INSTRUCTIONS & CATEGORIES
ELIGIBILITY: Competition is open to full-time journalists, part-time journalists, freelancers and bloggers who are residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma or Yolo counties who have material published, broadcast, aired or online during the contest period from January 1 through December 31, 2022, inclusive.
JUDGING: Entries will be judged by professional journalism organizations or individuals outside the contest area. No San Francisco Press Club members will judge entries. The Awards Committee reserves the right to change the category in which entries are submitted and to refuse entries not meeting eligibility. In the case of an entry dispute, the decision of the committee will be final.
DEADLINE: Entries must be received no later than 9 p.m. November 13th, 2023
AWARDS: First, second and third place awards will be presented in person at the SFPC awards gala. Date and location to be announced.
ENTRY FEES:
All forms of media – Per Entry
Professional Entrant: $30
College Entrant: $10
Overall Excellence: $50
Below are directions for preparing and submitting entries.
IMPORTANT: Please make sure to use a recent version of Google Chrome for making contest entries.
There are two ways to enter the awards.
- If you will be handling the entries for a media organization, follow the instructions for “Contestant”
- If you are a freelancer or write for more than one publication, you will use the “Open Call” instructions below.
CONTESTANT INSTRUCTIONS: This is an account for a media company such as a magazine, newspaper or television station. One person may handle all entries for the company or the login information can be shared with colleagues who then make entries for themselves.
Log in to your account. Go to www.BetterNewspaperContest.com
Go to “Contestant Login” Choose “2023 Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards.” Select the appropriate media organization. (If your organization does not appear on the list, email the contest administrator and it will be added.)
Enter the temporary password: bnc (lowercase) then create a secure password for your organization. Please share your new password with others from your media organization making entries.
OPEN CALL INSTRUCTIONS: This is an account for freelancers or those who write or create content for more than one media organization.
Create your account: Go to www.BetterNewspaperContest.com
Click Open Call Login and click Create your Open Call Account. Fill in all info. You will see a message that a verification link has been sent to your email.
Present your credentials.
Once you receive the verification link message, click on the link, or copy into your browser. Complete the credentials portion. This step protects the entry process. Once you see the “Credentials Updated” message, click on Available Contests. Select the “2023 Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards.”
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES
• On the Manage Entries page, click Submit Entry
• Select the “General” Division The system will automatically generate the correct Division, based on the media outlet you choose.
• If Open call, select the appropriate media outlet from the dropdown. If your publication, website or station is not on the list, please email the contest administrator to add it.
• Select the appropriate Category.
• (If applicable) Read the corresponding Category Note (directly below the Category selection box), describing what is expected for the category’s entry content. Complete the Headline/Title field.
• Based on the type of entry, add content:
• To add URL links to content, copy and paste the content’s web address into the provided Web URL field.
• To upload digital file attachments (other than audio/video), click Choose File, navigate to the desired file, select Open, and click Upload. Allowed file types are PDF, DOC, TXT, JPG, GIF, and PNG. If more than one attachment is desired for this entry, repeat these steps.
• For Audio or Video: To host your content online, either upload it to a free streaming content website (e.g. YouTube) or talk to your IT person about adding it to your station’s website. Make sure the content will be accessible online throughout the contest and awards judging process.
• Add Credits for those responsible for the entry content. Be sure to add your own name here.
• Add Comments (if applicable) but keep them brief (e.g. 100 words).
• Click Submit.
IMPORTANT: Please ensure that items are not behind a paywall or a password-protected area. If they are, you must provide username/password info in the Comments section of your entry. Judges may disqualify your entry if work samples are inaccessible.
This is your account – you can come back to it at any time during the call for entries time period – until the DEADLINE DATE.
Once you have completed all your entries, click on Entry Fee Calculator and check to be sure all your entries are included.
Click on button to go to the payment page to pay online. Type the total amount due on the page and complete payment. You may also pay by check by sending a copy of your recap with check to: San Francisco Press Club, 385 Forest Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301.
If you have any questions, call or email the Awards Administrator, whose contact information is provided on www.BetterNewspaperContest.com.
DIVISIONS
DIGITAL MEDIA: Work exclusively online
DAILY NEWSPAPERS: Published a minimum of five times a week
NON-DAILY NEWSPAPERS
MAGAZINES/TRADE PUBLICATIONS
CATEGORIES
The following categories are available for the four divisions above.
Overall Excellence – Digital Media should submit entries via URL links to specific pages. (Judges will select a designated period to view all website entries.) Supporting material can be submitted via PDF. Original posting dates should be in 2022. • Daily and Non-Daily Newspapers and Magazines/Trade Publications should submit three complete issues from 2022.
Blog/Commentary
Breaking News – Story that breaks and is covered on deadline – single-day coverage. Include a description – one paragraph max – of deadlines and coordination of coverage.
Business/Technology Story
Column – News/Political Maximum three columns per entry.
Column – Features Maximum three columns per entry.
Column – Sports Maximum three columns per entry.
Environmental/Nature
Feature – Light Nature
Feature – Serious Nature
General News – Regular news coverage, non-breaking news.
Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research. If a series, up to three examples may be submitted.
Photography – Feature
Photography – News
Photography – Photo Series
Photography – Sports
Profile
Series or Continuing Coverage – Single reporter or team. Non-breaking news or features on same topic not to exceed three submissions per entry.
Sports Feature – Sports reporting, not a column.
Cover Design
Editorial Cartoon
Front Page Design
Feature Layout Design – Best page design for feature story includes photos and /or graphics. Headlines – Submit one headline sample
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Overall Excellence – Public Relations should submit an overall sampling of materials for one campaign.
Newsletter– printed, email or online, submit three examples
Corporate Brochure
Annual Report
Press Release Writing – Submit one press release on a news item or feature story relating to any organization or event. Press releases promoting products are ineligible.
Video – Production seeking to explain or demonstrate client’s product, event or area of influence
RADIO/PODCAST – AUDIO ONLY – Commercial
Overall Excellence – Radio stations should submit three complete newscasts from 2022.
Enterprise/Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research.
Feature Story – Light Nature
Feature Story – Serious Nature
News Story
Podcast – General Interest
Podcast – News
Public Affairs Program
Series or Continuing Coverage – Single reporter or team. Non-breaking news on same topic not to exceed three submissions per entry.
Sports Feature
RADIO/PODCAST – AUDIO ONLY – Non – Commercial
Overall Excellence – Radio stations should submit three complete newscasts from 2022.
Enterprise/Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research.
Feature Story – Light Nature
Feature Story – Serious Nature
News Story
Podcast – General Interest
Podcast – News
Public Affairs Program
Series or Continuing Coverage – Single reporter or team. Non-breaking news on same topic not to exceed three submissions per entry.
Sports Feature
TELEVISION/VIDEO
Overall Excellence – Television stations should submit three complete newscasts from 2022.
Feature Story – Light Nature
Feature Story – Serious Nature
Live Report – Live coverage on the scene of a single news story
News Story
Series or Continuing Coverage – Single reporter or team. Non-breaking news on same topic not to exceed three submissions per entry.
Investigative Reporting –Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research. If coverage resulted in action or change, include a brief description.
Public Affairs Program
Sports Feature
Videography
COLLEGE MEDIA
Best College Newspaper – Submit up to three editions from calendar year 2022
Best College Magazine – Submit up to three editions from calendar year 2022
Blog/Commentary
Breaking News – Story that breaks and is covered on deadline – single-day coverage. Include a description – one paragraph max – of deadlines and coordination of coverage.
Column – Maximum three columns per entry.
Feature – Light Nature
Feature – Serious Nature
General News – Regular news coverage, non-breaking news.
Investigative Reporting – Single reporter or team. Brings hidden matter to light and shows initiative and depth of research. If a series, up to three examples may be submitted.
Photography – Feature
Photography – News
Photography – Photo Series
Photography – Sports
Cover Design
Editorial Cartoon
Front Page Design
Feature Layout Design – Best page design for feature story includes photos and /or graphics. Headline – Submit one headline sample