North American Agricultural Journalists

Writing Contest

And the 2008 winners are. . .

NAAJ Writing Contest Deadlines and Rules:

The North American Agricultural Journalists annual writing contest has six categories
for professionals and one student category. Categories are News, Spot News, Features,
Columns/Analysis, Series and Special Projects. The contest fee is $10 per entry. A member may enter up to two entries per category. Complete and include the form.

First-place winners in the member categories vie for the Glenn Cunningham Ag Journalist of the Year Award. Eligible stories must have been published in calendar year 2007 (Jan. 1-Dec. 31). Entries are judged separately. All entries must be received by the contest chair no later than Jan. 30, 2008.

Non-members may enter only one category: Special Projects. Non-members must pay $60 to enter this
category. The winner of this category is not eligible for the Glenn Cunningham Ag Journalist of the Year Award.
Non-members who are eligible may join NAAJ by paying a $60 membership fee, which must be received by Feb. 1. For membership or other information, contact Kathleen Phillips, NAAJ executive secretary-treasurer, (979) 845-2872; ka-phillips@tamu.edu.

Winners will be recognized at NAAJ's annual meeting banquet April 7, 2008 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Each entry must include the entry form.

For ease of handling and judging, consider sending entries in publication form, copied on a copy machine or
retrieved from an electronic archive. Computer printouts are OK. Entries may be printed or pasted on 8.5x11,
8.5x14 or 11x17 paper.

Include sidebars, tables, etc., pertinent to the story. Omit (whiteout or blackout) name of publication and author in all
copy.

Each entry page must have the following in the upper-right corner: Category name, phone number (without
area code; this is how we identify you since the writers’ names are not known to the judges) and page
numbers. For example:

Features
845-2872
Page 1 of 4

In the upper-right corner of succeeding pages, it should read "Features, 845-2872, Page 2 of 4," etc.

If an NAAJ member submits an entry co-authored with a non-
member, the non-member still pays the $60 non-member fee. However, if eligible, the writer may consider
becoming an NAAJ member for $60/year.

Students must be members by Feb. 5 to participate in the contest. The student membership fee is $15/year. A
brief letter or e-mail of recommendation from a faculty member must accompany a new membership
application. The limit per student is two entries in the student writing category.

The entry must have been published in a publication that would be eligible to have membership in NAAJ or
student publication during 2007.

For membership or other information, contact Kathleen Phillips, NAAJ executive secretary-treasurer, (979) 845-
2872; ka-phillips@tamu.edu.

Mail contest entries to: David Hendee
Omaha World-Herald
Omaha World-Herald Building
1314 Douglas St., Suite 700
Omaha, NE 68102-1811
Call David at (402) 444-1127, if you have questions.

Writing contest categories and descriptions

Writing contest categories are:

News: Informs readers about a timely, important, interesting agricultural issue or event in an objective,
thorough manner.

Spot News: Covers breaking news--news that is time-sensitive and written under tight deadline. Entries in this
category would include (but not be limited to) stories written for wire services and the Internet. A statement of
100 words or less describing the conditions under which the story was written and/or the time significance of
the story MUST accompany entries in the spot news category.

Feature: Takes a broader or more human look at an important or interesting agricultural issue, event or
experience. It may be longer and more in-depth than a news story. This category includes human interest and
technical articles.

Series: Contains multiple stories focused on an agricultural issue or event. The series objectively explores the
subject in great depth from various points of view.

Columns/Analysis: Addresses an issue by clearly explaining it. A column allows the writer to express his/her
personal observations, humor or feelings on a topic. An analysis requires the writer to build arguments on fact
and logic, state a position, and convince the reader of the need for action.

Special Projects: Takes reporting to a higher level. The overall entry shows careful planning and enterprise.
The entry also shows that time, talent, and in some cases, monetary commitments were made to produce the
project. May be a team effort.

Student:There are no sub-categories for students. Each student may submit up to two entries, published in
2007 in a student publication or a publication that would have employees eligible for NAAJ membership.