ARIZONA PRESS CLUB
2020 AWARDS COMPETITION FOR THE BEST JOURNALISM IN ARIZONA
PART I
THE RULES FOR WRITING, DESIGN AND PHOTOJOURNALISM
ELIGIBILITY
Journalists are considered members of the Arizona Press Club if they work in the production of news for any Arizona newspaper, online news site, periodical or news service whose primary purpose is to inform the public rather than to sell products or promote a business, government, nonprofit organization or ideology.
All photographers (staff, part-time, freelance, contract and college student) are eligible if they are Arizona residents who had their work published in print or online by a news/sports gathering organization during 2020. Wire service and agency photographers based in Arizona are eligible.
Entries must have been originally published in 2020.
All entries must have been produced for the editorial department of an Arizona publication, news website or wire service. Work produced for advertising, marketing or other departments is not eligible. Eligible publications must have editorial independence and exist primarily to produce news. Advocacy groups that produce news are not eligible.
Stories reported or written by or for publications or websites based outside Arizona are not eligible.
DEADLINE
Entries must be submitted by May 10, 2021, unless entrants make special arrangements in advance with Press Club contest chair Becky Pallack, [email protected] or (520) 954-2492.
All entries are to be submitted online at azpressclub.org. Enter the contest here.
CATEGORIES
In every category there are two divisions: Community and Statewide.
Community categories, intended to honor the work of publications with fewer resources, include any daily newspaper with a circulation of less than 20,000, any non-daily publication with a circulation of less than 50,000, and online-only publications.
Statewide categories are intended to honor the best journalism in Arizona produced by a journalist of any size publication.
Judges first will choose a Community winner, then will mix Community and all other entries together to choose an overall winner for the category.
Spanish-language publications may enter any of the English-language categories, provided that all stories, headlines and captions are translated into English.
MEMBERSHIP AND ENTRY FEES
Eligible journalists who wish to be club members without entering the contest should go to the contest page and select a club membership and proceed to payment without submitting contest entries. Thank you for your support!
$5 per entry for Community, Student, and Spanish-language categories
$10 per entry for Statewide categories
The Big Four:
Community Journalist of the Year: $20 to enter
Virg Hill Journalist of the Year: $25 to enter
Community Photojournalist of the Year: $20 to enter
Photojournalist of the Year: $25 to enter
Unpaid entries will not be considered. Improperly submitted entries will be disqualified and entry fees will not be refunded.
Any entrants not paying online at the time of submission should contact Press Club contest chair Becky Pallack, [email protected] or (520) 954-2492 to arrange an alternative method of payment.
STAFF ENTRIES
Entries with at least five contributors may be submitted as a Staff Entry. Winning certificates will list “staff,” not individual names. For individual recognition on the certificates and in the contest winners’ brochure, each contributor listed on the entry form must pay the applicable membership and entry fees.
JUDGING
Entries will be judged by out-of-state journalists selected by the Arizona Press Club board of directors. Judges’ decisions are final, unless winning entries do not conform to rules.
If there is a tie for first place, no second-place award is given. If there is a tie for second, no third-place award is given.
AWARDS
Winners will be announced in June 2021.
Cash awards are given for certain categories, as indicated in the category descriptions below. Other winners receive certificates.
ETHICS AND DISQUALIFICATION
The Arizona Press Club promotes ethical journalism and recognizes that contest rules cannot envision every potential breach of professional standards. The club reserves the right to disqualify any entry or withdraw any award based on ethical violations or violations of the rules, as deemed by the board. Entries that do not conform to the rules will be disqualified. If an entry is disqualified, the prize will be awarded to the next place winner. Disqualified entrants will forfeit their entry fees.
GRIEVANCE POLICY
For problems, concerns and complaints about the contest, the contest chairperson shall notify the Grievance Committee (president and executive officers). The committee will rule on the matter or forward it to the full Press Club board for final approval.
DISCLAIMER
The Arizona Press Club is not responsible for lost entries but will take reasonable care processing the entries.
ENTRY PROCEDURES:
- All entries require an electronic signature, which is included at the end of the electronic submission page. On entries with multiple contributors, only one contributor needs to sign.
- List headlines or images completely to help identify entries.
- Entries must be submitted exactly as they were published. URLs to online versions can be submitted; for content not available online, content can be uploaded as PDFs, doc or docx files.
- Enter as many times and in as many categories as desired. However, no story may be submitted more than once, except that stories entered in other categories may also be used to enter Journalist of the Year-level categories and other exceptions only as noted.
- Entries that do not conform to the rules will be disqualified. If an entry is disqualified, the prize will be awarded to the next winner. Disqualified entrants will forfeit their entry fees.
PART II
THE CATEGORIES
SPANISH-LANGUAGE PUBLICATIONS
Multiple story entries for these categories should reflect sustained coverage of a single issue or topic, not overall beat reporting. (Example: A collection of stories about the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office or about drunken driving enforcement would be eligible; a collection of stories about different police agencies or unrelated topics would not be eligible.)
Unless otherwise noted, entries are strictly limited to a maximum of five stories or pieces of work. Sidebars count toward the total. (Example: Four stories plus a sidebar is a valid entry. Four stories plus two sidebars is not.) Column categories have a different story count; see specific rules for each.
A1. Spanish-language news reporting: A single story or up to five stories about one news event or issue.
A2. Spanish-language feature reporting: A single story or up to five stories that reflect how people live their daily lives.
A3. Spanish-language commentary/analysis: A single or up to three examples of columns, commentary, analysis or editorials.
COMMUNITY JOURNALISM
The Community categories are intended to honor the work of any daily newspaper with a circulation of less than 20,000, any non-daily publications with a circulation of less than 50,000, and online-only publications.
Community categories will be judged as a group and then winners will be mixed with Statewide entries to choose an overall winner.
Multiple story entries for these categories should reflect sustained coverage of a single issue or topic, not overall beat reporting. (Example: A collection of stories about the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office or about drunken driving enforcement would be eligible; a collection of stories about different police agencies or unrelated topics would not be eligible.)
All entries, except if specifically noted otherwise, are strictly limited to a maximum of five stories or pieces of work. Sidebars count toward the total. (Example: Four stories plus a sidebar is a valid entry. Four stories plus two sidebars is not.) Many categories have a different story count; see specific rules for each.
B1. Community Investigative Reporting: One or more pieces on a single subject — published on a single day, or over the course of the year — that are the result of extensive research and original investigation. The winning entry will uncover corruption, incompetence or systemic problems in an area of high public interest and importance. A one-page letter, explaining what motivated the project and any impact that might not be apparent in the actual stories, is optional.
B2. Community public service journalism: One or more pieces on a single subject — published on a single day, or over the course of the year — that serve the public good. May include sidebars. A one-page letter explaining what motivated the project and any impact that might not be apparent in the actual stories is optional.
B3. Community breaking news: A single day’s reporting of one or more pieces of unscheduled news on a single subject. May include sidebars. Entries should be reported and written in a single shift. A one-page letter explaining deadline circumstances is optional.
B4. Community public safety reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific aspect of law enforcement, courts, corrections, fire and rescue, or related areas.
B5. Community political reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific aspect of local, state or federal political issue or election-related coverage.
B6. Community local government reporting: A single story or up to five stories related to regular actions performed by local government agencies/elected bodies. Election related coverage should be entered in B5.
B7. Community state/federal government reporting. A single story or up to five stories related to regular actions performed by either state or federal agencies/elected bodies. Election related coverage should be entered in B5.
B8. Community health reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific aspect of the healthcare industry, including treatment, research and consumer affairs.
B9. Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award (Community division): A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific topic or trend related to natural resources, ecology, environmental policy or human interaction with nature. This category includes a $1,000 cash prize for first prize and includes a paid trip for one reporter to the annual conference of The Society of Environmental Journalists.
B10. Community science reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific topic or trend related to academic scientific research, scientific discoveries, scientific policies at the local or state level of government.
B11. Community social issues reporting: A single story or up to five stories on a topic concerning a specific aspect of human-to-human interactions, values and beliefs. Issues that fall into this category include faith and religion, social services and the poor, families and children, aging and substance abuse.
B12. Community education reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific topic related to education.
B13. Community immigration reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific event or topic about immigration and related issues.
B14. Community business reporting: A single story or column, or a combination of up to five stories and columns on a specific aspect of business, finance or consumer issues.
B15. Community sports beat reporting: A single story or column, or a combination of up to five stories and columns, about a specific sport, team, issue, athlete or sporting event.
B16. Community sports feature reporting: A single story, or up to five stories, about a specific feature related to sports, team, issue, athlete or sporting event.
B17. Community sports investigative reporting: A single story or column, or up to five stories and columns, about a single subject — published on a single day, or over the course of the year — that are the result of extensive research and original investigation.
B18. Community column/opinion writing: Three pieces identified as columns written with a focus on reporting news, explaining recent events or telling a human-interest story, including sports.
B19. Community editorial writing: Three opinion pieces expressing views of a publication as an institution, including those signed by an editor or staff member, not those of an individual writer, and advocating a position or course of action.
B20. Community personality profile: A single story or up to five stories that give an in-depth look at an individual or a specific group of people.
B21. Community human interest writing: A single story or up to five stories that go together as part of a whole that reflect a slice of real life, conveying the way people live their daily lives.
B22. Community short-form writing: A single story of 750 words or less that showcases the reporter’s ability to tell a story completely but quickly. Sidebars may not be included.
B23. Community arts reporting and criticism: Three stories that explore events, personalities or trends about food, theater, visual arts, music, movies, fashion or similar subjects. Entries may be written from the author’s point of view.
B24. Community food and beverage reporting and criticism: Up to five stories that explore events, personalities or trends about dining, cooking or beverages. Entries may be written from the author’s point of view.
B25. Community headline writing: Any three headlines composed by the same person for news stories. Entries must include the stories that the headlines accompanied.
B26. Photojournalism – Picture Story – (10 images max.)
B27. Photojournalism – News – A single photograph from a news event.
B28. Photojournalism – Feature – A single photograph of a “found” situation that features strong human interest, or a fresh view of an everyday scene.
B29. Photojournalism – Pictorial – A single picture that explores a graphic or aesthetic moment with emphasis on composition.
B30. Photojournalism – Sports Action – A single picture that captures peak sports action.
B31. Photojournalism – Sports Feature – A single picture that captures emotion, celebration, jubilation, dejection, and reaction among athletes and fans.
STATEWIDE JOURNALISM
Statewide categories are intended to honor the work of any Arizona journalist from any sized publication. Journalists from smaller publications should enter Community categories; after a Community category is chosen, Community and Statewide entries will be combined and an overall winner will be chosen.
Multiple story entries for these categories should reflect sustained coverage of a single issue or topic, not overall beat reporting. (Example: A collection of stories about the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office or about drunken driving enforcement would be eligible; a collection of stories about different police agencies or unrelated topics would not be eligible.)
All entries, except if specifically noted otherwise, are strictly limited to a maximum of five stories or pieces of work. Sidebars count toward the total. (Example: Four stories plus a sidebar is a valid entry. Four stories plus two sidebars is not.) Many categories have a different story count; see specific rules for each.
C1. The Don Bolles Award for Investigative Reporting: One or more pieces on a single subject — published on a single day, or over the course of the year — that are the result of extensive research and original investigation. The winning entry will uncover corruption, incompetence or systemic problems in an area of high public interest and importance. A one-page letter, explaining what motivated the project and any impact that might not be apparent in the actual stories, is optional.
C2. Statewide public service journalism: One or more pieces on a single subject — published on a single day, or over the course of the year — that serve the public good. May include sidebars. A one-page letter explaining what motivated the project and any impact that might not be apparent in the actual stories is optional.
C3. Statewide breaking news: A single day’s reporting of one or more pieces of unscheduled news on a single subject. May include sidebars. Entries should be reported and written in a single shift. A one-page letter explaining deadline circumstances is optional.
C4. Statewide public safety reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific aspect of law enforcement, courts, corrections, fire and rescue, or related areas.
C5. Statewide John Kolbe Politics Reporting Award: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific aspect of local, state or federal political issue or election-related coverage.
C6. Community local government reporting: A single story or up to five stories related to regular actions performed by local government agencies/elected bodies. Election related coverage should be entered in C5.
C7. Community state/federal government reporting. A single story or up to five stories related to regular actions performed by either state/federal agencies/elected bodies. Election related coverage should be entered in C5.
C8. Statewide health reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific aspect of the healthcare industry, including treatment, research and consumer affairs.
C9. Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award (statewide category): A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific topic or trend related to natural resources, ecology, environmental policy or human interaction with nature. This category includes a $1,000 cash prize for first prize and includes a paid trip for one reporter to the annual conference of The Society of Environmental Journalists.
C10. Statewide science reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific topic or trend related to academic scientific research, scientific discoveries, scientific policies at the local or state level of government.
C11. Statewide social issues reporting: A single story or up to five stories on a topic concerning a specific aspect of human-to-human interactions, values and beliefs. Issues that fall into this category include faith and religion, social services and the poor, families and children, aging and substance abuse.
C12. Statewide education reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific topic related to education.
C13. Statewide immigration reporting: A single story or up to five stories concerning a specific event or topic about immigration and related issues.
C14. Statewide business reporting: A single story or column, or a combination of up to five stories and columns on a specific aspect of business, finance or consumer issues.
C15. Statewide sports beat reporting: A single story or column, or a combination of up to five stories and columns, about a specific sport, team, issue, athlete or sporting event.
C16. Statewide sports feature reporting: A single story, or up to five stories and columns, about a specific feature related to sports, team, issue, athlete or sporting event.
C17. Statewide sports investigative reporting: A single story or column, or up to five stories and columns, about a single subject — published on a single day, or over the course of the year — that are the result of extensive research and original investigation.
C18. Statewide column/opinion writing: Three pieces identified as columns written with a focus on reporting news, explaining recent events or telling a human-interest story, including sports.
C19. Statewide editorial writing: Three opinion pieces expressing views of a publication as an institution, including those signed by an editor or staff member, not those of an individual writer, and advocating a position or course of action.
C20. Statewide personality profile: A single story or up to five stories that give an in-depth look at an individual or a specific group of people.
C21. Statewide human interest writing: A single story or up to five stories that go together as part of a whole that reflect a slice of real life, conveying the way people live their daily lives.
C22. Statewide short-form writing: A single story of 750 words or less that showcases the reporter’s ability to tell a story completely but quickly. Sidebars may not be included.
C23. Statewide arts reporting and criticism: Three stories that explore events, personalities or trends about food, theater, visual arts, music, movies, fashion or similar subjects. Entries may be written from the author’s point of view.
C24. Statewide food and beverage reporting and criticism: Up to five stories that explore events, personalities or trends about dining, cooking or beverages. Entries may be written from the author’s point of view.
C25. Statewide headline writing: Any three headlines composed by the same person for news stories. Entries must include the stories that the headlines accompanied.
C26. Photojournalism – Picture Story – (10 images max.)
C27. Photojournalism – News – A single photograph from a news event.
C28. Photojournalism – Feature – A single photograph of a “found” situation that features strong human interest, or a fresh view of an everyday scene.
C29. Photojournalism – Pictorial – A single picture that explores a graphic or aesthetic moment with emphasis on composition.
C30. Photojournalism – Sports Action – A single picture that captures peak sports action.
C31. Photojournalism – Sports Feature – A single picture that captures emotion, celebration, jubilation, dejection, and reaction among athletes and fans.
STATEWIDE/COMMUNITY DESIGN CATEGORIES
D1. Community print page design portfolio: Up to 3 pages of a Community publication
D2. Statewide print page design portfolio: Up to 3 pages of a Statewide publication
D3. Community digital project design portfolio: Up to 3 pages of a Community website or newsletter
D4. Statewide digital project design portfolio: Up to 3 pages of a Statewide website or newsletter
STUDENT JOURNALISM
Work in these categories must have been published in a student news outlet. Students who wish to enter work published elsewhere should enter the Community or Statewide categories.
Multiple story entries for these categories should reflect sustained coverage of a single issue or topic, not overall beat reporting. (Example: A collection of stories about the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office or about drunken driving enforcement would be eligible; a collection of stories about different police agencies or unrelated topics would not be eligible.)
E1. Student investigative reporting: One or more pieces on a single subject — published on a single day, or over the course of the year — that are the result of extensive research and original investigation. The winning entry will uncover corruption, incompetence or systemic problems in an area of high public interest and importance. A one-page letter, explaining what motivated the project and any impact that might not be apparent in the actual stories, is optional.
E2. Student news reporting: A single story or up to five stories about one news event or issue.
E3. Student features reporting: A single story or column, or a combination of up to five stories and columns, that reflect how people live their daily lives.
E4. Student arts, culture and food: A single story or column, or a combination of up to five stories and columns, about one event, trend or issue, including criticism.
E5. Student sports reporting: A single story or column, or a combination of up to five stories and columns, about a specific sport, team, issue, athlete or sporting event.
E6. Student photojournalism – News: A single photograph from a news event.
E7: Student photojournalism – Sports: A single photograph from a sports event.
E8. Student photojournalism – Features: A single photograph of a “found” situation that features strong human interest, or a fresh view of an everyday scene.
VIRG HILL ARIZONA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
ENTRY FEE: $25
Virg Hill was a popular and witty political columnist and reporter for The Phoenix Gazette. Hill died at the age of 62 of a heart attack while covering the Arizona House of Representatives. He passed away in January 1969, and in December of that year, the Arizona Press Club created the award in his honor.
The Virg Hill Award goes to the writer or editor who, in the opinion of the judges, has done the best work during 2020. The winner will be selected by three out-of-state judges.
- Entries shall include at least five and no more than eight main stories (sidebars may also be included and do not count as part of the total).
- Up to two of those stories may have a double or multiple bylines. All others must have a single byline.
- Entries may include a one-page letter explaining the obstacles overcome in reporting one or all of the stories in the entry.
- The winner will receive a $500 cash prize, while the first runner-up and second runner-up will receive a certificate.
ARIZONA COMMUNITY JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
ENTRY FEE: $20
The Community Journalist of the Year Award is given to the writer or editor of a weekly or Community publication who, in the opinion of the contest judges, has done the best work in 2020 to enhance the goals of the journalism profession and the quality of life in the community.
- Entries should include no more than 12 samples of the entrant’s work, such as news and feature stories, photographs, page designs and editorials. Sidebars are not included in that total.
- Entries should include a one-page letter explaining the qualities of the individual’s work.
- The winner will receive a $500 cash prize, while the first runner-up and second runner-up will receive a certificate.
ARIZONA COMMUNITY PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
ENTRY FEE: $20
Community Photojournalist of the Year goes to the photojournalist who, in the opinion of the judges, has done the best work during 2020.
Entries should include:
- At least one Picture Story but no more two. (up to 10 images)
- Up to 10 single photographs. No more than 30 images in a portfolio. You must have at least four categories represented from the following:
- News (Single photo)
- Feature (Single photo)
- Pictorial (Single photo)
- Sports Action (Single photo)
- Sports Feature (Single photo)
- Picture Story (Project)
Entries may include a one-page letter explaining the obstacles overcome in reporting one or all of the stories in the entry.
The winner will receive a $500 cash prize, while the first runner-up and second runner-up will receive a certificate.
ARIZONA PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
ENTRY FEE: $25
Photojournalist of the Year goes to the photojournalist who, in the opinion of the judges, has done the best work during 2020.
Entries should include:
- At least one Picture Story but no more two. (up to 10 images)
- Up to 10 single photographs. No more than 30 images in a portfolio. You must have at least four categories represented from the following:
- News (Single photo)
- Feature (Single photo)
- Pictorial (Single photo)
- Sports Action (Single photo)
- Sports Feature (Single photo)
- Picture Story (Project)
Entries may include a one-page letter explaining the obstacles overcome in reporting one or all of the stories in the entry.
The winner will receive a $500 cash prize, while the first runner-up and second runner-up will receive a certificate.