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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The Sacramento Press Journalism Open 2012 Official Rules
CATEGORIES & CRITERIA FOR JUDGING
Entries will be judged by our editorial staff, and that judgment will be subjective. But we will be using criteria for what we think good journalism is. Among those criteria are:
- Accuracy: Facts, spelling and quotes should be correct. Double-check everything and use your computer’s spell check.
- Writing style: Writing should be clear, concise and enjoyable.
- Local focus: Stories should be set in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer or El Dorado counties.
- Sourcing: Include a minimum of two living, breathing sources in your story. Quotes from people who know what you’re writing about will always enliven and improve your story. Aim to include different perspectives. Wikipedia, About.com, press releases and book or newspaper excerpts are not acceptable sources.
- Impact: Your story will also be judged on how readers react in the conversation on The Sacramento Press, as well as how it is received in the real world.
- Mostly though, we’ll judge entries based on how interesting they are, if they’re news or a new approach to an old story, how well-researched they are, the quality of the writing and the quotes.
Stories can be any length, but they must be original nonfiction about the Sacramento area.
Stories may not be re-posts from blogs or other publications, print or online.
Finally, we will give extra weight to high-quality photographs, either accompanying stories or standing on their own with explanatory captions.
To enter a photo that is accompanying someone else's story, tag the story with the following: open2012yourname (example: open2012JoshRamsey)
RULES
To be eligible, stories must be posted on the site, by you (using your real name), between 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2012 and 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2012. We will be able to help you post either over the phone or in our office* during our normal business hours (10 a.m. through 6 p.m. Monday through Friday).
*Appointments must be made for in-office help. Contact support@sacramentopress.com to arrange an appointment.
You must live or work in one of our four home counties listed above, and be at least 18 years of age. High school students under the age of 18 can enter if they have a parental consent form.*
*Parental consent forms must be signed in person by a parent or legal guardian of the minor entering an article. To arrange for this, please email support@sacramentopress.com.
You may enter as many different stories as you like, but please enter/post each story only once! Make sure to tag it "Open2012" in the tag section or it will not be counted as a submission. There is no charge to enter.
PRIZES
- First Prize $600
- Second Prize $400
- Third Prize $200
- Three $100 prizes for honorable mentions
- $500 in prizes awarded to best photos
Entries will be judged by The Sacramento Press editorial and community outreach departments. All decisions will be final. Limit one prize per entrant. Winners will be announced on the site, Feb. 13, 2012.
Be sure to reread and double check what you've written; once it is published on the site, it cannot be modified.
