Divisions & Categories

6 Divisions

DIVISIONS 1 and 2: Daily newspaper entries will be separated into two divisions of equal number, with the higher circulation dailies competing in Division 1 and lower circulation dailies competing in Division 2.

DIVISION 3: All semi-weekly and twin weekly newspapers regardless of circulation.

DIVISIONS 4, 5 and 6: Weekly newspaper entries will be divided equally into three divisions based on the total number of entries rather than on fi xed circulation breaks. Weekly entrants must not write a division number on the contest label. The NETPA contest chairman will assign the appropriate division number.

12 Categories

General Excellence

Submit one complete issue published in calendar year 2006 during the months of March or May and one issue from any 2006 month of your choice. Wire copy and non-staff produced copy will not be considered. Judging will be based on news coverage, quality of writing, composition/ display, headlines, use of photos and art work, front page and specialty pages, such as editorial page, family life, social page and sports page. Judges will consider both issues as one entry.

Advertising

Submit full-page tearsheets of your top three advertisements (composed entirely by your staff) from any issues published in calendar year 2006. You are required to submit three advertisements and bracket each ad in heavy red marker. Judging will be based on the selling power of copy, originality/creativity, layout/design, use of photos, graphics and typography. Judges will consider all three ads as one entry.

Column Writing

Submit full-page tearsheets of staff-written columns originally written and published in calendar year 2006, one from the months of March or May and one column from any 2006 issue of your choice. (Two columnists may submit separate sets of entries.) Each set of columns will be judged as one entry. They may be written by your staff on any subject in any style. Columns must be bracketed in heavy red marker. Make sure to include jumps. Judging will be based on lead, subject matter and quality and style of writing.

Editorials

Submit full-page tearsheets of staff-written editorials originally written and published in calendar year 2006, one from the months of March or May and one from any 2006 month of your choice. Editorials must be bracketed in heavy red marker. Judging will be based on quality and lead, style of writing, subject matter and local signifi cance. Judges will consider both editorials as one entry.

Feature Story

Submit full-page tearsheets of staff-written features originally written and published in calendar year 2006, one from the months of March or May and one from any 2006 month of your choice. Feature stories must be bracketed in heavy red marker. Judging will be based on content/subject matter, quality, style and lead, and presentation, including layout, design, heads, typography, photos and use of color. Judges will consider both feature stories as one entry.

Headline Writing

Submit full-page tearsheets of your three best headlines from any issues published in calendar year 2006. The headlines must have been written by a regular staff member for a locally produced staff story. Headline entries can come from any section of a regular edition and each must be bracketed in heavy red marker. Judging will be based on accuracy, cleverness, creativity, impact and originality. Judges will consider all three headlines as one entry.

Page Design

Submit one tearsheet of each of the following:
one front page, one editorial, one sports and one family/lifestyle page from any editions published during one month of the newspaper’s choice in 2006. All pages must have been published in the same month. Judging will be based on readability, innovation, color, graphics, design features, typography, photos and other artwork. Judges will consider all four pages as one entry.

News Writing

Submit full-page tearsheets of two complete staffwritten news stories published in calendar year 2006. Bracket the stories in heavy red marker. Judging will be based on quality of writing, lead, news value and enterprise. Judges will consider both news stories as one entry.

Sports Coverage

Submit full-page tearsheets of sports pages originally published in calendar year 2006, from one issue during in the months of March or May and one issue from any 2006 month of your choice. Use heavy red marker to cross out any sports writing or photos not produced by your staff. Judging will be based on quality of writing, range of coverage, photos, layout/design and suitability of headlines. Judges will consider both issues as one entry.

Feature Photo

Submit full-page tearsheets of two feature photos originally photographed and published in calendar year 2006, one from the months of March or May and one from any 2006 month of your choice. Submit only photos taken by members of your regular staff. Use heavy red marker to bracket photos and cutlines. Judging will be based on reader interest, composition, quality of cutline, enterprise and innovation, and reproduction. Judges will consider both photos as one entry.

News Photo

Submit full-page tearsheets of two news photos originally photographed and published in calendar year 2006, one from the months of March or May and one from any 2006 month of your choice. Submit only photos taken by members of your regular staff. Use heavy red marker to bracket photos and cutlines. Judging will be based on timeliness, composition, quality of cutline, enterprise and innovation, and reproduction. Judges will consider both photos as one entry.

Sports Photo

Submit full-page tearsheets of two sports photos originally photographed and published in calendar year 2006, one from the months of March or May and one from any 2006 month of your choice. Submit only photos taken by members of your regular staff. Use heavy red marker to bracket photos and cutlines. Judging will be based on action, composition, quality of cutline, enterprise and innovation, and reproduction. Judges will consider both photos as one entry.

Journalist of the Year

- Daily Division
- Semi-Weekly Division
- Weekly Division

Submit full-page tearsheet of fi ve (5) original stories by the same writer, for the same newspaper, printed during 2006. Staple tearsheets together and place in folder with contest label on outside. One entry per newspaper.

Photographer of the Year

- Daily Division
- Semi-Weekly Division
- Weekly Division

Submit six (6) full-page tearsheets of photos (2 from sports, 2 spot news and 2 feature or stand alone photos) taken by the same photographer for the same newspaper and published during 2006. Staple tearsheets together and place in folder with contest label on outside. One entry per newspaper.

Special Section or Special Edition

- Division A: Daily newspapers
- Division B: Semi-weekly newspapers
- Divisions C and D: Weekly newspapers (two divisions of equal number)

Submit one (1) entry (complete copy) per newspaper published during calendar year 2006. Judges will consider the quality of both editorial and advertising content.

Community Service

- Daily Division
- Semi-Weekly Division
- Weekly Division

Submit in a scrapbook all evidence (i.e. news, photos, editorials, letters, programs) of your newspaper’s support of one community project conducted during calendar year 2006. Material should be securely bound in a binder, folder or scrapbook. Entries must have been published during calendar year 2006. Attach a letter describing the background and results of the project.

Sweepstakes

The North and East Texas Press Association Newspaper Contest includes one Sweepstakes award for each division. Awards are earned by point accumulation in contest categories (not including Special Section or Special Edition, Journalist of the Year or Photographer of the Year). Points shall be computed on the following scale:

General Excellence and Community Service, each:

- 1st Place: 125 points
- 2nd Place: 100 points
- 3rd Place: 75 points
- 4th Place: 50 points

Column Writing, Editorials, Feature Story, Headline Writing, Page Design, News Writing, Sports Coverage, Feature Photo, News Photo and Sports Photo (no points awarded for Special Section or Special Edition, Journalist of the Year or Photographer of the Year), each:

- 1st Place: 100 points
- 2nd Place: 75 points
- 3rd Place: 50 points
- 4th Place: 25 points

SPECIAL NOTE: In the event of a tie in sweepstakes in any division, the newspaper with the most points in the General Excellence category will be declared the winner. If neither newspaper has won a General Excellence award, the tie will be broken by determining which newspaper has the most fi rst place awards. Should this be tied, the paper then having the most second place awards will be declared the winner. The procedure will be followed through third and fourth places if necessary.

Contest Awards are Engraved Plaques for 1st place and Certificates of Merit for 2nd, 3rd and 4th places in all divisions.