Press Club contest entry, judging goes all-online
Starting in December, you’ll be able to enter your best work in the Idaho Press Club’s annual awards competition entirely online.
“Most other professional competitions have moved to an online system. It was time,” said contest committee chair Joan Cartan-Hansen.
The online system will accept most standard files: .pdf, .jpg, mp3, .wmv, .mov
“Broadcasters should be familiar with the video uploading process,” Cartan-Hansen said. “We are using the same company the Idaho State Broadcasters use for their contest.”
Cartan-Hansen believes the new online entry system and online judging system will make things easier for all concerned.
“A new system will take a little getting used to, but in the end, I’m sure it will make entering easier and help hold down costs,”she said.
Now is the time to start thinking about what you might want to enter, and to make sure you have an electronic copy of it readily available.
Next year’s contest includes some new categories.”Education Reporting”was added to the television division (that category already existed in the print division). The “Television Writing” category was split into writing for a single story and writing for a program. The television videography categories also were split, into story- and program-length.
Cartan-Hansen said the committee also added a special”Best Evening Newscast” category. “We are keeping the general excellence category so judges can compare who does the best job on the same designated day, but this new category will allow broadcasters to submit their single best evening newscast of the year.”The contest already included a “Best Morning Newscast” category.
After feedback from online journalists, the contest committee also added new online categories. “Now you will be able to enter your best single online news or feature story, your best public affairs or news online program, and your best online program that is not news or public affairs oriented,”Cartan-Hansen said.
Contest entry fees stay the same: $15 per entry for Idaho Press Club members and $28 per entry for non-members. Student members pay $8 per entry and student non-members pay $16. Membership is only $25 for professionals and $10 for students and retired professionals.
“As in the past,” Cartan-Hansen said,”you may have to add in a small surcharge if you use Paypal or a credit card when you pay for your entries, but we are still working that out as we move to the online entry system.”
The Call for Entries for the Idaho Press Club awards will be available at www.idahopressclub.org starting in December.
