RULES OF THE INTER AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION (IAPA) AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISMSubmission of entries and categories
1. The contest consists of 11 basic categories, in addition to the IAPA Grand Prize for Press Freedom. Eligible to compete are works published in any of the three languages – English, Spanish and Portuguese. The various categories are listed on the registration form, which is completed and submitted online.
2. The “IAPA Grand Prize for Press Freedom” is open to persons or organizations in the Americas for outstanding action in defense of freedom of the press. This award is not open to staff members of the IAPA and those hired by the IAPA to carry out special duties.
3. Only journalistic works published in a daily or weekly newspaper, magazine or online publication will be considered for IAPA Awards. Therefore, books, essays, theses and any other work that has not been published in the aforementioned media are excluded. The same applies to news agencies.
4. Entries maybe submitted betwen November 15, 2007 and January 15, 2008 and shall consist of works published during 2007.
5. Nominations for the “IAPA Grand Prize for Press Freedom” will be made by IAPA members during the Midyear Meeting or through third parties, so long as an active member submits the nomination. The events or publications of individuals or organizations meriting such nomination shall have occurred in the previous year but could cover a longer time than this in the judgment and decision of the members of the Awards Committee. During the Midyear Meetings there will be a ballot box in which those attending will be able to place their nominations for the “IAPA Grand Prize for Press Freedom.”
Documentation
1. Contestants will provide their general data online via the form that is posted on the IAPA Web site. Once these data (first and last names, relevant category, personal address, and address of the news outlet that published the work, etc.) are entered the contestant will load up the work in two ways – text as an MS Word document and images of the pages on which the material was published in PDF, JPG or TIFF format.2. If it is a series that is being submitted all the items that it comprises should be included. Should the series exceed five publications, then it is necessary to submit only the first five and the last publication in the series, indicating the total number of publications in the series.
3. If it is a photographic work, cartoon or infographics it may be sent in any format appropriate for images. The submission should contain, in addition to the image, the page of the newspaper on which it was published.
4. The adjudication panel shall be able to have access to these works and will make an initial selection of the best, which will comprise the list of the finalists (around 10 for each category), who may be required to send the originals and additional information. From this list the winners in each category will be chosen.Limitations and clarifications
1. The entries may be submitted in only one category, which shall be clearly identified by the contestant. The adjudication panel may at its discretion reclassify entries.
2. If the same work has been published in more than one publication, even of the same company, the entrant must choose only one. If it is submitted under more than one publication, it will be disqualified
3. A journalist may submit entries in up to three different categories, but not more than one in each category. A work bylined by more than one journalist shall be considered for these purposes as the work of one person, therefore the work may be entered in only one category.
4. The awards are made to journalists and not to media.
5. Both the author (or authors) of the entry and the publisher of the news outlet in which it was published waive copyright on the entry in the event that it wins an award, solely for its posting on the IAPA Web site or its inclusion in any IAPA publication distributed free of charge to the IAPA members. There is no payment of royalties.
The adjudication panel
1. The president of the IAPA will name from among its members the chairman, vice chairman and members of the adjudication panel. Therefore, the adjudication panel will be made up of editors or publishers of print media in the Americas.
2. The adjudication panel will meet during the Midyear Meeting and exceptionally on those dates that the chairman of the panel may decide.
3. The chairman of the adjudication panel may appoint panel members to specifically report and make recommendations for winners in the categories to which they are assigned. Nevertheless, the decisions of the adjudication panel shall be made collectively.
4. At the time of judging a category in which an adjudication panel member has an interest, that member shall be declared ineligible to judge the respective entry.
NOTE: Do not forget to have your text content prepared in Word format and the images of the pages on which the material was published in PDF, JPG or TIFF format.The awards
1. The winners will receive their awards – consisting of cash, plaques and/or diplomas – during the IAPA’s annual General Assembly. The news companies that sponsor the nomination of their respective candidates agree to facilitate, as far as possible, the attendance of the winners at the awards presentation ceremony.
2. At the discretion of the adjudication panel honorable mentions may also be awarded, and these will consist in each case of a diploma.