Entries are now being accepted for the annual Dateline Awards contest sponsored by the DC Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The contest recognizes outstanding local journalism in the Washington, D.C. region across print, broadcast and online media.
The deadline for entering this year’s contest has been extended to March 6, 2019. Work must have been published or broadcast in 2018 to be considered. You do not need to be an SPJ member to enter.
Awards will be presented during the Dateline Awards and Hall of Fame dinner on June 11, 2019 at the National Press Club in downtown Washington. Finalists will be notified before the event.
Learn more about the contest below.
To submit an entry, visit Better Newspaper Contest, select 2019 Dateline Awards, log in to the contest then click on Open Call Login.
Have questions? Contact contest coordinator Jane Giles at datelinecoordinator@gmail.com.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- The fee is $32 per entry, including a service fee. Fees will be accepted through PayPal and major credit cards.
- More than one entry may be submitted in each category, but each separate entry must be accompanied by its own entry fee. Please do not submit the same entry in more than one category.
- For all categories, the Washington metropolitan area is defined as D.C., Virginia and Maryland. Only work by journalists working in the metropolitan area qualifies. News must be of local interest, except for reporting meant for a wider audience.
- Work published, posted or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2018, is eligible. For a series, the majority of the work must have appeared in 2018.
- All entries shall be in their original form as published or broadcast. Subsequent corrections or clarifications to the work must be included in the entry or it will be disqualified.
- The deadline for entries has been extended until March 6.
HOW TO ENTER
- All entries must be submitted through the Better BNC portal. To enter,
- Go to betternewspapercontest.com
- Click “contestant login” and create an Open Call account. Past Dateline Award applicants can use their login from past years.
- Search “My Contests” for “2019 Dateline Awards” and proceed to manage your entries.
- Need help? This guide will walk you through the submission process.
DIVISIONS
- Daily Newspaper includes dailies published five or more days a week and wire services.
- Weekly Newspaper published fewer than five days a week.
- Magazine 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 be clearly labeled.
- Radio including city and suburban stations. Each entry should be clearly labeled.
- Newsletters/Trade Publications supported by subscription and/or advertising revenue and publications whose audience is specific to interest in a trade.
- Online publications including “web-zines” that appear exclusively in electronic form on the Internet on a regular schedule, as well as websites operated in conjunction with print or broadcast media. One main URL and up to five additional URLs to highlight specific features of the article or package. Entries that do not provide complete and accurate URLs will be disqualified.
CATEGORIES
Non-Breaking News
Could include federal, state, local government; health care; medicine/science; education; minority issues; politics; religion; environment; criminal justice; and social justice issues (poverty, homelessness, public housing).
Breaking News
Single report or series of reports that best exemplify breaking coverage on a major news event on deadline.
Features
Single report or series of reports.
Sports
A single report that profiles an individual in sports at any level (high school, college, pro); or a pattern of outstanding coverage of sports, demonstrated by a selection of up to five reports by a writer or team. The entry may include reports from the beat or a series.
Editorial/Opinion Writing
The most persuasive single editorial or series of editorials (up to three). Entry can be unsigned editorials or signed columns.
Business
A single report that profiles an individual in business or development at the state or local level; or a pattern of outstanding coverage of business/development with a selection of up to five reports by a writer or team. The entry may include reports from the beat or a series.
Photojournalism
For best black-and-white and color news photography. Judges will look at technical composition, creativity and overall visual impact.
Investigative Journalism
Reporting that demonstrates in-depth, analytical skills, with information gathered over time. Judges will consider originality, use of public records, if they apply, and outcomes of the investigation.
Commentary
Analysis or interpretation of arts/culture, including food, music and theater. Submit up to three samples.
Feature Photography
A single published photo, either stand-alone or part of a story
Photography Story
A collection of photos printed together that tell a story—either news or feature in nature. Not for continuing coverage of a subject.
Art/Photo Illustration
Specially designed art and/or photos to illustrate a story. Submit three examples.
Infographic
Standalone infographic or part of a story. Submit up to three samples.
Front-Page Design
Submit three samples by one artist or team. Can represent the front page or section front.
Series
Submit up to five samples of a news or feature series on one topic.
Editorial Cartoon
Submit three samples on any one topic by one person.
Beat Reporting
Submit a portfolio of work (no more than five stories) showing sustained excellence in covering a beat. Judges will consider a variety of source development, story generation and beat familiarization. A 250-word supporting statement explaining the entry is optional.
Blog (all divisions, electronic)
Indicate whether it is a blog supported by a journalistic/media company or if it is a personal blog by a journalist who also publishes in legacy media or online versions of legacy media or new media. Submit up to three posts.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Correspondent Award
For distinguished coverage of the Washington area published or broadcast outside the Washington, D.C. area. Submit up to five samples
Robert D.G. Lewis Watchdog Journalism Award
The Robert D.G. Lewis Watchdog Award will be presented to a finalist in any award classification whose entry best exemplifies journalism aimed at protecting the public from abuses by those who would betray the public trust. No direct entries are accepted for this category. There is a cash prize of up to $1,000 for the winner.