WHAT WOULD YOU DO

Industry contests: You may have already won

At contest time each year, back copies of our newspaper materialize and begin piling themselves into six-foot-high stacks around my assistant's desk. By the end of December, we can no longer see her behind the parapet of papers. By mid-January, we've all had enough of the clipping and pasting and dashing frantically off to Federal Express hours before the appointed deadline.

So little time, so many contests to enter. But should newspapers be entering contests sponsored by people outside the journalism profession?

The editor of a Southern daily poses the dilemma. Are there inherent conflicts in accepting awards from contests sponsored by special interest groups? Or is a prize just a prize?

We looked for guidance to Tonnie L. Katz, editor of the Orange County (Calif.) Register and Dennis R. Ryerson, editor of the Des Moines (Iowa) Register.

The answers:

Tonnie L. Katz

A few years ago, we were conflicted, too. Our solution was to draw up a choice list of contests we will enter. The list is a traditional one within our journalism world, more for honor than money. It is broad enough to include special contests for design, photo, features, sports, etc., yet narrow enough to keep us free from any queasy feelings of being used for promotion.

We allow some flexibility. Staff members may enter local press club contests on their own. If a new contest seems to have merit, the editors will explore it and decide whether to add it to our list. The staff knows the rules. The only contests that count are those we enter.

Whether our staff wins or not, we are proud to submit their work and they appreciate the honor. When we win, of course, we go a little berserk.

Dennis R. Ryerson

You're right. We are seeing more journalism contests. We need to keep our focus on what is most meaningful to all of us, and that is internal and external peer recognition for good work.

That's why we enter only those contests judged by journalists, and why we have our own internal awards program as well as the Best of Gannett recognition program.

Specialty contests of the type you mention haven't become a major issue in our newsroom. But I'd advise as follows: Go ahead and accept the plaque, but return any money.

We hear from groups all the time, on how our coverage and commentary affects them. I don't see much difference between receiving a citation or a plaque, and receiving a letter from a group thanking us for well-done work.

We know when we do good work, and acknowledgment of that from any outside source is fine. We also know when a group attempts to patronize us with plaques and framed citations that should and do find their way to the local landfill.

Contest policy from Linda Lightfoot, executive editor of the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate:

"Our reputation and integrity are paramount to our role as a newspaper. Even the impression that our objectivity has been compromised or that our coverage has in any way been influenced by outside sources is detrimental to our purpose. With that in mind, the Advocate news department will no longer enter stories, photos, graphics, pages, etc. in contests other than those sponsored by and judged by journalistic organizations and/or schools of journalism. ...

"The assistant city editor in charge of contests is to be the clearinghouse for all contest entries. [The assistant city editor] will clear all entries with the managing editor.

"No employee of the Advocate news department is authorized to enter his or her story, photo, graphic, page, etc. in any competition without the prior approval of the managing editor."

Price writes about newspaper dilemmas for the American Editor.

See sidebar, also by Price.