The Better Newspapers Competition website is now open for entries. Submit your entries in PDF format by visiting the OCNA BNC Competition website at OCNA BNC Contest Website.
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Dates (Mark You Calendars)
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- October 1, 2021 - Submissions Open
- November 1, 2021 - Submissions Close
- October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021 - Your entries must have been published in this timeframe
- February 14, 2022 - OCNA will post the top three finalists in alphabetical order at www.ocna.org
- 2022 Spring Convention & Awards Gala, where we reveal the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.
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Submission Types
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- PDF & URL - Upload PDF files or URL links (as noted in criteria) for all category entries, including those you are sending to the office in hardcopy (these require front page pdf only).
- HARD COPY - The General Excellence Categories can be submitted electronically or in hard copy. If sending hard copies, please attach tags (see below) and make sure you register for them online. The Premier categories Best Vertical Product and Special Section must be mailed. Please mail all hardcopies to the OCNA address below. The OCNA must receive these hard copies NO LATER THAN November 1, 2021, so mail them early. Please send to OCNA Awards, 104 Lavender Drive, Ancaster, ON, L9K 1B1. NOTE: Do not send packages to the OCNA Toronto office as it is currently closed.
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Payment
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- Now made online at the contest website, and must be done by November 1, 2021.
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| Changes for 2021 |
Active Member Changes:
- NEW Category - Best Police/Court Story or Series - Entries should consist of an article or series of articles (max of 4) related to a police investigation or court story. Subject could be a homicide, cold case, feature historical crime etc, and must be community related. Judging will be based oncommunity relevance, quality of reporting/research and quality of writing. **Entries in this category cannot be entered in the Best News/Feature Series category.
- NEW Category - Best Guest/Freelance Column - The single column must be locally written by a non-regular staff columnist, guest or freelancer who writes in less than 10% of publications in a year (6 per weekly paper; 1 per monthly paper). Column should cover a topic of community interest not normally covered by the paper in a column, perhaps written by someone with more expertise on the subject (ie. Doctor, veterinarian, racialized individual).
- Changed Criteria: Premier Categories - The writer/photographer must be an employee of the paper or a regular freelancer.
- Changed Criteria: Best Investigative News Story - Submission can include up to four (4) stories in a series on the same subject. (previously 3)
- Changed Criteria: Best Covid-19 Coverage - Entries in this category should consist of a single or series of LOCAL articles (max of 4). (previously 3)
- Changed Criteria: Diversity Coverage - Entries will recognize an article or series of articles (max of 4). (previously 3)
- Changed Criteria: Cartoonist of the Year - The three cartoons submitted must be unique local cartoons. (removed "must be non-syndicated")
- Changed Criteria: Best Sports Section - An ad page may be published between the sports pages but must be included in the entry.
College/University Member Changes:
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2021 forms
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2021 Rules of Entry
2021 Entry Tags - General Excellence
2021 Entry Tags - Special Section Vertical Product
2021 GE Judge Guidelines - Active Members
2021 GE Judge Guidelines - College University
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If you have any questions, please contact OCNA Member Services Coordinator Karen Shardlow
- e-mail at k.shardlow@ocna.org
- by phone at 416-923-7724 ext. 4432
The OCNA is pleased to be able to recognize the passion you have for your profession and the outstanding work you produce each week! Good luck and thank you for your participation.
