Texas BNC open for entries

The 2020-21 Texas Better Newspaper Contest is open for entries through March 4.
TPA member newspapers may submit entries from material published during the 16-month period ending Dec. 31, 2021.
The rulebook for the 2020-21 Texas Better Newspaper Contest is available for download online at www.texaspress.com/bnc. Those interested in entering are encouraged to download the rules and read the guidelines for entries.
The same page on the TPA website provides a link to the contest entry platform, betternewspapercontest.com. When logging in, returning contestant manager/users should use the password created previously when submitting that newspaper’s entries. If the password has been forgotten or the contestant manager is new and the email address associated with newspaper’s account is not known, contact Candace Velvin, contest coordinator, at 512-477-6755 (office) 512-541-5398 (cell) or cvelvin@texaspress.com.
The contest has 18 competition categories. Sweepstakes competition 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 for awards in competition categories are used to determine the sweepstakes winners in each division. Special award categories include best magazine, best website, community service, online live coverage, public notice and special section. Awards in these categories do not contribute to sweepstakes points.
Newspapers will compete in up to ten divisions, depending on the number of newspapers entering and their frequencies of publication.
Division 1 consists of the top five metro dailies – Austin American-Statesman, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News – which compete exclusively in the General Excellence category. A special rulebook for Division 1 newspapers is also available online.
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 enter divisions based on the frequency of their publication in October 2021. 
Circulation breakdowns will be based on newspapers’ Statements of Ownership, Management and Circulation (PS Form 3526) published in October 2021.
Contest fees are $10 per category entered with option for online payment through the Texas Press Association website.
Members are reminded that with the exception of the specific online categories, best website and online coverage, material entered must have been published in the newspaper’s print product — including photography categories.
Deadline for entries is March 4. 
Following judging by members of the West Virginia Press Association in April, awards will be presented at the TPA Convention and Trade Show July 28-30 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel, Conference Center & Spa.
As part of the annual contest “swap,” TPA members are needed as volunteer judges for the West Virginia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, which has a schedule similar to the TPA contest. Judging will take place in late March through early April.
To volunteer as a judge, contact Candace Velvin, contest coordinator, at 512-477-6755 or cvelvin@texaspress.com. The West Virginia Press Association uses the ACES platform for their annual contest.