OCNA seeks judges for its BNC – Can you help?
The Ontario Community Newspapers Association is currently seeking judges for our 2021 Better Newspapers Competition.
If you are interested, please contact Karen Shardlow at k.shardow@ocna.org.
Judging contributions are invaluable to our awards program. Without judges, we would have no awards program!!
Please consider supporting weekly community newspapers in Ontario as they strive to be the best they can be!
Judging will begin December 13th, 2021 and must be completed no later than January 14th, 2022.
Finalists will be listed in alphabetical order on our website on February 14th, 2022
Winners will be announced at our Awards Gala Dinner in the spring.
A list of our categories can be found at the bottom of this email. Number in brackets represents number of entries.
General Excellence entries will be submitted by hard copy or url link. Hardcopies will be couriered.
Best Vertical Product and Special Section categories will be couriered.
All other Premier categories are judged online through our Better Newspaper Contest Website.
Complete instructions will be forwarded with the judging package.
Judging will include supplying comments for the top three and any honourable mentions and overall comments about the category entries.
You will also be asked to provide a headshot and short bio for our awards booklet.
Each General Excellence Category is judged by three (3) judges, with finalists determined by averaging marks and a conference call discussion.
Premier Categories are judged by one person only.
Please feel free to contact me at the number below should you have any questions or concerns.
We thank you for your consideration, and hope to work with you in the future.
Thank you,
Karen
General Excellence
Class 1 Circ 1,999 & Under (11)
Class 2&3 Circ 2,000 – 6,499 (9)
Class 4 Circ 6,500 – 12,499 (20)
Class 5 Circ 12,500 – 22,499 (10)
Class 6 Circ 22,500 – 44,999 (15)
Class 7 Circ 45,000 & Over (6)
Premier
Arts & Entertainment (45)
Best Business and Finance Story (63)
Best Editorial, circ. 10,000+ (15)
Best Editorial, circ. -9,999 (26)
Education Writing (50)
Environment Ontario (57)
Feature Writing, circ 10,000+ (40)
Feature Writing, circ -9,999 (36)
Health & Wellness (65)
Heritage (54)
Best News Story, circ 10,000+ (33)
Best News Story, circ -9,999 (33)
Best Rural Story, circ 10,000 + (20)
Best Rural Story, circ -9,999 (40)
Best Feature/News Series, circ 10,000 + (26)
Best Feature/News Series, circ 9,999 – (27)
Sport & Recreation Story (41)
Best Covid-19 Coverage (68)
Diversity Coverage (65)
Best Police/Court Story or Series (52)
Best Guest/Freelance Column (15)
Columnist of the Year (32)
Reporter of the Year (17)
Best Feature Photo, circ 10,000 + (14)
Best Feature Photo, circ -9,999 (24)
Best Photo Layout (28)
Best News Photo (29)
Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo (9)
Community Service (8)
Best Vertical Product (13)
Special Section, circ 10,000+ (7)
Best Feature/Unit Page(s) (15)
In House Promotion (11)
Best Use of Colour (12)
Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ 10,000 + (9)
Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ 9,999 – (14)
ONLINE Special Initiative (8)
ONLINE Breaking News Coverage (11)
Multimedia Online/Best Online Experience for a Story (11)
Breaking News Video (3)
Karen Shardlow
Member Services Coordinator
Ontario Community Newspapers Association
416-923-7724 Ext 4432