The Press Awards for 2019Full Guidance

Entries Open: 2 December 2019 Entries Close: 10 January 2020 Shortlists for general categories announced: February 2020 Awards dinner (winners will be announced): 2 April 2020, Royal Lancaster London Hotel

Index(to jump to a section click one of the links below)

Rules of Entry

Checklist

Submitting and paying for entries

Categories

Summary Rules of Entry

Eligibility The awards recognise the work of national news journalists in print and digital platforms. Reporters, feature writers, interviewers and photographers working for agencies are also eligible to enter work published between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. Entries can be made for work published in print, website, online, mobile, video, audio or any other news delivery format in any UK national newspaper or any news website or platform covering UK national news. Judging The judging process involves independent figures with experience across the industry and more widely as well as representatives of UK national and digital titles. They remain the most rigorously judged journalism awards. The judges reserve the right to make a special award or to name a Journalist of the Year if it becomes clear that special achievements need to be recognised that do not fit into any category. The judges’ decision is final. The judges are chaired by Ian Murray, Executive Director of the Society of Editors.

Entry All entries will be made online via the SoE website. Early entries are encouraged. 'Cuttings' and images should be supplied online in digital format. The following four categories will also require hard copies to be supplied by post in addition to the online submission:

Supplement of the YearMagazine of the YearDaily Newspaper of the YearSunday Newspaper of the Year All entries, including those from freelance journalists, must be endorsed by an editor, managing editor or department head. (Approval will be indicated by an honesty tick box on the online entry form and editors will be sent an email list of entries made which have stated them as the authorising editor). Entries must be the work of the named entrant or team. Entrants for the Young Journalist of the Year must be aged 26 or under on 31 December 2019.

Entries can be submitted by the individual or by an administrator entering on behalf of a number of people. Upon submitting an entry, you will be required to confirm the publication or entrant’s status as a freelance, contact details and photograph. Until all the mandatory entry fields have been completed you will not be able to submit an entry. Entrants must comply in accordance with the terms and conditions published. You can enter as many times as you like within each category and can enter for more than one category of award. You cannot delete submitted entries but it may be possible to update entries up to the closing date if further developments to entries occur after the original submission. Please email office@societyofeditors.org , mariella.brown@societyofeditors.org or ellen.bramley@societyofeditors.org for assistance. Entrants must ensure that they read and follow these rules and the specific online guidance for entry for each category.

Exceptional Categories / Awards Journalists’ Charity Award – this award cannot be entered and carries no entry fee. The winner will be chosen by the Journalists’ Charity.

The Chairman’s Award – this award cannot be entered and is in the gift of the awards’ chairman.

The Georgina Henry Women in Journalism Prize – the winner will be chosen by Women in Journalism which will organise how it can be entered.

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Checklist for Entries

1. Getting Started Add the following email addresses to your safe senders list to avoid any communications being marked as spam: office@societyofeditors.org mariella.brown@societyofeditors.org and ellen.bramley@societyofeditors.org

2. RegistrationNavigate to the National Press Awards event page where you will be directed to register for the awards. Please enter and confirm your email address. Upon confirming please click ‘proceed’. *If you are an administrator and submitting entries on behalf of a number of individuals please enter YOUR email address here and not that of the entrant. Entrants submitting on behalf of themselves should submit their own email address here.

If you submitted entries last year, the system may remember your email address. If you cannot remember your password, click “Request login details” to have a link sent to your inbox to reset your password for this year.

Please enter the required information on the Awards Registration page. As above, if you are an administrator intending to submit a number of entries on behalf of a number of named individuals please submit your details here. Individuals registering on behalf of themselves and submitting entries on behalf of themselves should submit their details.

Registrants will be required to submit the following mandatory information: a first and last name; the name of the supporting paper; and whether the registrant will be submitting an entry on behalf of a freelancer*. You will also be asked for a password that will allow you to access your entries ahead of the submission deadline. Registrants must also review and confirm that they agree to our terms and conditions. Upon completing the registration page please click ‘proceed’ – this will trigger an email to the address provided confirming your registration and providing you with a unique login URL to access your entries going forward.

*Please note that freelancers must confirm their status here to trigger the reduced entry fees upon payment checkout.

Submitting entries

Upon submitting your registration, you will be directed to an ‘Awards Summary page’. Here you will find a list of categories. To enter a particular category please click ‘Enter this category’ to the right of the category name.

Upon clicking on a category, the following information will be required for each submission:

Name of IndividualSponsoring paper Name of editorConfirmation that the entry has been approved by the editorConfirmation of any outstanding issues or complaintsWhy this entry should win Optional: Links to online URLsUpload Files (to support your entry). Please note that as part of the ‘Upload Files’ section you are required to submit a high-resolution JPEG image of the entrant. This image will be used if the entrant is shortlisted.

Outstanding issues or complaints

If there are any unresolved legal issues or complaints to the Independent Press Standards Organisation or the paper or digital platform regarding your entry you must declare it on the entry form for the information of the judges. You will need to have your entry approved by your Editor and provide a purchase order number or pay online. Entries paid by entering a purchase order number will be invoiced on or shortly after January 10. Early payment would be appreciated.

Why this entry should win

All Entries: Prepare a supporting statement (maximum 500 words), explaining the significance of the work and how it was obtained or produced. You may, if you wish, also include supporting analytics where appropriate to show, in a simple sentence, how entries engaged readers including references to social media and percentages of total hits. These analytics should be included as plain text with supporting statements and can be included in addition to the 500-word count.

For News Website of the Year, Daily Newspaper of the Year and Sunday Newspaper of the Year supporting statements can be up to 1,000 words.

URLs and Files

You are required to submit up to three PDF examples of your work to support each entry. Please note that each PDF should be unrelated and each file limited to an original article and its continuation or follow-up (if applicable).

It is not compulsory to submit URL links of the articles if you have provided the PDFs. For online-only work, a maximum of three URL links to act as examples may be submitted to demonstrate your work.

For the visual categories including Photographer of the Year, Sports Photographer of the Year and Cartoonist of the Year you are required to submit three JPEG images alongside THREE PDF files. The PDF files should show the photograph or cartoon as it appeared in the paper or online with the JPEG image showing the original cartoon or photograph.

For Supplement of the Year, Magazine of the Year, Daily Newspaper of the Year and Sunday Newspaper of the Year you will be required to submit hard copies to support your entry. Details of where to send the hard copies can be found below. Please use the ‘Upload Files’ area to submit the front page of the edition(s) of your Supplement, Magazine or the Newspaper which you are going to enter.

For the two Podcast of the Year categories, entrants must have at least six episodes published during the qualifying period to reflect series rather than one-off items. Each submission must be a single audio file (MP3) of up to 15 minutes long. This must include material from at least three separate episodes from 2019, with clear fade in/out between extracts. You may use a maximum of five clips in your entry. Judges will be assessing the podcast’s impact from the 500 word supporting statement, which may include relevant statistics.

Once your files have been uploaded you will see the file names under ‘URL files’.

Hard copies

For Supplement of the Year and Magazine of the Year only: Supply 6 hard copies of 2 editions of the

Supplement or Magazine in addition to an online submission. If you cannot provide all hard copies you may include the link to an external digital version.

These should be posted or delivered to: FAO The National Press Awards, c/o Society of Editors, University Centre, Granta Place, Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RU to arrive on or before 10 January 2020.Please include the category, entry name, sponsoring paper and the email address associated with your registration with all copies sent by post.

For Daily Newspaper of the Year and Sunday Newspaper of the Year: Supply 1 hard copy of 3 editions of the Newspaper in addition to an online submission. If you cannot provide the hard copies you may include the URL to an external digital version. This can be added to the entry form in one of the URL fields.These should be posted or delivered to: FAO The National Press Awards, c/o Society of Editors, University Centre, Granta Place, Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RU to arrive on or before 10 January 2020.Please include the category, entry name, sponsoring paper and the email address associated with your registration with all copies sent by post.

-----Upon entering all the required information in the category entry fields please click ‘Save and go to awards summary’. You will then return to the ‘Awards Summary’ page.

As you complete entries you will begin to see that a record of your activity appears on the Accounts Summary page so that you can keep track of complete and incomplete entries.

All entries which have been started can be found under ‘Entries not submitted’. Incomplete entries (where a mandatory field on the entry form has not been completed) will appear under ‘Entries not submitted’ with a warning that ‘the entry form has not been completed’. To submit further information for an incomplete entry please click on ‘Enter details’. Please note that entrants can ‘edit’ a completed entry before final submission.

To submit further entries please expand the ‘Categories’ section at the top of the page and follow the above entry process again.

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Submitting and paying for entries Once you have completed all your entries on the ‘Awards Summary’ page please check the entries which you wish to ‘submit and pay’ for under ‘Entries not submitted’. Please note that you will not be able to proceed with incomplete entries. Upon checking the entries you wish to submit please click ‘submit and pay’.

You will then be directed to a Checkout page where you will be prompted to confirm a payment method. Available payment methods include paying online by ‘Credit Card’ or by ‘Invoice’.

Fees must be received in full by Friday 10 January 2020 or on receipt of invoice(s) being issued. Please note that an invoice will be sent after the closing date for entries. The entry fee is non-refundable.

Please note that reduced entry fees for freelance submissions will now appear on the checkout page. You MUST have clicked that you will be submitting entries on behalf of a freelance upon registration to prompt this reduction. Please email office@societyofeditors.org or call 01223 304080 if this does not appear.

Paying Online by Debit/Credit Card If you have selected the pay by ‘Credit Card’ option please click the button at the foot of the page to ‘Pay Now’. A secure new window will appear asking for your card details (Account number, expiry date and CVC code) and confirming the amount that you are required to pay. Upon submitting this information please click ‘Pay’. A receipt for your transaction will be sent to the email address provided. Paying by Invoice If you want to pay by Invoice or Purchase Order please select ‘Invoice’ before clicking ‘Proceed’ at the foot of the page. You will now be prompted to enter your Invoice Details in a new window. Please provide the mandatory information required and include a PO number and email for which to send the invoice to. Upon completing all fields please click ‘Proceed’ at the foot of the page.

Upon completing the payment online or filling out the Invoice Details form you will be taken to a page confirming that your submission has been completed and confirming your payment details. Please print this page for your records.

Awards Categories for 2019Entries can be made for work published in print, website, online, mobile, video, audio or any other news delivery format in any UK national newspaper or any news website or platform covering UK national news.

Submissions may include supporting analytics where appropriate to show, in a simple sentence, how entries engaged readers including references to social media and percentages of total hits. These analytics should be included as plain text with supporting statements.

All entries must be endorsed by the editor or managing editor in or on whose publication or digital platform they appeared.

Notes for categories

* Journalists in these categories can submit three articles, including up to one joint byline piece.

** Two or more journalists working together on up to three examples of work. Can include work by full section teams. Judges’ focus will be on strength of examples submitted rather than numbers of journalists involved.

Young Journalist of the Year *Open to journalists aged 26 or under on 31 December 2019 and entries can include work from any journalistic discipline. Judges will be looking for the individual who has made significant impact over the year.

Business and Finance Journalist of the Year *For reporters, interviewers and commentators who work on economics, City, business and personal finance desks. Judges will be looking for the ability to break news and/or predict trends and/or analyse stories and explain issues to a general audience.

Political Reporter of the Year*The winner will be the reporter who set the agenda with the biggest stories and/ or most revelatory writing.

Political Commentator of the Year*The winner will be the writer whose articles were a must-read for anyone interested in the world of politics. The best writing, the best insight, the greatest authority.

Foreign Reporter of the Year*For journalists who have been based in a foreign country or from where they have filed work that brings the country and its affairs to light for a UK audience.

Science Journalist of the Year*For journalists who specialise in science journalism. The judges will look for journalists who led their field in 2019 – breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for a wider audience.

Health Journalist of the Year*For journalists who specialise in health journalism. The judges will look for journalists who led their field in 2019 – breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for a wider audience. Fashion Journalist of the Year*The winner will be someone strong across the diverse range of forms: columns, features, interviews and show reports. Judges will look for writing that is informative, entertaining, and has the ability to engage with readers.

Technology Journalist*The journalist who has shown consistently high standards in breaking technology stories, bringing complicated issues into the public domain and enabled the reader to have a wider understanding of breaking technology news.

Environment Journalist of the Year*For journalists covering any issues that concern the environment. The judges will look for the best specialist journalist who led the field in 2019 – breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for their audiences.

Travel Journalist of the Year*For journalists covering travel in all its aspects such as hard news, features and reviews. The judges will look for the best specialist journalist who led the field in 2019 – fine writing,

breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for their audience.

Specialist Journalist of the Year* For journalists with specialisms not covered by any other category, such as: education, arts, food, gardening, motoring or defence. The judges will look for the best specialist journalist who led the field in 2019 – breaking news and/or analysing trends and throwing light on their subject for their audiences.

Reporting Diversity AwardThe award will recognise a body of work from an individual or team that in the judges' opinion has played a significant role in creating awareness of issues of diversity in the UK in all its forms. The submitted articles can include news reports, campaigns, spotlight features or interviews.

ShowBiz Reporter of the Year*Judges will be looking for the best scoops and most informed writing in showbusiness which includes the worlds of stage, screen, TV and the music industry.

Sports Journalist of the Year*Open to news writers, match reporters, feature writers, interviewers and columnists. Entries may be from a variety of sports or from one specialist area. Judges will be looking for brilliant writing and agenda-setting reporting that gave readers the best insight into sporting events during 2019.

Interviewer of the Year *A: “Popular” and B: “Broadsheet” platformsThis award will be judged in two sections for “popular” and “broadsheet”. Judges will look for brilliant, engaging writing and revelatory news angles emerging from the interviews where the interviewer gets under the skin of the interviewee.

Columnist of the Year *A: “Popular” and B: “Broadsheet” platformsThis award will be judged in two sections for “popular” and “broadsheet”. The winner will be a journalist who is a must-read, someone with a unique voice and the ability to provoke debate and may annoy as much as delight.

Feature Writer of the Year *A: “Popular” and B: “Broadsheet” platformsThis award will be judged in two sections for “popular” and “broadsheet”. Judges will be looking for journalists who demonstrate great writing whether it be in features, news reportage, colour writing, analysis, and backgrounders.

Critic of the Year *For reviews and criticism in any area of journalism – including theatre, dance, music, art, books, film, television and radio, food, etc. Writing that enlightens, compels and entertains the general reading audience will score highly.

Photographer of the YearNews and feature pictures are eligible. Judges will be looking for versatility, technical skill and the ability to capture the news picture that matters.

Sports Photographer of the YearEntries can come from a single sport or from several and may be action shots or feature pictures. Judges will be looking for compelling images that get under the skin, capture the essence of a sport or a sports star, or reveal a unique moment of sporting drama.

Cartoonist of the YearPocket cartoons, strips, caricatures, political cartoons and illustrations are eligible in this category. Judges will be looking for the stand-out cartoons that feature regularly and that best capture the events of 2019.

Georgina Henry Award for Digital Innovation The winner will be chosen by Women in Journalism which will organise how women journalists can enter. Entries cannot be submitted online via the Society of Editors’ website.

Journalists’ Charity Award The winner will be chosen by the Journalists’ Charity. This award cannot be entered and carries no entry fee.

Scoop of the Year The story or series of stories on one subject, which everyone else wished they had broken. This can be awarded to an individual or a team.

Scoop: Popular Life This category is open to journalists or the team who have created or specialise in seeking out stories of popular issues to readers. These could be around celebrities, sports personalities, the unusual, the bizarre, affairs of the heart or the heart-warming. The judges are looking for that one scoop from this field that struck a chord with the public.

Investigation of the YearBody of work that reveals investigative skills of a team or individual to the full, lifting the lid and bringing to light the investigative news story no other news organisation has discovered.

Sports News Story of the YearBody of work that reveals the skills of a sports team or individual to the full, lifting the lid and bringing to light a story no other sports news organisation has discovered. Entrants should include the original story and any follow-ups.

News Reporter of the Year *The award will acknowledge good reporting on one or more stories across the year. The judges will be looking for exclusives, expertly researched and brilliantly told. Tenacity, flair and investigative skill will all score highly. In the case of long-running investigations, entrants may include up to three items to count as one story entry.

Team Awards

Business and Finance Team of the Year **For the journalist team who works on economics, City, business and personal finance desks. Judges will be looking for the ability to break news and/or predict trends and/or analyse stories and explain issues to a general audience.

News Podcast of the Year

This award recognises excellence in creating a regular news podcast covering news, politics or current affairs. The judges will be looking for excellence in innovation, presentation, content, knowledge and interpretation of the subject, as well as an understanding and ability to truly reach the target audience. Evidence of audience reach will be required, but size of audience will not be a deciding factor.

Lifestyle Podcast of the Year

This award recognises excellence in creating a regular podcast covering lifestyle topics such as entertainment, sport, fashion or leisure. The judges will be looking for excellence in innovation, presentation, content, knowledge and interpretation of the subject, as well as an understanding and ability to truly reach the target audience. Evidence of audience reach will be required, but size of audience will not be a deciding factor.

Supplement of the Year Any supplement that is not a “magazine” but is published weekly, monthly or at other regular intervals throughout the year as part of a newspaper. Entries will be judged on outstanding content, design, use of photography and readability.

Magazine of the YearA “magazine” published as an addition to an edition of a newspaper, weekly, monthly or at other regular intervals throughout the year. Entries will be judged on outstanding content, design, use of photography and readability.

Front Page of the YearJudges will be looking for the outstanding and most memorable front page published in print during the year.

The Cudlipp Award – Campaign of the Year – supported by the BritishJournalism Review

The award, in partnership with the British Journalism Review, commemorates the journalism of the great editor and editorial director Hugh Cudlipp and recognises the Campaign of the Year. It is open to all editors, writers or teams of journalists. It can include campaigns which led to a law change and popular campaigns that captured the nation’s attention and achieved tangible results. This award is judged by a separate BJR panel of distinguished journalists who reserve the right to include nominations of their own. The entry process for the Cudlipp Award is the same as for the general categories.

News Website of the YearThis award will be decided by a distinguished panel of The Press Awards independent judges and carries no entry fee. The judges will look at the overall strength of a news website,

either associated with a newspaper or stand-alone digital. The judges will take into account innovation, depth of coverage, and content presentation. Chairman’s AwardIn the gift of the Chairman of the Judges – an award that recognises a story, a feature, a body of work, a journalist or a team that has broken the mould. This award cannot be entered.

Daily Newspaper of the YearThe paper that has made the most impact and provided consistent high quality, ground-breaking coverage throughout the year. Judges will take into account not just front page splashes and investigations, but also coverage of sports, features, lifestyle and innovation: the whole package.

Sunday Newspaper of the YearThe Sunday paper that has made the most impact and provided consistent high quality, ground-breaking coverage throughout the year. Judges will take into account not just front page splashes and investigations, but also coverage of sports, features, lifestyle and innovation: the whole package.

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