Texas Managing Editors

2024 Texas Managing Editors contest rules

Texas Managing Editors / Headliners Excellence in Journalism Contest

As we prepare to recognize the best Texas journalism and journalists of 2023, we need to make note of some important updates to the Texas Managing Editors (formerly Texas APME) / Headliners Excellence in Journalism Contest. Please read carefully; the contest entry rules, deadlines and payment requirements have changed for the 2024 contest. Categories have not changed. A PDF version of the rules may be reviewed and downloaded here.

CONTEST PERIOD: Entries published between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023, are eligible. Continuous series or projects that began in 2023 and conclude by the UPDATED entry deadline of 11:59 p.m. Jan. 29, 2024, are allowed.

DEADLINE: Entries and entry fees will be accepted from Monday, Dec. 18, to Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. Entries must be uploaded electronically by 11:59 p.m., Jan. 29, 2024. If fees are not paid, entries will not be considered.

HOW TO ENTER: We now require electronic filing for all contest entries. Printed newspapers will no longer be accepted. Instead, newspapers should submit PDFs or links to eEditions for the Newsroom of the Year and all other print categories. List staff members’ names as they should appear on awards. Enter the contest at https://tme-awards.spoffordfamily.com. Descriptions of the contest categories and rules are below.

JUDGES: Out-of-state journalists will judge all divisions except Division II, which journalism instructors or newspaper advisers will judge. The Headliners Foundation will choose judges for the Charles E. Green Star Awards.

WINNERS: First-place winners will receive plaques. Second-place, third-place and honorable mention will receive certificates.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRANTS: For a category to be judged and winners determined, there must be at least three different entrants in the category. If there are not three entrants, no winners will be named.

NUMBER OF ENTRIES: Categories in Division I 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.

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.

DIVISIONS

Division I is for newspapers and nonprofit online-only general news websites that operate in Texas. Awards will be made in three classifications based on staff size and, where applicable, print publication frequency.

  • Class A includes print publications that publish three or fewer times per week and web-only news organizations that employ, at most, nine full-time journalists.
  • Class AA includes print publications that publish at least four times per week and web-only news organizations with nine to 19 full-time journalists.
  • Class AAA includes print and web-only news organizations that employ at least 20 full-time journalists.

Division II is for college and university newspapers.

JOINT PROJECTS: Joint projects that use the resources of a paper in a larger classification as a team with a lower classification must be entered in the larger classification.

ENTRANTS WHO WORK FOR MORE THAN ONE OUTLET: When a single entry qualifies for submission by newspapers in different classifications, the entry must be made only in the largest eligible classification.

Individuals may submit entries in only one classification per category.

CONTEST FEES

Entry fees must be paid before contest submissions will be accepted. The contest entry deadline is Jan. 29, 2024; entry fees must be paid by Jan. 29. Payment may be made online (preferred) or by sending checks, payable to Texas Managing Editors, to 

Texas Managing Editors
P.O. Box 1506
Prosper, TX 75078

Do not send checks to contest coordinators. The fees are

Class A (non-daily papers): $350
Class AA (medium-sized dailies): $600
Class AAA (large dailies or equivalent web-only sites): $1,000

Exceptions: There is no fee for college entries. Non-dailies with a parent paper will be assessed at 50 percent of the parent paper and must compete in the parent paper’s classification.

DIVISION I CONTEST CATEGORIES

  1. NEWSROOM OF THE YEAR: This sweepstakes award honors 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 mandatory editions and points earned in all other categories.

    Entries in this category consist of three complete newspaper or online editions — one edition from any date in 2023 chosen by the publication and two mandatory 2023 dates. The mandatory dates are Sunday, June 18, and Wednesday, Feb. 1. 

    In cases in which a newspaper did not publish on a mandatory date, the newspaper must pick the next closest date of publication. Print products will be judged on quality of content, including writing, photography and infographics; design; and readability. 

    Upload a PDF of each of the three front pages to the contest website, and email links to the eEditions or links to a Google folder containing PDFs of the three editions to the contest coordinators listed below with the subject line “TME CONTEST ENTRY”:

    Class A — Jennifer Chang, Houston Chronicle, jennifer.chang@chron.com. Cell: 281-691-0885
    Class AA — Ronnie Crocker, ronnie.crocker@gmail.com. Cell: 713-410-2528 
    Class AAA — Eric Garcia, Temple Daily Telegram, eegarcia@tdtnews.com. Office: 254-774-5216 Cell: 214-293-2088 

    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 to get a full picture of a publication’s online offerings. Please upload a screenshot of your publication’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
    Overall 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 the results. Up to 10 stories may be submitted per entry. Limit one entry in classes A and AA and two in Class AAA.
  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 per entry, and they may come from more than one edition or date. Include a cover letter (one page maximum). Limit one entry in classes A and AA and two in Class AAA.
  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 are 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 Class AAA, three stories constitute an entry. Limit three entries per outlet in all classes.
  13. BUSINESS REPORTING: One story constitutes an entry. The 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 are not permitted. Limit three entries per outlet in all classes. Cover letter (one page maximum) is optional but recommended.
  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 slideshows. 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 and AA and five entries per outlet in Class AAA.
  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 and AA and five entries per organization in Class AAA. Individual entrants who work for multiple outlets may submit a maximum of three entries combined for all the outlets for which the entrant works. Each 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 in all classes.
  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 makes readers take notice. Outlets in all classes 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 Managing Editors have combined forces for six Star Awards. Winners of Star Awards in each classification will receive $500. From among the classification winners, an overall winner for each category will be awarded a Charles E. Green Award from the Headliners Foundation of Texas. Overall winners in 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.

  1. 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 are 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. Winners in each classification advance to consideration for the Charles E. Green Award.
  2. 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. Winners in each classification advance to consideration for the Charles E. Green Award.
  3. 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 are allowed. Outlets may submit only one entry in this category. A cover letter, at a maximum of one page, is required. Winners in each classification advance to consideration for the Charles E. Green Award.
  4. 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. Winners in each classification advance to consideration for the Charles E. Green Award.
  5. STAR BREAKING NEWS REPORT OF THE YEAR: Recognizes one day’s coverage of a breaking news story. An entry may include multiple stories and graphics from one news cycle. An 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. Winners in each classification advance to consideration for the Charles E. Green Award.
  6. STAR ONLINE PACKAGE OF THE YEAR: Recognizes excellence in online content by Texas-based media. One entry per publication. Entries should represent a robust multimedia approach to storytelling and/or utility in covering a major news event, investigative project or feature subject. An entry should demonstrate creative and effective use of a range of appropriate multimedia tools, such as text, graphics, audio, video, still photography or 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 file containing the package as it appeared online. Editors are encouraged to note in a cover letter the innovative aspects of their multimedia entry and the impact the package had on the audience or in the community. Winners in each classification advance to consideration for the Charles E. Green Award. We request you keep the entries live on the site for a year as reference and learning tools for TME member papers.

TEXAS MANAGING EDITORS MEMORIAL AWARDS

  1. CELESTE WILLIAMS STAR SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR: This award is named in memory of the late Fort Worth Star-Telegram sports editor and TME board member Celeste Williams, and it recognizes excellence in sportswriting. Five articles by an individual constitute an entry. One entry allowed per publication. Articles may reflect all types of sports stories, including columns, features, news stories and game reports.
  1. 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, 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. The story or stories must be by one writer (no double bylines or contributing taglines) about an everyday person or people. Judges will look for fine writing, detailed reporting, voice, empathy and surprise. Only one entry per outlet is allowed. Judges will select one winner from all classifications.

DIVISION II UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGES

NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR: All college or university newspapers published in Texas are eligible; no fees necessary. 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 the quality of writing and news coverage, editing, layout, graphics and photos.

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, Texas State University associate professor of practice
212 Victoria Point
Schertz, TX 78154
Email: eec99@txstate.edu Phone: 214-697-0237

Submit convention registration fees here.