BEST OF

GATEHOUSE
2008
THE BEST OF GATEHOUSE 2008
Highlighting and rewarding the most extraordinary journalism crafted by our newsrooms,
and recognizing our best newspapers of the year.

j Denotes a change from last year.

ELIGIBILITY The Best of GateHouse competition is open to full-time newsroom employees of

GateHouse Media Inc. Work produced pre-GateHouse ownership in 2008 also is eligible.

j DEADLINE This is a calendar-year competition – only work published in 2008 is eligible. All entries
must be postmarked by Jan. 16, 2009.

j Divisions A: 17,501-circulation or greater dailies publishing five-times weekly or more

B: 17,500-circulation or less dailies publishing five-times weekly or more
C: Non-dailies (publishing four or fewer times per week)

Announcements Winners will be announced by e-mail and at www.GHnewsroom.com as soon as possible

following judging. A book showcasing winners will be published and distributed soon
after judging is complete. Watch www.GHnewsroom.com for a live blog about the judging.

Prizes “Newspaper of the Year” prizes will be announced after the judging. Individual category
champions and runners up will receive cash awards, as well as display pieces.

Newspaper of the year AWARD

In each division, one newspaper will be named “Newspaper of the Year.”

How to enter Submit two editions: Two clean copies from two days should be submitted. Locally
produced special sections or advertising inserts may be left in those editions. One edi-
j tion that published on or nearest to Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008. A second edition of
your choosing from anytime in 2008.

Submit narrative and questionnaire: A narrative from the editor or publisher should
accompany the two editions. Not to exceed two double-spaced pages, the letter should
highlight initiatives in culture, service, content and brand. Judges will look for action and
results, rather than heartfelt commitment. Details such as project dates, before-and-after
measurements, increases in circulation or revenue, and community commendations
should be cited. (See Page 6 for questionnaire)

j Submit supporting material: Before-and-after tearsheets of a redesign, copies of

awards, letters from readers may be submitted, within reason. Also include links and
screenshots to new online initiatives, new editorial products and projects that show
growth in readership in both print and online.

j Best pages and sections: In addition to a Newspaper of the Year award, awards will
be given for the following pages and sections as part of this award: Local news, sports,
features, opinioin, entertaiment sections or tabs and special sectins. Consider including
tear sheets of your work in those sectins in yoiur Newspaper of the Year submissin.

Packaging: Place the two editions, your narrative, supporting materials and best pages
and sections in an envelope large enough to keep the entry as neat as possible. This will
be submitted as part of a larger competition package. (See Page 5)

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 Individual awards
In each division, one newspaper will be named “Newspaper of the Year.”

Categories There are nine award categories in each of the three divisions. For each division and
each category, one entry may be named champion. Judges will name as many runners
up as they see fit. Judges reserve the right to move entries from one category to an-
other, if appropriate.

1. News Writer of the Year: Recognizes the body of work of a news reporter.
A tip 2. Features Writer of the Year: Recognizes body of work of a reporter in topics such
Body of work as – but not limited to – health and fitness, food, home and garden, religion and other
categories lifestyle-oriented topics that may be found throughout your publication.
should show
diversity in
3. Sports Writer of the Year: Recognizes sports story and column writing.
your entry.
Treat your
entry as if it 4. Editorial Writer of the Year: Recognizes editorials produced by one writer.
were a small
portfolio. 5. Columnist of the Year: Recognizes news and features columnists.

6. Designer of the Year: Recognizes news, sports and features designers.

7. Photographer of the Year: Recognizes photojournalists.

j 8. Project of the Year: Recognizes the efforts of an individual or group in the exemplary
coverage of an issue or public service. Project could be a special section or series.

j 9. Multimedia initiatives: Recognizes efforts of an individual, group project or bodies

of work that include breaking news coverage, blogs, video, photo galleries, databases or
other interactive projects.

Categories 1 through 7: Awards in these catego-

Don’t ries are given to an individual and are based on Find online
forget body of work. Three submissions constitute one You can download contest
Entries entry. For reporters, three stories equal one entry. rules, entry forms and find
must be If a multi-day series is involved, the entire series answers to questions at
postmarked constitutes one-third of an entry, regardless of the www.GHnewsroom.com.
by Jan. 16, number of main bars, sidebars, etc., involved. Web-
2009. only content is eligible. For page designers, three
pages constitute one entry. However, a single-
topic, multi-page spread would equal one-third of an entry. Any series, jump pages with
connection to a main page, or the like, equal one-third of an entry. For photographers,
one photo constitutes one-third of an entry. However, multiple photos in a single pack-
age equal one-third of an entry. A photo story equals one-third of an entry. Multi-day
series photography equals one-third of an entry. Web-only content is eligible.

Categories 8 and 9: Awards in these categories recognize multiple staff members or

newspapers, and are not body of work categories. For more information on entering the
individual competition, see the next section.

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 Individual awards (Continued)

How to enter Please note that for individual submissions to be eligible for recognition, newspapers also
must enter the “Newspaper of the Year” competition. Individual award entries must ar-
rive in the same package as the “Newspaper of the Year” entry. Follow these step-by-step
instructions for entering individual awards categories carefully – failure to follow instruc-
tions may result in disqualification. Please note that full tearsheets are required in every
category. Entry forms are on the last page of this document and can be photocopied.

Categories 1-5, reporting: 1) Neatly cut out the entire page on which your story ap-
pears. If it jumps, cut out the jump page and staple it to the first tearsheet in the upper
left corner. 2) Do this for each of the three submissions comprising your entry. 3) Neatly
fold the entry and place it inside a manila folder. 4) Staple a completed entry form to the
front of the folder. *Web-only content submissions: See note below.

Category 6, designers: 1) Neatly

A must cut out your page from the news- Don’t forget
For individual paper. If you have multiple pages
Entries must be postmarked Jan. 16, 2009.
submissions comprising one-third of your entry
to be eligible, (see “Individual Awards: Categories”
newspapers on page 3), staple them to the main
also must page in the upper left corner. 2) Do this for each of the three pieces comprising your
enter the entry. 3) Neatly fold the entry and place it inside a manila folder. 4) Staple a completed
“Newspaper entry form to the front of the folder. *Web-only content submissions: See note below.
of the Year”
competition.
Category 7, photographers: 1) Neatly cut out the page on which your photo(s) appear.
If there are multiple pages comprising one-third of your entry (see “Individual Awards:
Categories” on page 3), staple them to the main page in the upper left corner. 2) Do this
for each of the three pieces comprising your entry. 3) Neatly fold the entry and place it
inside a manila folder. 4) Staple a completed entry form to the front of the folder.
note *Web-only content submissions: See note below.
Online-only
content is j Category 8, Project of the Year: 1) Neatly cut out the entire page on which your story
eligible for appears. If it jumps and/or publishes multiple days, cut out the jump page and staple
recognition
it to the first tearsheet in the upper left corner. If more than one day is involved, staple
in every
all pages in the order they appeared. If a section is being submitted for consideration,
category.
Submissions please submit a complete, clean copy. 2) Neatly fold the entry and place it inside a ma-
must include nila folder. 3) Staple a completed entry form to the front of the folder.
a printout of
a screenshot j Category 9, Multimedia Initiatives: All online-only entries must include: 1) A letter ex-
that shows plaining the project and why the project is more appropriate for online. 2) A printout of a
the page URL. screenshot of each link that shows the URL to the main and secondary project pages of
your newspaper Web site.

GateHouse Media is not responsible for lost, misdirected or late entries; participants are responsible for choosing a
reliable method of delivery. Judges’ decisions are final. Contest may be discontinued or modified at any time without
notice. There will be no transfer or substitution of prizes.

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How to submit your entries
Entries from one newspaper must arrive in one package. Follow mailing instructions carefully.

u v
Place Newspaper of the Year editions, Place each individual category
narrative, best pages and sections, supporting entry in a manila folder
material inside envelope with division letter and staple completed
clearly labeled on exterior. entry form to front.

DIVISION A

w x
Place Newspaper of the Year envelope Entries should be postmarked no later
and individual entry folders inside than Jan. 16, 2009, and mailed to:
large envelope or box, with division letter GateHouse Media Inc.
clearly labeled on exterior. ATTN: Jennifer Babor
1101 W. 31st St., Suite 185
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Notification will be sent upon receipt.

DIVISION A

Questions about packaging?

Contact Brad Dennison, vice president of content/news operations for GateHouse Media,
at bdennison@gatehousemedia.com or (585) 802-3688.

5
j Newspaper of the year
QUESTIONNAIRE
This questionnaire must be submitted with your Newspaper of the Year entry. Offer as many specifics
as possible. You’re also encouraged to submit a narrative up to two double-spaced pages that highlights
work accomplished within your newsroom in 2008.

Name of newspaper:

City & state:

Web site:

Circulation:

Total Newsroom full-time employees:

n Reporters:
n Photographers:
n Designers:

Were there any structural changes made to your newsroom this year and why?

What new initiatives did your newspaper launch this year?

What improvements did you make to your story telling and packaging (public service projects, alternative
story formats) this year?

How did you involve readers in your newspaper (Reader Advisory Boards, focus groups, contests, reader-
submitted content) this year?

How did you embrace a web-first culture (News Now, web updates, video) this year?

What were the major challenges your newsroom faced this year?

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ENTRY FORM

THE BEST OF GATEHOUSE 2008

DIVISION NEWSPAPER NAME, CITY, STATE
(Circle one)
____________________________________________________________________________

A
Name, Phone NUMBER, E-mail ADDRESS of each entrant
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

B
Category (check one) submission title (if needed)

___ 1. News Writer of the Year _______________________________________

___ 2. Features Writer of the Year _______________________________________
___ 3. Sports Writer of the Year _______________________________________
___ 4. Editorial Writer of the Year _______________________________________

C
___ 5. Columnist of the Year _______________________________________
___ 6. Designer of the Year _______________________________________
___ 7. Photographer of the Year _______________________________________
___ 8. Project of the Year _______________________________________
___ 9. Multimedia/Web-only _______________________________________

See page 2 for

your circulation Don’t forget Entries must be postmarked no later than Jan. 16, 2009.
division

ENTRY FORM

THE BEST OF GATEHOUSE 2008

DIVISION NEWSPAPER NAME, CITY, STATE
(circle one)
____________________________________________________________________________

A
Name, Phone NUMBER, E-mail ADDRESS of each entrant
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

B
Category (check one) submission title (if needed)

___ 1. News Writer of the Year _______________________________________

___ 2. Features Writer of the Year _______________________________________
___ 3. Sports Writer of the Year _______________________________________
___ 4. Editorial Writer of the Year _______________________________________

C
___ 5. Columnist of the Year _______________________________________
___ 6. Designer of the Year _______________________________________
___ 7. Photographer of the Year _______________________________________
___ 8. Project of the Year _______________________________________
___ 9. Multimedia/Web-only _______________________________________

See page 2 for

your circulation Don’t forget Entries must be postmarked no later than Jan. 16, 2009.
division