Results are finally in! The SNA 2005 Editorial
Contest was the most competitive in the association's
35 year history with over 3,100 entries - 40%
over last year's record number.
Once again Journal Register Company led with 114
winning entries. They were followed by Metroland
Printing, Publishing & Distributing with 53
and Lee Enterprises with 45. For daily newspapers,
the Lawrence Journal World led all with 11 awards
followed by the Oakland Press with 8 and the Patriot
Ledger with 7. For weekly groups, Gannett's HomeTown
Communications had 28 followed by Community Newspaper
Company and Patuxent Publishing both with 18.
The American Press Institute judged the contest
again this year. "Considering the volume
and quality of entries, it was difficult to pick
winners", said contest judge Jody Calendar.
"Outstanding journalism is alive and well
as evidenced in this contest. In many categories
I awarded ties and honorable mentions and in each
case it was always a difficult decision what not
to honor. Congratulations to all for an impressive
body of work."
Steve Buttry at API heads up the SNA contest judging
and he offered the following thoughts: "Judges
in several categories commented that they spent
hours reading the finalists before settling on
the winners. In one of my categories, I was sure
that the first two entries looked like winners,
but by the time I had evaluated all the entries
and selected my winners, those first two didn't
make the top three. SNA members can be proud of
the work they have done for their readers this
year."
Winners will be recognized at the SNA Spring Publishers'
Conference (March 1-3, Palm Springs, CA) and at
the SNA Editors' Conference (March 29-30, Hershey,
PA). A promotional advertisement will also run
in the March edition of Editor & Publisher.
