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BNC Index of Info

For information about the categories

And here’s a checklist you can print out to help walk you through all the pieces, so you’ll not miss out on any of the competitions.

Rules and Instructions

Online entry system

The online competition site is open and ready for 2022 and 2023 entries. Because you’ll be submitting entries for two competition years (2022 and 2023) there are two separate online forms to help keep all the PDFs filed away in the right folders.

You will need to be logged in to access any of the pages on this web site. If you manage more than one newspaper, each has a different login username.

If you have not registered yet for a username/password, check with your publisher for the password to the registration page. This page is not made public for security reasons.

Deadline for entries January 31, 2024

Uploading Tips to think about ahead of time

  • If your entry contains jumps combine your PDFs into a multiple-page PDF file to make it easier for the judge to read.
  • Allowable files types are PDF for writing and advertising categories. JPG for photo categories

File Size concerns

  1. Please save your PDFs as “Reduced File Size” so the judges don’t have to download excessively large files. The form itself limits files to 20MB, but as a general rule PDFs of tabloid newspaper pages rarely need to be larger than 2 or 3 MB. Saving them as Reduced File Size will save you working time (and us too!)
  2. For photos, they need not be any larger than 1500 pixels wide or 1500 deep, at 72 dpi. We will employ a plugin that will reduce files that are too large, however, you’ll save yourself working time if you resize them yourself. And I know we say it a lot, but I’ll add it here again – be sure to CROP your photos so they are the same proportions as how they appeared in print. Show the judge just what you showed your readers.

Forms

There are a couple competitions that can’t be submitted online, here are their entry forms to mail in with your entry

Deadlines for entries: January 31, 2024

Rules

  1. The competition is open to Manitoba Community Newspapers Association member newspapers. All entries shall be original works produced by a writer/photographer/graphic designer who is or was an employee or a freelancer commissioned by the member newspaper, during the contest period.  All entries must be endorsed by the current publisher of said member newspaper.
  2. In their first year of eligibility for the awards, new MNCA members may only submit entries from those entries published after their official date of membership is approved.
  3. ONE FULL PAGE PDF, with page folio must be submitted for each entry unless otherwise stated. One story / entry, not multiple entries of the same topic / story, unless otherwise stated or requested (eg. Do NOT submit multiple tearsheets regarding the same story, including any follow-up articles – when only one entry requested)
  4. All entries must be clearly indicated by including the entry headline on the entry form. Please use the correct forms as provided. Entries that are not properly labelled or late may be disqualified.
  5. The eligible publication period for all entries in the 2022 Competition is January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.
    The eligible publication period for all entries in the 2023 Competition is January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
  6. No syndicated material will be accepted.
  7. Prize amounts (if any) are tentative and sponsors will be announced at a later date.
  8. Member newspapers are permitted to enter each Premier Awards category once.  In the event an identical entry is submitted by more than one newspaper, the publishers of said newspapers will be notified and asked to decide which member newspaper will withdraw the duplicating entry.  In the event a decision between the member publishers cannot be reached, the names of the affected member newspapers will be placed in a hat and the name drawn will be the newspaper allowed to submit the entry.
  9. All entries must be received in the Manitoba Community Newspapers Association office no later than:

Tuesday, January 31 2023 – 4:30 PM. Materials must be sent out to judges across the country, and we cannot have that process held up for late entries. Please courier your entries if needed, rather than mailing them to ensure that they arrive on time. Purolator seems to be the fastest overall, and it can be tracked.

IN PERSON DELIVERIES (for General Excellence entries):

DELIVER TO BACK/SIDE DOOR, AND KNOCK IF DROPPING OFF IN PERSON.

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL A DAY IN ADVANCE – TO ENSURE THAT SOMEONE WILL BE IN THE OFFICE, AND NOT WORKING FROM HOME THAT DAY.

Please label the outside of your envelope with “COMPETITION.” If you have any questions, please contact Sylvia Albert at sylvia@mcna.com