Alabama AP Managing Editors Association Contest
Categories

NEWSWRITING | SPORTSWRITING | PHOTOGRAPHY | MAKEUP
COMMUNITY SERVICE | FREEDOM OF INFORMATION| INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

NEWSWRITING

Newswriting entries will be judged in six categories:

1. Deadline reporting -- Any breaking story or group of related stories appearing in a single edition which demonstrates quality performance in reporting and writing under deadline pressure.

2. Non-deadline reporting -- A story or series of stories which shows outstanding enterprise reporting on an issue of community-wide or state-wide significance.

3. Newsfeatures -- A story displaying excellent writing on a human interest or other feature topic.

4. Lifestyle features -- Any lifestyle-oriented feature stories.

5. Business news -- Any story which gives readers better insight or understanding on a business or financial topic or issue.

6. Education news -- Any story which gives readers better insight or understanding on an education topic or issue

SPORTSWRITING

Sportswriting entries will be judged in five categories:

1. Deadline reporting -- A sports story or stories in a single edition in which quality performance is demonstrated under deadline pressure while covering a breaking situation or a scheduled event.

2. Non-deadline reporting -- Enterprise reporting in a story or series of stories on a sports topic.

3. Sports feature -- A sports story displaying excellent writing on a human interest or other feature topic.

4. Column writing -- Sports opinion or commentary which demonstrates excellent writing and compelling insight on an issue or event. As many as three columns may be submitted as one entry.

5. Participatory sports story -- Any story which demonstrates reporting and/or writing skills on a topic about or of particular interest to recreational athletes and their involvement in individual or team sports

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography entries will be judged in nine categories:

1. Spot news -- A photograph that illustrates quality performance under deadline pressure on either a scheduled or a non-scheduled news event.

2. Feature -- A photograph that conveys the photographer's ability to capture a fresh view of an ordinary event; often a spontaneous occurrence with a strong human interest flavor.

3. Portrait/personality -- A picture capturing the character or personality of a subject.

4. Picture story -- A series of photographs that, working together, tell a story, illustrate a theme or serve as a photo essay. Maximum of six photos per entry. Entries may be composed of pictures taken over the course of the year.

5. Photo illustration -- A photograph which demonstrates the photographers skill in lighting, posing and composition in a controlled or created situation.

6. Humorous moments -- A photograph capturing a humorous moment.

7. Sports action -- A photograph which captures a key play or dramatic moment during coverage of a sporting event.

8. Sports feature -- A photograph which demonstrates skill in conveying the mood or flavor in a sporting event or activity.

9. Portfolio -- A portfolio of 10 pictures, without regard to categories, may be entered. All photographs in the portfolio must have been taken by the same photographer and must have been published in the print edition, on the paper's Web site or have moved on the AP photo wire in the contest year. One picture story may be included as a part of the entry and will count as one of the 10 possible pictures entered. Only one portfolio entry may be submitted by any one photographer. Two portfolio entries may be submitted by each newspaper.

MAKEUP

Categories:

Makeup entries will be judged in five categories:

1. Deadline page design -- A selection of no more than six pages designed under deadline pressure.

2. Non-deadline page design -- A selection of no more than six pages designed off deadline.

3. Headlines -- A collection of no more than six headlines which demonstrate the editor's skill in capturing the essence of a story and the readers' attention. Clippings or photocopies of the headlines should include the entire story accompanying each headline.

4. News graphics -- A selection of no more than six charts, maps or graphics which helps readers better understand or more quickly understand the stories they accompany.

5. Illustrations -- A selection of drawings, whether they be computer generated or board work, produced to illustrate a story and/or improve the visual appearance of a page for readers.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Community Service Award: Newspapers in each circulation class will compete for this award which is designed to recognize member newspapers for the work they do to make their communities better places to live and work.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Freedom of Information Award: Newspapers in each circulation class will compete for this award which is designed to recognize the important work done by member newspapers to ensure public access to records and meetings of interest to the public.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING:

Investigative Reporting: Newspapers in each circulation class will compete for this award, which is designed to recognize the work by newspapers to get hard-to-find information on a subject of importance to the public.

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