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Download a PDF of the rules and entry information at http://tnpress.com/Contests/StatePressContestsRules2018.pdf

Classification of Newspapers

There are five divisions and newspapers are classified based upon total weekly paid circulation. To determine total weekly paid circulation, the circulation data in the 2017 U.S.P.S. Statement of Ownership or recent audit will be used. If a newspaper publishes more than once per week, either the actual paid circulation for each day (if listed in the directory) will be used or, in the case where only one average circulation figure is listed, that figure will be multiplied by the number of days the newspaper publishes in a one-week period. In contests that are divided into five divisions, they are as follows:
Group I Combined weekly circulation of 5,000 or less;
Group II Combined weekly circulation of 5,001-15,000;
Group III Combined weekly circulation of 15,001-50,000;
Group IV Combined weekly circulation of 50,001-200,000;
Group V Combined weekly circulation of 200,001 and
above
General Rules

1. The contests are open to active members of the Tennessee Press Association in good standing. Publication period for the contests is January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017. Entries submitted must be from newspapers published during this period except as specified otherwise in the individual contests.
2. For Daily Newspapers: Entries requiring three complete issues or tearsheets from three issues must be consecutive issues published during the contests period, excluding Sunday editions.
For Non-Daily Newspapers: Entries requiring three complete issues or tearsheets from three issues must be consecutive issues published during the contests period and may include Sunday editions.
A newspaper may choose different, three-issue sequences within the contests period for different competitions.
For the category of Make-Up and Appearance, a newspaper must choose one edition from each quarter (four total) as its entry.
3. DEADLINES: All copies of newspapers and any other material used in connection with the contests must be submitted online or postmarked by Friday, February 16, 2018. The online entry portal will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Feb. 16. Entries that are mailed must have a postmark or shipping date no later than February 16, 2018. Entries with a later postmark or shipping date will automatically be disqualified. Entry fees must be received no later than March 2, 2018.
4. For online entries, a PDF of the entire page(s) containing the entry must be uploaded. You may indicate on the PDF the story being submitted. PDFs must include the date of publication.
5. Mailed entries must still be registered through the online system. Only the categories of Make-Up and Appearance, Sunday Editions and Best Special Issue or Section can be mailed. For mailed entries, newspapers or newspaper sections submitted as entries must be printed on the same paper that is used for general circulation to all subscribers. However, if a publisher does not have enough newspapers to complete an entry, he may submit copies. All tearsheets or copies must include the date of publication.
6. Newspapers may submit online content to accompany the print-edition entry in the categories of Best Spot News Coverage, Best News Reporting, Investigative Reporting and Public Service.
This can include online reporting, breaking news alerts on the newspaper’s website and/or social media pages such as Twitter and Facebook. Video reports are also allowed. Newspapers should provide URLs so judges may view the online content. A user name and password should be entered in the comments field if the content is behind a paywall. If the content is no longer available online, it may be submitted as a PDF.
7. Entry Service Fee: The entry fee is $9.00 per entry. Payment of entry fees must be received by March 2, 2018 in order for a newspaper's entries to be judged. TPA will not invoice newspapers for entry fees. It is the entrant's responsibility to make sure the payment is submitted in time for TPA to receive it by March 2.
8. Publishers may enter as many categories as desired. A fee must be paid for each contest entry. A newspaper may submit only one entry in each contest except as noted where two entries are allowed.
In categories allowing two entries, the entries must be separately entered into the online system, not uploaded as two PDFs in the same entry.
A newspaper may enter work by a regular contributor. A regular contributor is someone who is not syndicated and whose work appears in the submitting newspaper a minimum of twice per year.
9. Material from a niche publication may be entered into the contest if the editorial content has been created, written and prepared by the newsroom and was distributed with the newspaper to regular subscribers.
10. A photo may only be entered in one of the three photo categories (News, Sports or Feature) and a column may only be entered in one of the two column categories (Best Personal Column or Best Personal Humor Column).
11. In appraising all contests except Best News Photograph, Best Feature Photograph and Best Sports Photograph, the judges will use a set of criteria specially prepared for the UT-TPA competition. Every completed critique will be available to the publisher or editor after winners have been announced.
12. Entering the contests gives TPA permission to display the entries and to publish the entries in print or online.
13. Regarding shared content among any group of newspapers, entries to only be entered by the newspaper where the primary reporter/photographer is based.
Newspaper groups that produce an item for multiple publications within their group may enter the item only once by the newspaper in which the item originated. You may not enter the same item more than once under multiple flags. If you do, both entries will be disqualified and your entry fee will not be returned.

How will TPA prevent fraud?
We prefer to trust our member publishers not to submit embellished or edited entries. If fraud is suspected with any entries, a full investigation will follow. A newspaper committing fraud may have its award revoked and may not be eligible to compete in future TPA contests.
Awards

In each division, a General Excellence award will be presented to the newspaper achieving the highest total of points in its division for 2018. The newspaper placing first in each division of a contest will be awarded a plaque. Second and third place winners will be designated by the judges and will be presented certificates at the awards ceremony.
Divisions I, II, III and IV will be eligible for fourth and fifth places as designated by the judges in each contest, and each of these winners will be awarded an “Honorable Mention” certificate. Plaques and certificates are sponsored by the University of Tennessee.
A newspaper may designate individuals specifically credited with the production of entry material with their entry. If provided with the entry form, these individuals will be recognized with certificates for winning entries. (Please proof staff names as you enter them. Names will appear on winners' certificates as provided.)
Edward J. Meeman Awards
The Edward J. Meeman Foundation will give $250 awards to 15 of the top winners in these annual contests. For Groups I, II, III, IV and V, an award will go to each of the first place winners of the editorials contest, best single editorial contest and public service contest.

Winning newspapers will be notified in mid-May of an award, but not award placement. Awards will be announced at the State Press Contests Awards Banquet, 6:00 p.m., Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Franklin, Tennessee.