Page One Awards Now Accepting Entries — Deadline Feb. 8

The Minnesota Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (MNSPJ) recognizes the best in Minnesota journalism each year with its annual Page One Awards.

Contest entries can be submitted between now and Friday, Feb. 8. Finalists will be notified in the spring, with winners named at the annual Page One Awards banquet later this year.

In hopes of improving the contest, MNSPJ last year issued a survey to contest entrants seeking feedback on the awards We also conducted a review of six other journalism contests across the country. In response, we’ve made several rule changes, expanded several category descriptions and added/changed several categories.

New category options include:

Newspaper Sports Columns (Up to three columns by one writer whose work regularly appears in the sports section)
Best Online Infographic/Data Visualization (Outstanding data presentation that showcases unique online capabilities)
Freedom of Information Award (This award recognizes efforts by news organizations to further the cause of First Amendment freedoms and freedom of information. Entries can includes news stories, columns, editorials and other public advocacy actions, including requests for advisory opinions and court cases. Each news organization may submit one entry that includes up to five examples that highlight the effort.)

In addition, we have re-named the “Meeting/Planned Event” category to “Deadline News” in the Newspaper division and expanded the category descriptions to distinguish the award from “Breaking News” (formerly “Spot News”). In the Television, Radio and Online divisions, we’ve dropped “Meeting/Planned Event” and replaced the category with awards for sports reporting. In several categories, journalists can now enter up to three works. Other changes can be found in the complete list of contest categories at the link below.

On rules, we’re opening the large newspaper division to submissions that appear in online-only publications in hopes of promoting more competition. With that goal in mind, we’re also clarifying that journalists at smaller news organizations can opt to compete against larger organizations by submitting their work in the larger circulation/employee divisions (although the same can’t also be submitted in the smaller category). Finally, we’re clarifying that photography entries are intended to showcase the work of one photographer.

This year, MNSPJ has elected to hold the price of a contest entry steady at $22 — the same as last year.

Journalists working for all print, broadcast and online news outlets in Minnesota (or news outlets in neighboring states that cover Minnesota) are eligible to enter. All work published or broadcast during the 2018 calendar year is eligible. Entries must be submitted by Friday, February 8.

The date and location for the awards banquet will be announced later.

Important Links:

Please contact MNSPJ with any questions: minnesota.spj@gmail.com