Texas Better Newspaper Contest opens for entries Jan. 23

The Texas Better Newspaper Contest opening for entries Jan. 23 will be held on the ACES platform for the first time.

The contest entry period is Jan. 23 through Feb. 20. Material entered in the contest must have been published between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022.

Contest information, including rules regarding eligibility and contest entry formats, is available for download on the TPA Contest page, www.texaspress.com/better-newspaper-contest-0.

Beginning Jan. 23, contestants may register at www.newspapercontest.com/texas. Click on the “register” button to open a form where name, email address are entered and where the contestant will create a password. Enter the code “TXPRESS” in the final blank. Use the submit button to complete registration. Wait for a confirmation email which is required to complete registration.

Once registration is completed, platform users may log in as many times as necessary to upload entries. Information about entries is included with each competition class.

Fees are $10 per entry. When concluding registration, users may print an invoice to pay fees by mail, or opt to use a link to online payment on the Texas Press Association website. Note: Fees must be paid by Feb. 28 or entries will be disqualified.

Newspapers compete in divisions determined by circulation and frequency of publication. Division 1 consists of the top five metro dailies – Austin American-Statesman, The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News – which will compete exclusively in the General Excellence category. Divisions 2 and higher will be divided based on total number of participating newspapers, frequency of publication (dailies, semiweeklies and weeklies) and by circulation. Newspapers will be entered in divisions based on the frequency of their publication as of Oct. 31, 2022.

Circulation breakdowns will be based on newspapers’ Statements of Ownership, Management and Circulation (PS Form 3526) published in October 2022. More information is included in the general rules and eligibility section.

Newspapers publishing print editions and/or digital replicas (eEditions) four or more times per week will compete as dailies. Newspapers publishing print editions and/or digital replicas (eEditions) two or three times per week will compete as semiweeklies. Newspapers publishing one print edition or less per week will compete as weeklies.

On the ACES site, the contest classes are organized in two contest types, 12 Sweepstakes classes and six Non-Sweepstakes classes. Eligible TPA members may enter all of the contest classes in both categories.

Sweepstakes categories include Advertising, Column Writing, Editorial Writing, Feature Photography, Feature Writing, General Excellence, Headline Writing, News Photography, News Writing, Page Design, Sports Coverage and Sports Photography. Points earned for placing in these categories count toward sweepstakes awards presented in each division.

Non-Sweepstakes classes include Best magazine, Best Website, Community Service, Online Live Coverage, Public Notice and Special Section.

First place winners in all classes receive plaques. In addition, award certificates will be presented to first, second,

third and fourth place winners.

Awards will be presented at the TPA Convention and Trade Show June 1-3 at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock.

JUDGING

Members of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association will judge entries in the contest in late February and early March. In exchange, TPA volunteers are needed to judge the ONPA contest in April and May.

For more information and to volunteer to judge, contact Candace Velvin, contest coordinator, at cvelvin@texaspress.com or 512-477-6755.