Here are the rules, contest categories and entry form the 2009 Non-daily Contest of the Oregon/SW Washington Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Please feel free to make and distribute copies of this information and the entry form.

“GENERAL EXCELLENCE” AWARD:
Cost is $25 per entry; one entry per newspaper. Please submit issues published closest to these dates: March 23, Aug. 4, plus a date of your choice.

DEADLINE:
Tuesday Feb. 16, 2010. Entry packets - including entries and fees - must be postmarked by this date. Entries received without full payment of fees will not be judged. Entries received for categories that received less than five entries will be refunded.

ELIGIBILITY:
Staff members and freelance journalists whose work appeared in a non-daily publication(defined as a newspaper or magazine printed no more than three times a week and no less than once a month.)

ENTRY LIMITATIONS:
In all categories except those specifically mentioned below, an individual may submit no more than three entries per category. If more than one person joins in an entry, each person is counted as submitting the entry for the purposes of the three-person limit.

• In the categories of general columns, sports columns, headlines and page design, a person is limited to a single entry.
• In the category of comprehensive coverage, a publication is limited to three entries.
• In the category of general excellence, a publication is limited to one entry.

ENTRIES:
Material submitted must have been published in an Oregon or Clark County, Wash. newspaper or magazine or a website covering said geographical area during the 2009 calendar year. The same material may not be submitted in more than one category. A series may be submitted as a single entry if labeled as a series when it was published. A story, series or photograph (except where specified otherwise) constitutes an entry.

Tearsheets are to be submitted for all entries. The entry form should be stapled to the tearsheet(s). Loose clippings or entries bound in scrapbooks or mounted will not be accepted. Be certain you have marked the correct category number on each entry.

PHOTOGRAPHY ENTRIES:
Send tearsheets. Do not send glossies or photos mounted on cardboard.

FORMS AND FEES:
Tearsheets are to be submitted for all entries. Each entry is to be accompanied by a copy of the attached form. A check or money order payable to “Greater Oregon SPJ,” should be enclosed with the entry and sent to the address below. Entries cost $15 each ($10 for SPJ members), except the General Excellence category, which is $25. Multiple entries can be paid with one check.

JUDGING:
Entries will be judged by SPJ chapters in other states. The judges are professional journalists or journalism teachers. Judges will be instructed to award first, second and third places. They may award ties, omit any place and designate an entry as “honorable mention.”

AWARDS:
Award-winners will be notified via mail in May. Awards will be presented at a banquet at the Oregon Zoo.

QUESTIONS:
Direct questions to Laurent Bonczijk at (503) 538-2181 or
lbonczijk AT newberggraphic.com

WHERE TO SEND ENTRIES:
By Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, send entries to:

SPJ Non-daily Newspaper Contest
c/o The Newberg Graphic
ATTN: Laurent Bonczijk
500 East Hancock St.
Newberg, OR 97132

Entries sent by overnight or package delivery service should be directed to Laurent Bonczijk at the same address.