LAST CHANCE: Contest open for local entries published/broadcast in 2019
What stellar work did you do in 2019?
It’s your last chance to be recognized for your dedication and efforts. Submit your best work from 2019 NOW to the 2020 Dateline Awards contest, sponsored by the Washington, D.C., Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
This annual contest is open to print, broadcast and online media outlets throughout the D.C. metropolitan area and neighboring counties. There are nearly 60 categories in the various media divisions — from breaking news and features to commentary and photography. All entries must have been originally published or aired in 2019.
Enter NOW online at https://betternewspapercontest.com. Just click on Open Call Login. You do not have to be a SPJ member to enter; it’s easy; and you may submit more than one work.
Awards will be presented at the chapter’s prestigious Hall of Fame/Dateline Awards dinner Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Please contact me with any questions.
All entries must be submitted online. | Entry Fee: $30 (Note: A fee of $2 per entry is added for processing online payments. Total per entry: $32)
Encourage a friend or colleague to put their best work forward for recognition. Check out last year’s honorees here, and other recent honorees here.
If you have any questions about the competition, feel free to email me. I look forward to receiving your entries. And best of luck in the competition!
Cordially,
Jane Giles
SPJ DC Dateline Awards Contest Coordinator
datelinecoordinator@gmail.com
SPJ DC Pro Chapter
PO Box 19555
Washington, DC 20036
How to Apply
Go to the FIND CONTEST page of the BetterBNC website and locate “2020 Washington, D.C., SPJ Dateline Awards.” (TIP: Use ^F to search for DATELINE.)
Create an “Open Call” contestant account if you do not already have one and log in to submit your entries.
Please note that audio/video files can’t be uploaded to the BNC site. You must submit a separate URL link to a site such as SoundStream, YouTube or your broadcast outlet’s site with your entry.
We have a PDF guide available to help you with the login and entry process.
GUIDELINES
Work published, posted or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2019, is eligible. For a series, the majority of the work must have appeared in 2019.
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.
Only work by journalists working in the Washington metropolitan area qualifies. News must be of local interest, except for reporting meant for a wider audience.
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 Montgomery, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties in Maryland.
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.
If you are a Washington correspondent for a media outlet or publication outside the DC metro area, you may qualify to enter the Correspondent Award competition. Entries for this should not be entered in other categories. Contact the awards coordinator for information on entering, if it is not clear to you.
The fee is $30 per entry. (Note: A fee of $2 per entry is added to online payments.)
All submissions must be completed by 11:59 p.m. ET on the day of the deadline — now March 7 — in order to be considered.
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, 2019, is eligible. For a series, the majority of the work must have appeared in 2019.
- 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 is
February 29March 7.
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 “2020 Washington, D.C., SPJ 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 topic.
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.
SEPARATE 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.
JUDGING
Judges’ decisions are final.
Entries will be judged by journalists and related professionals whose primary assignments do not include local news. The judges are not in the D.C. market. An award in any category may be withheld if the judges so decide.
These judges will also nominate entries worthy of the Robert D.G. Lewis Watchdog Award, which is 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. There is a cash prize for this award.
Entries become the property of the Washington, D.C., Pro chapter of SPJ.
PRESENTATIONS
Awards will be announced at the annual Dateline Awards dinner on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at the National Press Club in Washington. The chapter will provide a press statement following the awards presentation listing all winners.
No advance notice of winners will be given, BUT ALL FINALISTS will be notified and given the opportunity to purchase tickets to the dinner at a rate set for contest finalists.
ABOUT SPJ DC PRO CHAPTER
The Washington, D.C., Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is one of SPJ’s largest. SPJ is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry through the daily work of its nearly 7,500 members; works to inspire and educate current and future journalists through professional development; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press through its advocacy efforts. We have more information about our activities posted on spjdc.org.