Now is the time to enter your most stellar work of 2020 in the Washington, D.C., Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Dateline Awards competition. Deadline has been extended — you now have until midnight, Sunday, March 7, to get your entries submitted!
Each year, the SPJ DC Pro Chapter honors the best in print, broadcast and online journalism. Don’t delay! Only two months to get your entries in for the 2021 contest.
Submissions are being accepted at https://betternewspapercontest.com. Look for “2021 Washington, D.C., SPJ Dateline Awards” on the list of contests under Open Call Login. You do not have to be an SPJ member to enter. Awards will be announced in June 2021.
Have questions about entering? Contact:
Jane Giles
SPJ Dateline Awards contest coordinator
at datelinecoordinator@gmail.com
GUIDELINES
Work published, posted or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, is eligible. For a series, the majority of the work must have appeared in 2020.
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.
There is a fee of $30 per entry. (Note: A fee of $2 per entry is added to online payments.)
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.
Finalists and winners will be announced in June. Format of announcement will depend on circumstances surrounding the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Best of luck to all in the competition. Tell a friend so they can enter, too!
