Texas Association of Managing Editors/Headliners Excellence in Journalism Contest
It’s contest time again. Here are the deadlines, rules and categories for the 2022 Texas Association of Managing Editors/Headliners Excellence in Journalism Contest. Please take a close look because categories and descriptions have changed from 2021.
CONTEST PERIOD: Entries published between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021, are eligible. Continuous series or projects that began in 2019 and conclude by the 11:59 p.m. Jan. 21, 2022 entry deadline are allowed.
DEADLINE: Entries must be uploaded electronically no later than 11:59 p.m., Jan. 21, 2022.
HOW TO ENTER: We require electronic filing for contest entries except for printed newspapers that are part of the Newsroom of the Year category. Except as specified in the category descriptions, entries may consist of the digital and/or print version of a story; both or either versions may be submitted. List staff members’ names as they should appear on awards.
DIVISIONS: The contest consists of four divisions and four circulation classifications for newspapers and independent, nonprofit or not for profit online-only general news sites in Texas.
Division 1 is for newspapers and nonprofit or not for profit online-only general news websites that operate in Texas. Division I consists of four circulation classifications based on weekly print circulation and digital audience numbers reported to AP. Nonprofit and not for profit independent news sites compete against their peers. For non-AP newspaper members, circulation classification will be based on the most recent U.S Postal Service Service statement. Circulation numbers for classifications are:
Class A – Sunday circulation of 9,999 or fewer.
Class AA – Sunday circulation of 10,000 to 29,999.
Class AAA – Sunday circulation of 30,000 to 124,999.
Class AAAA – Sunday circulation of 125,000 or more.
For questions about classifications, contact the contest coordinators listed in the Newsroom of the Year category.
Division 2 is for college and university newspapers.
Division 3 is for the AP staff.
Division 4 is for Spanish-language newspapers that circulate in Texas. There are no circulation classifications for Spanish-language outlets. A Spanish-language outlet may also choose to enter any category in Division I.
DOUBLE BYLINES and TEAM ENTRIES: Allowed in all categories except where specifically noted.
FREELANCE WORK: Qualifies as long as the work is exclusive to an individual outlet.
JOINT PROJECTS: Joint projects that use the resources of a paper in a larger classification as a team with with a lower classification must be entered in the larger classification.
ENTRANTS WHO WORK FOR MORE THAN ONE OUTLET: In cases in which a single entry would qualify for submission by newspapers in different classifications, the entry must be made only in the largest eligible classification. Individuals can enter in only one classification per category.
CONTEST FEES (per entity): Entry fees must be received by the contest entry deadline of Feb.1, 2020. Payment may be made online or send checks, payable to Texas AME. Mail to The Associated Press, attn. Pam Collins, 4851 LBJ Freeway, Suite 300, Dallas, Texas 75244. Do not send checks to contest coordinators.
Class A: $110
Class AA: $275
Class AAA: $440
Class AAAA: $880
Exceptions: There is no fee for college entries. Non-dailies that have a parent paper will be assessed at 50 percent of the parent paper and must compete in the parent paper’s classification.
JUDGES: Out-of-state journalists will judge all divisions except Division 2, which will be judged by journalism instructors or newspaper advisers. Judges for the Charles E. Green Star Awards will be chosen by the Headliners Foundation. Bilingual out-of-state newspaper editors and other prominent out-of-state journalists will judge the Spanish-language division.
SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPERS: Entries in the Spanish-language division must be original content produced for the Spanish-language outlet. Material that originally appeared in another publication and was subsequently translated for the Spanish publication is not eligible. Entries to the AME Division 1 contest are permitted in categories for which there is no Spanish-language equivalent. Where possible, Spanish-language writing entries outside the Spanish-language division should be translated; Spanish-fluent judges may not be available in every Division 1 category, though contest coordinators will make every effort to find such judges.
WINNERS: First-place winners will receive plaques. Second-place, third-place and honorable mention will receive certificates.
MINIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRIES: In order for a category to be judged and winners determined, there must be at least three entries in the category. If there are not three entries, no winners will be named.
NUMBER OF ENTRIES: Categories in Division 1 allow differing numbers of entries. An individual may enter one category more than once as long as the category’s entry maximum is observed. An entry may be entered in more than one category. Individuals who work for more than one paper may enter up to three times in a single category.
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DIVISION 1 CONTEST CATEGORIES
1. NEWSROOM OF THE YEAR
In 2020, the Texas AME board added a new contest category: Newsroom of the Year. This sweepstakes award was created because of the board’s desire for an honor that moved beyond a newspaper of the year award that was based only printed editions for only three dates during the year. The Newsroom of the Year award takes into account not only print editions and online websites but all categories to better reflect a newsroom’s entire body of work.
This is a three-part entry, with points tallied from printed editions, the online newspaper and points earned in all other categories.
Entries in this category consist of three complete editions — one edition from any 2021 date chosen by the publication and two mandatory 2021 dates. The mandatory dates are Sept. 22 and Oct. 8. In cases in which a newspaper did not publish on a mandatory date, the newspaper must pick the next closest date of publication. The print product will be judged on quality of content, including writing, photography and infographics; and design and readability. Upload a PDF of each of the three front pages to the contest website, and send print versions of the three editions to the contest coordinators listed below.
Division I Class A
Ryan Henry, The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star; 222 N. Expressway 77/83, Suite 176, Brownsville, Texas 78526; rhenry@brownsvilleherald.com
Division 1 Class AA
Ronnie Crocker, 512 Teetshorn, Houston, TX 77009; ronnie.crocker@gmail.com
Division 1 Class AAA
Andy Alford, Austin American Statesman, 8000 Metropolis Dr. Austin, TX 78740; aalford@statesman.com
Division 1 Class AAAA
Eric Garcia, Temple Daily Telegram, 10 S. Third St., Temple, TX, 76503; eegarcia@tdtnews.com.
The online newspaper component of the Newsroom of the Year Category will be judged on quality of content, ease of use, design, interactivity, engagement and innovation. Judges will consider multiple URLs for a newspaper in order to get a full picture of a newspaper’s online offerings. Please upload a screenshot of your newspaper’s home page(s) to the contest website and include any URLs to your home page and any passwords judges need to access paid sites.
Points system
Print and online editions
1st place: 20 points
2nd place: 10 points
3rd place: 5 points
All other categories
1st place: 3 points
2nd place: 2 points
3rd place: 1 point
The entity with the most points will win Newsroom of the Year. In case of a tie, the newsroom with the most first-place finishes will be the winner. If there is still a tie, the newsroom with the most first- and second-place finishes will be the winner.
2. COMMUNITY SERVICE: Covers any community project, such as a fund drive, editorial crusade or reporting effort with community impact. Include a cover letter (one page maximum) describing results. Up to 10 stories may be submitted per entry. Limit one entry in Classes A through AAA and two in Class AAAA.
3. TEAM EFFORT: Recognizes outstanding team effort in covering a single subject. Comprehensiveness of coverage and initiatives in getting the full story to the reader will be emphasized. Up to 10 stories may be submitted, and they may come from more than one edition or date. Include a cover letter (one page maximum). Limit one entry in Classes A through AAA and two in Class AAAA.
4. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION: Recognizes persistence and tenacity in fighting for FOI. Include a cover letter (one page maximum). Maximum of five stories per entry. Limit three entries per organization in all classes.
5. VIDEO: Recognizes video that stands alone or enhances other multimedia aspects of an online package or news or features story. Limit three entries per organization in all classes.
6. DEADLINE WRITING: Recognizes a single news story covering a breaking news event that could not have been produced or planned before the news broke. A single story constitutes an entry (sidebars not accepted). Cover letter (one page maximum) is optional. Limit three entries per organization in all classes.
7. FEATURE WRITING: Includes news features, profiles and features. A single story or series of no more than three stories constitutes an entry (sidebars not accepted). Limit three entries per outlet in all classes.
8. SPORTS FEATURE: One story constitutes an entry. Limit three entries per organization in all classes.
9. SPORTS COLUMN WRITING: Three columns per writer constitute an entry. Double bylines not permitted. Limit three entries per outlet in all classes.
10. GENERAL COLUMN WRITING: Includes opinion, personal and feature columns. Three columns per writer constitute an entry. Double bylines not permitted. Limit three entries per organization in all classes.
11. EDITORIAL WRITING: Five editorials constitute an entry. A series of editorials is ineligible, but one editorial from a series can be entered. Entries must be the official position of the newspaper, not a personal column. Emphasis is on the persuasiveness of the writing. Limit three entries per outlet in all classes.
12. COMMENT AND CRITICISM: Reviews and criticisms of entertainment, food, arts, movies, books, music and pop culture. In Classes A and AA, one story constitutes an entry. In Classes AAA and AAAA, three stories constitute an entry. Limit three entries per outlet in all classes.
13. BUSINESS REPORTING: One story constitutes an entry. Story may be a column, spot news, feature or enterprise. Limit three entries per outlet in all classes.
14. SPECIALTY REPORTING: This award recognizes an individual’s beat reporting on any single, hard news subject. Examples of specialty reporting could include city hall or statehouse reporting, criminal justice, education or science. Up to three stories constitute an entry. Double bylines not permitted. Limit three entries per outlet in all classes. Cover letter (one page maximum) is optional but suggested.
15. NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY: A single photo from a breaking or planned news event constitutes an entry, although sequence shots or photo strips are allowed as single entries. If the photo ran online only, include a screenshot or URL of the photo and a jpg. Limit five entries per outlet in all classes.
16. FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY: A single feature photo constitutes an entry, although sequence shots or photo strips are allowed as single entries. If the photo ran online only, include a screenshot or URL of the photo and a jpg. Limit five entries per outlet in all classes.
17. SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY: A single sports photo constitutes an entry, although sequence shots or photo strips are allowed as single entries. If the photo ran online only, include a screenshot or URL of the photo and a jpg. Limit five entries per outlet in all classes.
18. PHOTOJOURNALISM: Recognizes effective telling of a single story in pictures, including online slide shows. An entry may be a picture strip, feature page or any other combination of photography and text. Limit three entries per newspaper in Classes A through AAA and five per outlet in Class AAAA.
19. HEADLINE WRITING: Five headlines by the same person constitute an entry. Entry may consist of print headlines, digital headlines or a combination. Limit three entries per newspaper in Classes A through AAA or five per organization in Class AAAA. Individual entrants who work for multiple outlets may submit a maximum of three entries combined for all the outlets for which the entrant works. Entry should clearly mark which headline is being entered.
20. INFOGRAPHICS: Recognizes effective print graphics, digital graphics, digital interactives and data visualizations. A single graphic or several graphics in one package constitute an entry. Limit three entries per outlet.
21. DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: Five pages or webpages by one designer constitute an entry. Submissions may include news pages, feature pages or a combination of both and may consist of single pages or include multiple pages for stories that jump. Examples should show a good use of photos and illustrations, color, entry points and typography and have an impact that make readers take notice. Outlets may submit only one entry in this category. A cover letter (one page maximum) is required.
CATEGORIES FOR STAR AWARDS AND CHARLES E. GREEN AWARDS
The Headliners Foundation of Texas and the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors have combined forces for six Star Awards. Winners of Star Awards in each classification will receive $500. From those classification winners, an overall winner for each category will be awarded a Charles E. Green Award from the Headliners Foundation of Texas. This overall winner for each category will receive a crystal award, a cash prize of $1,000 and an invitation to attend the Mike Quinn Awards luncheon in Austin at the Headliners Club to be recognized and accept their award.
22. STAR REPORTER OF THE YEAR: Five stories (sidebars to submissions do not count toward the five total stories) by a single reporter constitute an entry. No double bylines allowed. Work may be on a single beat or cover a variety of topics and can include news and feature stories. Outlets may submit only one entry in this category. A cover letter (one page maximum) is required. Classification winner advances to consideration for Charles E. Green Award.
23. STAR PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR: Twelve photos by one photographer constitute an entry. Electronic tearsheets of photos or online-only photos with a screenshot of the web page and a jpg may be submitted. Outlets may submit only one entry in this category. A cover letter (one page maximum) is required. Classification winner advances to consideration for Charles E. Green Award.
24. STAR OPINION WRITER OF THE YEAR: Five columns, editorials or blog posts designed to influence public opinion and/or effect change that are published in print or on a digital platform by a single writer constitute an entry. Emphasis is on the persuasiveness of the writing and on change effected by the writing. A series can be submitted, but each separate column/editorial/blog post counts as one toward the limit of five. No double bylines allowed. Outlets may submit only one entry in this category. A cover letter, maximum of one page, is required. Classification winner advances to consideration for Charles E. Green Award.
25. STAR INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF THE YEAR: Entries in this category can include a story, series or special section, but an entry may include no more than 10 stories. Outlets may submit three entries in this category. A cover letter (one page maximum) must be submitted with each entry. Classification winner advances to consideration for Charles E. Green Award.
26. STAR BREAKING NEWS REPORT OF THE YEAR: Recognizes one day’s cover- age of a breaking news story. Entry may include multiple stories and graphics from one news cycle. Entry can include the online pages as the story broke throughout the day. Outlets may submit three entries in this category. A cover letter (one page maximum) is required. Classification winner advances to consideration for Charles E. Green Award.
27. STAR ONLINE PACKAGE OF THE YEAR: Recognizes excellence in online content by Texas-based media. Entry should represent a robust multimedia approach to storytelling and/or utility in covering a major news event, investigative project or feature subject. Entry should demonstrate a creative and effective use of range of appropriate multimedia tools such as text, graphics, audio, video, still photography and interactivity that combine to produce a smart, high-impact package. Entries should provide a URL taking judges directly to the entry. If the entry has been archived or does not appear in one place on the site, editors should provide a digital disc containing the package as it appeared online. Editors are encouraged to note in a cover letter innovative aspects of their multimedia entry and impact the package had on the audience or in the community. Classification winner advances to consideration for Charles E. Green Award. We request you keep the entries live on the site for a year as reference and learning tools for member papers.
TEXAS AME MEMORIAL AWARDS
28. CELESTE WILLIAMS STAR SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR: The award is named in memory of the late Fort Worth Star-Telegram sports editor and Texas APME board member Celeste Williams, and it recognizes excellence in sportswriting. Five articles by an individual constitute an entry. Articles may reflect all types of sports stories, including columns, features, news stories and game reports.
29. MICHAEL BRICK STORYTELLING AWARD: Given each year to a single writer of an elegant, insightful, closely observed story or stories about an everyday person or people. The award is named for the late journalist and author Michael Brick, who lived in Austin and wrote for The Houston Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, The San Antonio Express-News, The New York Times and other papers. Entries may consist of one to five stories. Stories may be about one person or multiple people. Story or stories must be by one writer (no double bylines or contributing taglines) about an everyday person/people. Judges will look for fine writing, detailed reporting, voice, empathy and surprise. One entry per outlet. One winner selected from all classifications. The prize for the winner is $1,000, sponsored by The Houston Chronicle and The Dallas Morning News.
DIVISION 2: UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS:
All college or university newspapers published in Texas are eligible. A newspaper’s three best issues during the contest year constitute an entry. There are no circulation classes. The two categories are daily (published at least four times weekly) and non-daily (published fewer than four times weekly). A sponsor may write a cover letter (one page maximum) explaining special circumstances the newspaper faced. Judging is on quality of writing and news coverage, editing, layout, graphics and photos.
Send entries to: Dino Chiecchi, 212 Victoria Point, Schertz, TX 78154. dchiecchi@sbcglobal.net or eec99@txstate.edu. (512) 245-2656
DIVISION 3: AP STAFFER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
These awards recognize the best writing and best photography by Texas AP staff members. Entries should conform to guidelines for Division 1.
WRITING. A three-story portfolio constitutes an entry. Limit one entry per staffer.
PHOTOGRAPHY. A portfolio of up to five photographs constitutes an entry. Limit one entry per staffer.
Send entries to: Dino Chiecchi, 212 Victoria Point, Schertz, TX 78154. dchiecchi@sbcglobal.net or eec99@txstate.edu. (512) 245-2656
DIVISION 4: SPANISH-LANGUAGE
NEWS: Includes breaking news, general news, investigative and enterprise. A single story constitutes an entry; one sidebar may be included. Cover letter (one page maximum) is optional. Limit three entries per outlet.
FEATURES: Includes news features, profiles and features from all sections of the paper. A single story constitutes an entry (sidebars not accepted). Limit three entries per outlet.
SPORTS WRITING: Includes coverage of a breaking sports story and sports features. One story constitutes an entry. Limit three entries per outlet.
OPINION WRITING: Includes opinion, personal and feature columns; editorials; and reviews and criticism. Three columns, editorials or reviews constitute and entry. Limit three entries per outlet..
HEADLINE WRITING: Three headlines by the same person constitute an entry. Team entries not permitted. Limit three entries per outlet.
NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR: Best overall newspaper. Submit three issues, a screenshot of the online site to the contest website and include any URLs to your home page and any passwords judges need to access paid sites.
Send entries to: Dino Chiecchi, 212 Victoria Point, Schertz, TX 78154; dchiecchi@sbcglobal.net.