Better Newspapers Competition hits the ground running

December is just around the corner, and with it comes the time to look back on the year that was 2006. Celebrate your success, share the eye-catching photos and articles that celebrated your community, and show the industry what makes your newspaper unique. Big and small, far and wide, there’s a category for everyone in the 2007 Better Newspapers Competition (BNC) and the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) is pleased to announce details for this year’s competition which officially kicks off today, November 20, 2006.

CCNA members have until January 10, 2007, to submit their packages for the earlybird draw. All eligible entries received that are post-marked or courier dated by January 10 will be entered to win a voucher worth $1,500 toward the cost of attending the 2007 CCNA national convention.

The final deadline is Friday, January 19, 2007, and finalists will be announced on Monday, March 12, 2007, at www.communitynews.ca/bncawards/2007/. Winners will be announced during award presentations at the 88th CCNA National Convention in Winnipeg, on May 11, 2007. Visit www.communitynews.ca/convention/2007/ for more information on the convention as it becomes available.

NEW IN 2007
CCNA is holding a special earlybird prize draw, and one lucky member will receive a voucher worth up to $1,500 toward the cost of attending the CCNA national convention. In order to be eligible, members must send their entries in by Wednesday, January 10.

In addition, Best Feature Story – Category 202, has been split into a total of three classesÔÇöcirculation up to 3,999, circulation 4000 to 12,499, and circulation 12,500 and over.

The BNC Committee has also updated the following rules:
-Best Sports Photo – Scoring for Presentation (focus, clarity, reproduction, cropping, cutline) is now worth 10 points (up from 5) for a total of 55 points.

RETURNING CASH PRIZES
Finally, check out some of the categories that come with cash prizes:


  • Agricore United’s Best Agricultural Story Award – $1000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place.
  • The George Cadogan Memorial Outstanding Columnist Award – $500 to the winning columnist.
  • George Holmes Memorial Trophy for Best Photo Illustration – $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place.

TIMELINE
November 20 – Contest opens, forms available January 10 – Earlybird entry deadline – last chance for the earlybird draw January 19 – Contest closes, entries due at CCNA Office; earlybird winner announced March 12 – Finalists Announced
May 11 – Awards Presented 

To download the forms, visit:

┬╗ Download the 2007 BNC Entry Forms (PDF)
┬╗ Download the 2007 BNC Rules & Criteria (PDF)
┬╗ Read the 2007 BNC Rules & Criteria Online

For more information on the 2007 Better Newspapers Competition, visit the CCNA website at www.communitynews.ca or contact member services coordinator Andrew Powell at 1-877-305-2262, extension 29, or by e-mail at apowell@ccna.ca.