Reporting on public or private schools and education trends. 9. Health — Includes coverage of medical issues, fitness and aging. 10. Science and Technology — Includes research and discovery, information technology and physical sciences. 11. Environment and Energy — Includes the natural world, land stewardship, natural resources and energy issues. 12. Consumer — Includes personal finance, investing, shopping and consumer trends. 13. Business — Reporting on business, industry, agriculture and the labor market. 14. Business Column — Commentary or advice on business and/or consumer issues. Submit three different columns. Limit one entry per person. 15. Minorities — Reporting on racial, ethnic or other minority issues. 16. Social Issues — Includes coverage of religion, age issues, poverty, welfare and societal trends.

17. Personalities — Portraits of people of interest or importance. 18. Lifestyles — Leisure activities, family life, hobbies, food, fashion, etc. 19. Short Feature — Great writing in 1,000 words or fewer. 20. Long Feature — Great writing in more than 1,000 words. Limit one entry per person. 21. Arts & Arts Criticism — Reporting on artistic endeavors, including music, cinema, the stage, architecture and the visual arts. 22. Sports News — May include game coverage or any aspect of amateur or professional sports. 23. Sports Feature — Includes human-interest stories and personality profiles from the world of athletic competition. 24. Sports Column — Submit three different columns. Limit one entry per person. 25. Editorial/Commentary — Unsigned editorials expressing the newspaper’s opinion OR signed opinions appearing on the editorial or op-ed page. Submit three different works by same author. Limit one entry per person. 26. General Column — Humorous or serious. Submit three different columns by same author. Limit one entry per person. 27. News Page Design — Page 1 or other non-features pages. Submit three different pages per entry. 28. Feature Page Design — Section front or interior feature page. Submit three different pages per entry. 29. Headlines — Submit six headlines with accompanying leads and, if relevant, photos and graphics to give judges a basis for evaluation. 30. Spot News Photography — Photo of unscheduled, breaking news. 31. General News Photography — Photo of non-breaking news. 32. Feature Photography — An image accompanying a feature story or a standalone, non-news photo. 33. Sports Photography — Capturing action, reaction or portraits from the world of athletic competition. 34. Photopage — A collection of images that explore a common theme or story. 35. Photography Portfolio — A photographer’s 10 best photos from the past year. Limit one entry per person. 36. Portrait — An image of a person or group of people that reveals the essence of the subject’s character. NOTE: All entries for the following three categories will be judged together rather than by circulation class size: 37. Graphics — Presentation of information through graphics that complement a story. Submit three different graphics per entry.

38. Illustrations — Drawings or computer-generated illustrations that complement a story. Submit three different illustrations per entry. 39. Editorial Cartoon — Cartoons expressing opinion for editorial or op-ed pages. Submit three different cartoons by one artist per entry.

ALTERNATIVE NEWSWEEKLIES DEFINITION: Open to metro-area weekly newspapers (10,000 circulation and above) that offer readers a different perspective from what generally is offered in the mainstream news media. 40. Investigative — Delving deep into an issue using investigative reporting techniques. 41. Government — Coverage of the civic arena, including politics and elections. 42. Consumer/Environmental Affairs — Natural resources and energy issues; any consumer issue. 43. Science and Health — Medical issues, fitness and aging; research and discovery, information technology and physical sciences. 44. Social Issues — Includes coverage of religion, generational issues, poverty, welfare and societal trends 45. Minorities — Reporting on racial, ethnic or other minority issues. 46. Education — Reporting on public or private schools and education trends. 47A. Lifestyle — Leisure activities, family life, hobbies, food, fashion, etc. 47B. Personalities — Portraits of people of interest or importance. 48. Criticism — Of the arts, culture or civic life. 49. Business — Reporting on business, industry, agriculture and the labor market. 50. Sports — Game coverage, human interest stories or personality profiles from the world of athletic competition. 51. Opinion — Editorials or commentaries. Submit three by the same author. Limit one entry per person. 52. Columns — Submit three consecutive columns on any subject. 53. Humor — Any humorous writing. 54. Headlines — Submit six headlines with accompanying leads and, if relevant, photos and graphics to give judges a basis for evaluation. 55. Special Section — Must include original content produced by editorial staff. 56. Page Design — Submit three examples of pages, section fronts, covers or a combination.

57. News Photography — Unscheduled, breaking news or non-breaking news. 58. Feature Photography — A portrait, an image accompanying a feature story or a standalone, non-news photo. 59. Sports Photography — Capturing action, reaction or portraits from the world of athletic competition. 60. Photopage — A collection of images that explore a common theme or story. 61. Portfolio Photography — A photographer’s 10 best photos from the past year. Limit one entry per person. (For this category only, entries may include photos also entered in another category.) 62. Portrait — An image of a person or group of people that reveals the essence of the subject’s character. 63. Illustration — Drawings or computer-generated illustrations that complement a story. Submit three different illustrations per entry. 64. Cartoon — Any type of cartoon, single or multiple panels. Submit three by same artist per entry.

TELEVISION 65. Newscast — Daily newscast. Submit two different newscasts; limit one entry per station. 66. Spot News — Deadline reporting of an unplanned event for which there is no planning time. 67. General News — Reporting of non-breaking news. 68. Feature News — Human interest stories and profiles. 69. Investigative — Delving deep into an issue using investigative reporting techniques. 70. Documentary — A single report of any length, showing extraordinary enterprise and airing outside of regularly scheduled programs. 71. Sports — Sports event, issue or profile, whether part of regular sportscast or special coverage. 72. News photojournalism — Visual storytelling of a news story. 73. Feature photojournalism — Visual storytelling of a feature story.

RADIO 74. Newscast — Daily newscast. Submit two different newscasts; limit one entry per station. 75. Spot News — Deadline reporting of an unplanned event for which there is no planning time. 76. General News — Reporting of non-breaking news. 77. Feature News — Human interest stories and profiles.

78. Investigative — Delving deep into an issue using investigative reporting techniques. 79. Documentary — Single report or series documenting a single subject, issue or problem. 80. News Series — Multipart series exploring a particular subject, issue or problem. 81. Sports — Sports event, issue or profile, whether part of regular sportscast or special coverage. 82. Commentary, Analysis and Editorial — Editorial, general commentary or analysis of an event or issue by an individual or station. 83. Nationally Edited Story — Any locally reported story edited by national network for national broadcast.

ONLINE DEFINITIONS: • Original — Works created exclusively for the Web, with only

incidental use of work created for other media, such as wire photos or links to adapted material.

• Adaptation — Web versions of works created for parallel print or broadcast editions, or supplements to such works. Such entries must include a statement explaining how the online version differed from or enhanced the coverage, and the submitted materials must show that the site did more than just replay the story.

• Affiliated — Web sites that are affiliated by ownership or brand with organizations whose primary outlets are not based on the Web, such as broadcast stations, newspapers or magazines.

• Standalone — Web sites that are not affiliated by ownership or brand with print or broadcast media outlets.

84A. Spot News (Original) — A Web-original report published in a breaking news environment. 84B. Spot News (Adaptation) — A breaking news report adapted for the Web from material published in another medium. 85A. Special Report / Enterprise (Original) — A Web original news feature package, special report or enterprise report on a single subject. 85B. Special Report / Enterprise (Adaptation) — A news feature package, special report or enterprise report on a single subject, adapted for the Web from material published in another medium. 86A. Arts / Entertainment / Lifestyle (Original) — Up to three unrelated Web pages, prepared exclusively for the Web. 86B. Arts / Entertainment / Lifestyle (Adaptation) — Up to three unrelated Web pages, adapted from material published in another medium. 87A. Business (Original) — Up to three unrelated Web pages, prepared exclusively for the Web. 87B. Business (Adaptation) — Up to three unrelated Web pages, adapted from material published in another medium.

88A. Sports (Original) — Up to three unrelated Web pages, prepared exclusively for the Web. 88B. Sports (Adaptation) — Up to three unrelated Web pages, adapted from material published in another medium. 89A. Creative Use of the Medium (Original) — Web address plus printout indicating the feature being entered. Content developed exclusively for online medium. 89B. Creative Use of the Medium (Adaptation) — Web address plus printout indicating the feature being entered. Content adapted from print or broadcast media. 90. Best Web Log (General News and Commentary) — Up to three examples from either affiliated or standalone Web site. 91. Best Web Log (Specialized) — Up to three examples from either affiliated or standalone Web site. 92A. Best Overall Web Site (Standalone) — Submit Web site address. Judges will evaluate current site over a two-week period and assign a score of 100 based on the following criteria: design (25%), content (25%), ease of navigation (10%), useful features (10%), interactivity (10%), download speed and reliability (5%), overall quality (15%). 92B. Best Overall Web Site (Affiliated) — Submit Web site address. Judges will evaluate current site using weighted formula described under 92A. 93A. Best Web Design (Standalone) — Submit Web site address. Judges will evaluate current site over a two-week period and will consider such factors as attractiveness, logical design and graphics. 93B. Best Web Design (Affiliated) — Submit Web site address. Judges will evaluate current site over a two-week period and will consider factors described under 93A. 94. Public Service on the Web — Submit Web site address. Judges will evaluate how the current Web site serves the public interest and whether the site shows extraordinary effort on the part of its publisher. 95. Slideshow/Photo — News, feature or sports journalism presented in slide show format. Animation can be used only to advance from one image to another.

ENTRY CLASSIFICATION KEY Use the following key to determine in which classification your entries fall. Entries must note the letter corresponding to the appropriate classification. A — Daily newspaper, circulation 25,000 or less B — Daily newspaper, circulation 25,001-65,000 C — Daily newspaper, circulation 65,001+ D — Alternative newsweeklies, circulation 10,000+ E — Television (markets 161 to 210) F — Television (markets 101 to 160) G — Television (markets 1 to 100) H — Radio I — Online

RULES

GENERAL RULES■ Contest covers work published or broadcast in 2007.■ A story, photo, illustration or any other type of entry may not be entered in more than one category. However, a piece of work that is part of a “Comprehensive Coverage” submission also may be entered individually in one other category.■ A contestant may enter as many categories as desired.■ Unless otherwise noted, there is a LIMIT OF TWO ENTRIES PER PERSON in any one category. Team entries (four or more contributors) do not count toward this limit.■ Entrants from smaller class sizes may enter work in larger classifications (applies to daily newspapers and TV stations).■ Freelancers and news service employees may participate.■ If a category receives fewer than three total entries from all contestants, the category will be eliminated from the contest and the entry fees for that category will be refunded.■ No part of any entry will be returned. SPJ reserves the right to use any part or the whole entry for publicity or educational purposes.■ SPJ reserves the right to disqualify or reclassify any entry in accordance with contest rules.

GENERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS■ Print names and entry titles legibly on entry form; awards will be prepared using this information. ■ An entry with four or more contributors shall be labeled a staff entry.■ Letters of explanation are allowed, but not supporting material such as letters from sources.■ News organizations must include a list of all entries. List entries by category and include the names of entrants and entry titles EXACTLY as they should appear on awards. Please verify all name spellings and update the list with last-minute substitutions. The list MUST MATCH the contents of the submission.■ The contest fee of $15 per entry must accompany the submission.■ Make checks payable to SPJ.

NEWSPAPER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS■ Package each entry neatly inside an 8-by-11-inch file folder, and staple the completed entry form (see other side) to the outside of the folder. DO NOT USE PAPER CLIPS.

■ Entries may be full tear sheets, clippings or copies of articles as published. No library or database printouts.■ For photo entries, tear sheets are preferred. An 8x10 print, with a clip of the published photo attached to the back, is acceptable. CDs are accepted.

■ Circulation classifications do not apply to categories 37 (graphics), 38 (illustrations) and 39 (editorial cartoon). These entries will be judged in one class size.■ Only one entry per newspaper will be accepted for category 3 (comprehensive coverage, multiple days ).■ Only one entry per person will be accepted for categories 14, 20, 24, 25, 26, 35, 51 and 61.

BROADCAST ENTRY REQUIREMENTS■ Entries may be submitted on video or audio cassette, or on DVD or CD. Mark the entry name, class size and category number on each tape or disc.■ Attach entry forms to the cassette case or disc case. ■ Do not group entries in different categories on the same cassette or disc.

ONLINE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS■ A majority of the editorial staff must work in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana or Alaska.■ The public service category is open to public-interest as well as news sites.■ In specific-content categories, the entry must have been published in 2007. In Web log categories, entrants may cite up to three sample Web pages for judges to review, but judges also will consider overall journalistic excellence over the entire calendar year. In overall-site categories, the entered sites will be evaluated over an unspecified two-week period.■ Entries in specific-content categories may not be submitted in more than one category. Only two entries per person per category allowed. In the case of multiple bylines on an individual entry, each writer will be counted as having entered once in this contest.■ If entered Web pages are accessible February through April 2008, submit the Web page addresses. Printouts of Web pages, or disks containing the digital entry, may be submitted as alternatives in the specific-content categories.

JUDGING CRITERIA

GENERAL JUDGING CRITERIA■ Generally, judges will consider the following criteria in evaluating reporting: clarity and readability, significance of topic, timeliness, balance and fairness, enterprise, style, effectiveness of interpretation, completeness.■ Editorials and opinion columns will be evaluated on clarity and readability, originality, style, construction and effectiveness of persuasion.■ Photography, graphics, illustration and layout will be evaluated on impact, composition, creativity and technical proficiency.■ Judges also will be asked to consider SPJ’s Code of Ethics (www.spj.org/ethics.asp) where applicable.

ONLINE JUDGING CRITERIA■ Online originals will be judged on the basis of significance of topic, balance and fairness, completeness, timeliness and online enhancements such as interactive graphics, audio and video.

■ Online adaptations will be judged by how well the original, non-online content was adapted to take advantage of the online medium, as well as how the original content was supplemented by exclusive online enhancements.■ Web logs will be judged by the journalistic standards listed for online originals. Personal flair and breadth of content particularly are valued in general news and commentary entries. Expertise and depth of content particularly are valued in specialized-content entries.■ The "creative use of the medium" category highlights online news offerings that would be difficult or impossible to duplicate in other news media, by taking unique advantage of computer technology or by combining interactive elements from multiple media. The offering may be a part of a larger news package.■ The public service award recognizes special efforts to extend news, information and commentary to the online medium, in service of the public welfare. Entrants may include public-interest Web sites operated by professionals, students or amateurs. This award is based on merit and may not necessarily be awarded every year.

ENTRY FORM

Please print clearly

CLASSIFICATION (circle one)

A B C D E F G H I

CATEGORY NUMBER ________________

CATEGORY NAME __________________

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ENTRY TITLE __________________________

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ENTRANT(S) __________________________

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NEWS ORGANIZATION _______________________

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ADDRESS __________________________________________

CITY ________________ STATE ___ ZIP _______

PHONE ___________________________________

EMAIL ___________________________________

CONTACT INFORMATION: For notification of winners

NAME ___________________________________

PHONE ___________________________________

EMAIL ___________________________________