Outstanding Journalism Award

Deadline: June 30.
Certificate of Originality (PDF)

Purpose

CRA has established this award to recognize positive reporting of California educational issues and events in the field of reading and other related fields and seeks nominations from its members and from newspaper publishers and education writers.

Award

A plaque may be awarded for each of five categories. The winning articles may also be published in The California Reader. The plaques will be presented to each of the award winners at the annual CRA Conference.

Eligibility

Any California journalist writing for a general circulation in a regular newspaper, magazine, or non-print media published in California is eligible. No entry fees are required. Only materials published or broadcast in California between May 1 and April 30 may be submitted.

  • Entries must be written by a professional journalist(s). The term "professional journalist" is defined as one who is primarily a writer or journalist and devotes the major portion of his/her time to the profession.
  • Entries must be the work of one author or co-authors. Although advice and ideas may be obtained from other professionals, the materials must be written by the entrant(s).
  • Entries must be received no later than May 30th of each year.
  • Entries must focus on the field of reading and language arts. This includes in-depth studies of reading activities, accounts of outstanding reading practices, relevant reading research reportage, and/or day-to-day coverage of reading programs in the community.
  • Entries may be in the form of a single item or a single connected series of items on reading published or produced and appearing any time during the school year. There is no limit to the number of entries which may be submitted.
  • Each print entry must be individually mounted and must contain the author's(s') name(s) and address(es), a signed certificate of originality and non-collaboration, the name and address of the newspaper and the category (metropolitan, non-metropolitan, weekly/semi-weekly) as noted below:
    a) Metropolitan Class Newspaper: daily circulation about 1,00,000
    b) Non-Metropolitan Class Newspaper: daily circulation below I 00,000
    c) Weekly/Semi-Weekly Newspaper Class: newspapers appearing less often
        than dailies.
    d) Magazine: weekly, monthly, or quarterly
    e) Non-Print Media

Also noted should be the type of entry: single item or single connected series of items, news or feature, editorial or opinion column. Unmounted articles will not be considered. One copy of a non-print tape is acceptable.

Comment

Contest entries are judged on basis of journalistic quality, including clear and imaginative reporting that lifts the material above the routine.

Criteria

The-material (print or non-print) should:

  • Report or comment upon positive aspects of California education.
    Promote the cause of literacy.
  • Contribute to better understanding of educational issues and events in the field of reading and other related fields.
  • Be unbiased.
  • Be of good literary quality.

The following guidelines will be used as criteria for evaluating all entries:

General

  • Journalistic Quality: (excellence) Priority will be given to those entries which display (contain) clear, unbiased, and imaginative writing and production content that lifts the story (entry) out of the routine category and gives the reader greater insight regarding the topic covered. This includes writer style as well as factual accuracy and originality. The article(s) should give evidence of thorough research and/or study of the topic under discussion. More than one viewpoint should be given when this is indicated by the subject matter.
  • Communication Impact: Great importance will be attached to the concept of increasing the general public's knowledge, understanding, and awareness of reading as a process. This includes reader (audience) appeal as well as the significance of the material covered.

Specific

  • All entries must be the work of a professional journalists(s).
  • Entries must be a single item or a single, connected series of items appearing in the media during any one year. There is no limit to the number of entries which may be submitted, but they should appear in a regularly published California newspaper, magazine, or non-print media.
  • Entries will be evaluated on the basis of media-type presentations in which reading is depicted and/or revealed to the general public.
  • Entries should be informational (news) in nature rather than instructional (in the sense that textbooks and courses of study are instructional). Textbooks, workbooks, courses of study, and similar instructional programs are not acceptable entries.
  • Entry reporter quality is judged on the basis of accuracy (error-free, exact), objectivity (free of bias), scope (depth of insight), content (information about reading), and appeal (a wide appeal to all readers).
  • The entry should be comprehensive rather than a brief new story.

Procedure

Each local council and each voting CRA Board member may submit entries by:

For print, mount each entry on cardboard or similar suitable backing (not to exceed legal size 8.5" x 14" or 21.5 cm x 36.5 cm). Include your name, address, the name and address of the newspaper, magazine, or other source and its category. Your entry must be photocopied for distribution to Committee members, so it is important to mount your entry well and comply with the size restriction. Send the original article and five clear and legible photocopies with the identification to the Awards and Citations Chair.

2. For-non-print, send one copy of the entry with your name and address, the name and address of the radio or TV station, and its category.

3. Send entries together with the completed Certificate of Originality to CRA