Deadline for ASNE awards is Feb. 1

Now that 2001 calendars are starting to show up in the office, don’t forget to mark Feb. 1. That’s the deadline for entries in the ASNE Awards.

Each year ASNE recognizes excellence in the journalistic crafts of writing and this year for the first time photography. ASNE’s awards are designed to foster, recognize and reward the finest writing in daily newspapers and the most outstanding community service photojournalism. Content may be great events or small happenings.

ASNE will present seven awards for work done in 2000: four $2,500 Distinguished Writing Awards, two $10,000 Jesse Laventhol Prizes for Deadline News Reporting, and one $2,500 Community Service Photojournalism Award.

The Laventhol Prizes are endowed with a generous gift from David Laventhol in honor of his father, Jesse Laventhol, a reporter for newspapers in Philadelphia in the 1920s and 1930s.

Categories

Non-Deadline Writing. Any writing not accomplished on deadline (except commentary) from any section of the newspaper. This category may include investigative and news- related material as well as any features material: profiles, interviews, trend stories, lifestyle, travel, etc. Minimum of three articles, maximum of five.

Commentary/Column Writing. Any writing that expresses a personal point of view: columns and other forms of journalism opinion. Minimum of three articles, maximum of five.

Editorial Writing. Editorials, signed or unsigned, written by one individual, that speak for the newspaper. Minimum of three articles, maximum of five.

Diversity. News and feature writing that helps readers understand how racial and ethnic diversity is changing their communities. Columns and editorials are not eligible in this category. Minimum of three articles, maximum of five.

Jesse Laventhol Prizes for Deadline News Reporting. Breaking news events covered under deadline pressure. Entries will be evaluated in terms of descriptive power and literary style, depth and breadth of reporting, timeliness, completeness, and perspective.

Two awards: one for an individual and one for a team. Letters no longer than one page explaining the deadline pressure should accompany each entry. One to three articles may be submitted in this category.

Community Service Photo-journalism Award. A body of work on one subject that contributes to an improvement or heightened awareness in the community through photography. Letters no longer than one page explaining the effect of the photos on the local community should accompany each entry.

Entry forms were mailed to newspapers in November. The forms are also available at http: // www.asne.org/kiosk/ writingawards/writingawards.htm.