NEWSLETTER AWARD CONTEST

The Newsletter Award Contest is an annual event, which has been held continuously since 1968 for the purpose of recognizing outstanding newsletters within the Society.

A panel of judges who consider graphics, legibility, timeliness, and news content makes determination of the winners.

There are categories for large Sections (500 or more members), medium Sections (200 to 499 members), small Sections (under 200 members), most improved Section (no membership requirements), Divisions (no membership requirements), and a Grand Prize for the best overall newsletter.

The December 31st paid membership report is used to establish an entrant’s category.

Details of the competition are sent to Newsletter Editors and Section Presidents every November. Entries must be submitted by the following February 15th.

Section entries consist of five (5) copies each of three (3) issues of their newsletter from the current fiscal year.

Judging is completed during the month of March. All Sections are notified of the results in April.

Prizes are awarded at ANTEC each year.

The criteria used by the judging committee, the point values, and a description of each category is as follows:

1. OFFICER LISTING (0 to 5 points): This is a very basic item. All newsletters should have the Directors and Officers listed with phone numbers for each. A good, easy-to-find listing usually will score 5 points.

2. COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS (0 to 5 points): About the same as “Officer Listing” with similar point values.

3. CALENDAR OF EVENTS (0 to 5 points): Somewhere there should be a listing of upcoming events for SPE members. It can be a calendar of local events, national events, or better yet, both.

4. NATIONAL SPE NEWS (0 to 5 points): Since we’re an international organization, newsletters should contain more than just local news. There should be some mention of SPE Conferences, reports of Council Meetings, listings of RETECs, ANTECs, or something that gives the membership information about life beyond the local Section.

5. REVIEW OF LAST MEETING (0 to 5 points): Not every member can attend every meeting. A good addition to any newsletter is a brief discussion of what transpired at the last meeting, be it a separate article, a mention in the “President’s Message” column, or whatever. This can always help sell the benefits of attending meetings.

6. “MEETING NOTICE” BASIC INFORMATION (0 to 5 points): After going on and on about how important it is to give good information, this may come as a shock to you, but not everyone takes the time to read all of the details of an upcoming meeting. That’s why it’s essential to have an easy-to-find and easy‑to‑read “basic information” box which lists when the meeting is, where it will take place, what the topic is, who the speaker is, and how much it will cost.

7. LEAD ARTICLE (0 to 10 points): This should be the most important story in the newsletter. Use it to its fullest potential by selling the meeting. A few basic sentences rarely do the job effectively.

8. USE OF PHOTOS (0 to 10 points): Here’s a simple tool, which makes a great deal of difference. Photos of the upcoming speaker or scenes from the last meeting all make a good impression and help to break up the monotony of a lot of type. But use them effectively.

9. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (0 to 10 points): Another “must”. But while most newsletters have this column, only a few of them are worthwhile. This piece probably gets read more than any other article in the paper. So do something with it. The President should “say something” with his time rather than just filling space with a bunch of words.

10. COMMITTEE REPORTS (0 to 10 points): Membership, Public Interest, and Education...the Section is made up of committees and the membership should be informed what they are up to. Besides, this is one area where the editor is not required to write every article. Obviously, there won’t be committee information every month, but there should be some form of regular reporting.

11. EDITING (0 to 20 points): This has the greatest number of points because it has the greatest number of “sub-categories”. Here’s where writing technique comes in. Here’s where the judges take into account the “special” touches put into a newsletter, such as out-of-the-ordinary articles of interest. And here’s where all of the real editing comes into account such as layout, choice of headlines, proof-reading (how many glaring errors are there?) and the final printing.

12. GENERAL APPEAL (0 to 10 points): This is where the judges get to play “10”. They assign a point total based on their “gut” reaction. How does the newsletter look? Does it read well? Is there a certain characteristic that stands out? It’s pure and simple “opinion” time.