2009 DATELINE AWARDS
FOR EXCELLENCE IN
LOCAL JOURNALISM
Sponsored by the Washington, D.C., Pro chapter
GENERAL
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
More than
one entry may be submitted in each category, but each separate entry must be
accompanied by its own nomination form and entry fee. Please do not submit the same entry in more than
one category. The names of all entrants and the title of the entry should be
listed on the entry form. Please include two copies of all print
entries.
The fee is $30 per entry, except for a Distinguished
Service Award nomination, for which there is no charge. Make checks or money
orders payable to
For all
categories, the Washington metropolitan area is defined as the District of
Columbia; Alexandria and Fredericksburg cities and Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier,
Loudoun, Stafford and Prince William counties in Virginia; and Calvert, Charles,
NOMINATIONS
& DEADLINES
Nominations
may be made by anyone. Nominees need not be SPJ members.
Only work
by journalists working in the
Work
published, Webcast or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2008, is eligible.
For a series, the majority of the work must have appeared in
2008.
All
entries shall be in their original form as published or broadcast and must be
hand delivered or postmarked no later than Feb. 20, 2009. Subsequent corrections
or clarifications to the work must be included in the entry or it will be
disqualified. Distinguished Service
Award entries also must be submitted by Feb. 20.
JUDGING
Materials
submitted will be judged by journalists and related professionals whose primary
assignments do not include local news. An award in any category may be withheld
if the judges so decide. Judges’ decisions are final. Entries become the
property of the Washington, D.C., Pro chapter of SPJ.
DATELINE
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS
Awards will be announced at the annual Dateline Awards dinner on June 9, 2009. The chapter will provide a press statement following the awards presentation listing all winners. No advance notice of winners will be given, except for the Distinguished Service Award and Robert D.G. Lewis Award.
NEWSLETTER--WASHINGTON
REPORTING
A
business-to-business publication produced by an independent publisher for profit
will be honored for enterprise reporting, from Washington for a national
audience, that contributes to a better understanding of the federal
government.
Nominations
should be submitted for this award.
CORRESPONDENT
AWARD
The award
shall be for distinguished coverage of the Washington area published or
broadcast outside the Washington, D.C., area.
Nominations
should be submitted for this award.
$1,000 ROBERT D.G. LEWIS WATCHDOG
AWARD
The Robert
D.G. Lewis Watchdog Award will be presented to an applicant in any award
classification whose entry best exemplifies journalism aimed at protecting the
public from abuses by those who would betray the public
trust.
Mr. Lewis
served SPJ over the years in a number of prestigious leadership positions,
including national president and chairman of the Freedom of Information
Committee. Mr. Lewis, who also served as the chairman of the board of governors
of the National Press Club, retired from Newhouse
Newspapers.
Direct
nominations are not accepted for this award, which the judges may give to a
worthy entry for a category.
DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE IN LOCAL JOURNALISM
This award
is for distinction in any medium of local journalism not involving a particular
story or series. Nominees should be cited for their contribution to the
development of local journalism or to the development of other journalists. They
should also be recognized for their contributions to the metropolitan Washington
community or to a specific community within the metropolitan
area.
Editors,
producers, administrators and managers who are not always eligible for reporting
awards will be considered, as well as journalists who have made more visible
contributions to the profession.
Letters of
nomination may be made by individuals or groups who need not be members of SPJ.
The nominator should describe the candidate’s qualifications and achievements,
but is not required to include samples of his/her work. There is no entry
fee.
The
executive committee of the chapter board of directors will select the winner,
who will be notified in advance and honored at the Dateline Awards
banquet.
Nominations
for the Distinguished Service in Local Journalism Award should be e-mailed to
Steve Taylor at taylorsa@comcast.net.
DATELINE
AWARDS - LOCAL MEDIA DIVISIONS:
Daily newspapers/wire services/Web
site
, includes
dailies published five or more days a week, wire services and web-only
publications.
Weekly newspapers
,
published fewer than five days a week.
Magazines, covering
local issues, published in the Washington, D.C., area.
Television,
including on-air and cable channels, appealing solely to local audiences. Each
entry should clearly labeled. DVDs are preferred; VHS tapes will be
accepted.
Radio,
including city and suburban stations. Each entry should be clearly labeled. CDs
are preferred; audio cassettes will be accepted.
Web sites ,
see online
entry guidelines below.
DATELINE AWARDS CATEGORIES
(Within
Newspaper, Magazine, Radio and TV divisions)
Spot News – A story or group of stories (no
more than five) on the same breaking news event written or produced under
deadline pressure by a reporter or reporting team.
General News – A story or group of stories (no
more than five) on a single topic by a reporter or reporting team, including
analysis and news stories on subjects other than a breaking news
event.
Investigative Reporting
– A story
or group of stories (no more than five) displaying enterprise and uncovering
harmful or dangerous conditions, corruption, incompetence, conflict of interest,
abuse of the public trust or public harm. Judges will consider accuracy, extent
and thoroughness of reporting, importance of the subject, extent to which the
entry reveals previously unknown problems and impact of the
work.
Features – A story
or group of stories (no more than five) on a single subject of general human
interest, including profiles and consumer pieces. Judges will consider
enterprise, obstacles overcome, style, clarity, accuracy and
thoroughness.
Sports –
A story or
group of stories (no more than five) on a single sports subject — excluding
broadcast play-by-play.
Editorial, Columns, Commentary – Up to five pieces on a single topic by an individual writer. Judges will consider the writer’s grasp of the subject, style, clarity and impact. (Newspaper and magazine awards only.)
Business/Financial Reporting
– A story or
group of stories (no more than five) on a single subject in the area of business
or finance by a reporter or reporting team.
Arts Criticism
– A single
critical review covering any art form: literary, performing or visual arts.
Judges will consider the writer’s grasp of the artist’s message, understanding
of the art form, creativity, clarity and assessment of the work’s possible
impact on the audience.
Photojournalism – A photograph or series of photographs or a television broadcast on a single subject of local news by an individual photographer. Judges will consider creativity, emotional impact, obstacles overcome and the technical quality of the photo(s).
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