Awards contest changes announced

Posted October 23, 2020

By Emily Bradbury, executive director, Kansas Press Association

We are making a few changes and we think you might like them.

What do you do during a time of unprecedented change and uncertainty?

You take a look at your programming and see what you keep and what you let fall away.

No time like the present, right?

This is where you roll your eyes and argue this might not have been the best strategy – even I am rolling my eyes – but here we are.

While we are still identifying key services to keep/add/delete, we have made two changes that we think you will love (or at the very least like). The new Awards of Excellence contest deadline has been moved to after the holidays, convention has been moved to the summer and the contest divisions have altered to reflect competition based on circulation and not on daily/weekly categories.

OK, we made three changes – math is challenging.

First, the contest deadline will be Monday, Feb. 15, 2021.

What does this mean? No crazy uploading the week before Christmas. Consider this a small gift to you on behalf of the KPA staff.

Second, all entries published between Nov. 1, 2019 – Dec. 31, 2020 will be eligible for entry in the 2021 AOE contest.

Third, the KPA Convention has been moved to June 2021. The specific date will be released next week. This allowed the contest deadline to be extended. Yea!

Fourth, there will no longer be daily/nondaily divisions. All divisions will be based on circulation. While this change may be alarming to some, we believe that this will provide more competition while encouraging even more members to participate in the contest.

Finally, we have added a Best Graphic Designer category to our contest. This category joins the Photographer and Journalist of the Year categories. Get your design portfolios ready!

OK, we made FIVE changes ,but I think you will be happy with most of them.  If not, we will gladly take your complaints under advisement and adjust accordingly. This past year has made us pretty good at the pivot.

The 2021 Call for Entries will be sent out later this month.