Better Newspaper Contest Results 2005
The SIEA Better Newspaper Contest features two competitions, one in which member papers are judged for content in two editions published during the contest year, the other where they may submit entries on their own.
In the so-called pull competition, newspapers compete in four circulation divisions (click the division for contest results):
- Division A-small weeklies (2,700 circulation and under)
- Division B-large weeklies (Over 2,700)
- Division C-small dailies (Under 25,000)
- Division D-large dailies (Over 25,000)
Judges for the pull competition rate the weeklies’ and small dailies’ efforts in seven performance categories:
- Best Local News Coverage
- Newspaper Design
- Best Use of Photography
- Best Editorial Page
- Advertising Excellence
- Best Local Sports Coverage
- General Excellence
Large dailies compete only for the General Excellence award.
Dates used for the pull week are chosen randomly; competitors don’t know in advance which editions are going to be judged. The two dates chosen are the same for all papers. Pull weeks for this year’s contest were the weeks of 10/10/04 - 10/16/04 and 10/31/04 - 11/06/04. This year editors also had the option of substituting a week of their choice for the first week.
Member papers compete against each other regardless of circulation figures in the open competition. Entrants may submit material in eight judging categories (click the category for contest results):
- Best Editorial
- Best Sports Photo
- Best Feature Story
- Community Service
- Charlie Feirich Original Column Competition
- Best Photo Feature
- Best News Photo
- Best Education Story
Judges selected each year by the SIEA executive secretary rank papers numerically in each category. SIEA awards first, second and third place and honorable mentions where appropriate. Questions about the judging procedures can be directed to the SIEA Executive Secretary.