The Northern Illinois Newspaper Association, in connection with the Communication
Department of Northern Illinois University, announces a special contest
for journalists. Just send us your single best news writing clip: news,
sports, features, lifestyles, whatever. No circulation categories, no content
categories. This is simply your chance to see how well your writing stacks
up against everyone else's. And, at just $10 for you to enter (unless you
can convince your publisher to ante up), isn't it worth a shot?
Rules
Your clip must have been published between Jan. 1, 1999, and Oct. 13, 2000.
It must have been published on one day. If it's part of a series, it can
only be one day's installment. It can't be an opinion piece. Otherwise,
the contest is wide open, not only to NINA members but to writers for any
newspaper in Illinois. Winning entries will exhibit compelling writing of
a news story significant to the writer's audience.
How to enter
The entry fee is $10, and you may enter only once. Send your clip, the entry
form below and a check payable to the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association,
to: NINA Best Clip Contest, Department of Communication, Northern Illinois
University, Watson Hall 210, DeKalb, IL 60115. All entries must be postmarked
by Oct. 13, 2000. No exceptions.
Winners
A special panel of journalists and educators will award prizes. Judges will
not see bylines or the name of the newspaper, so everyone starts on equal
ground. Winners will be announced Oct. 27 at the NINA Fall Conference at
NIU -- which, coincidentally enough, focuses on the Pulitzer Prizes and
how smaller newspapers could go about winning one. Conference
details
Prizes
This is the good part. First place wins $500. Second place $250, third place
$100 and up to three honorable mentions $50 each. Entrants need not be present
to win. And, just for entering, you get a one-year individual membership
to NINA (a $20 value), which gives you our newsletter plus low rates on
several workshops for journalists.
NINA Best Clip Contest Entry Form
Name:
Newspaper:
Office address:
Fax #:
Your e-mail:
Clip title:
Date published
Mail along with a check for $10 to: NINA Best Clip Contest, Dept. of Communication, Northern Illinois University, Watson Hall 210, DeKalb, IL 60115. Postmark deadline: Friday, Oct. 13. Questions? Call (815) 753-4239.
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