Here is a list of contests I have been honored to have been asked to judge:
2021 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence
I served as one of the judges for the 2021 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence. I judged the following categories:
- Editorial Pages (D4)
- Editorial Pages (D5)
- Editorial Pages (D6)
Judging based on editorial content, leadership, community interest, impact and layout and design. Submit three editorial pages, one from each of the following periods: November - February, March - June, and July - October. Awards are presented to the newspaper.
- Editorial Writing (D1)
- Editorial Writing (D3)
- Editorial Writing (D7)
Judging based on local impact, reasoning, writing excellence and
leadership shown through the editorial. Submit three different
editorials by the same writer. The three editorials constitute one
entry. Limit one entry per person.
- Religion Story (D5)
Judging based on writing style, community importance, originality and enterprise. Limit four entries per person. One story constitutes an entry.
2020 Press Club of Western Pennsylvania
Tri-State Golden Quill Awards for Excellence in Journalism, Media and
Communications in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Northern
West Virginia
I served as one of the judges for the
2020 Press Club of Western Pennsylvania Tri-State Golden Quill Awards
for Excellence in Journalism, Media and Communications in Western
Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia. It was the
56th annual contest. I judged the following categories:
- Public Affairs, Politics or Government:
Excellence in Written Journalism, Daily: Qualifying entries may be from
traditional print newspapers, news services or digital media news
organizations that consistently publish new written content daily, or
five or more times a week. Submissions may be material posted on a
website or written digital media associated with any journalistic or
media organization that considers the work published. Entries may be
a single story or series. Entry credit must be the writer(s) or
reporter(s) most responsible for the written entry.
- News Feature: Excellence in Audio
Journalism (Radio and Podcasts): Qualifying entries may be from
traditional radio broadcasts, podcasts or digital audio media
associated with any journalistic or media organization, including
traditional print outlets. Entries may be a single story, single
program or series. Limited entries to 60 minutes. Entrant should be
the member(s) of the production team most responsible for the entry
(i.e., reporters, producers, editors, writers, sound engineers).
2019 Virginia Press Association News
and Advertising Contest
I judged the following categories for
the 2019 Virginia Press Association News and Advertising Contest:
- W06 Editorial Writing (N1, N2, N3, N4):The writing of an opinion which appears
on a bona fide editorial page and reflects the opinion or stance of
the publication. Editorials may be signed or unsigned. Requirements:
Each entry consists of a group of three editorials on the same
subject or three unrelated examples of the entrants' work. An example
may be a single editorial or a package of editorials published on the
same day. Entries with fewer examples will be disqualified. Sidebars
or related stories published on the same day as one of the three main
stories may be included. Submit one PDF containing all portions of
the entry.
- W10 Feature Story Writing (Excluding
Obituaries) (O1): For stories in which the writer
emphasizes such techniques as narrative and drama. The quality of
writing and ability of the writer to hold reader interest will be
considered.
2019 Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper
Contest
I judged the following category in the 2019 Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest:
- Arts & Entertainment Story
(C06,C05) - 50 entries
2018 Indiana Lawyer Leadership in Law Awards
In my capacity as
Managing Editor of the Indiana Lawyer, I was one of the judges of the
2018 Leadership in Law Awards. A total of 30 attorneys in the state were honored May 8 at the TwoDEEP Brewing Company in Indianapolis. Both of the categories
— Distinguished Barrister and Up and Coming Lawyers — featured 15 honorees.
2016 Michigan Press Association Better Newspaper Contest
I judged the following categories in the 2016 Michigan Press Association Better Newspaper Contest:
- Best Column (Daily): To a local writer whose column is
published on an ongoing basis. Editorials do not qualify, nor do syndicated
columns originating from another source.
- Best Column (Weekly): To a local writer whose column is
published on an ongoing basis. Editorials do not qualify, nor do syndicated
columns originating from another source.
- Sports Feature (Daily): To a writer for a sports feature not
covering a specific sporting event that displays exceptional development,
creativity and enterprise.
2015 Hoosierdance International Film Festival
Lasting from June 25 to 27, 2015 in Kokomo, Indiana, I was selected to judge the Documentary Short category in the 2015 Hoosierdance International Film Festival.
Here is my coworker Martin Slagter's story about it.
2014 New Jersey Press Association Newspaper Contest
I judged the following categories in the 2014 New Jersey Press Association Newspaper Contest:
Division: Editorial Weekly Contest:
Competition: W9 Reporting, Writing & Illustration - Interpretive
Writing (WO)
“An entry is a supporting story or series that delves more deeply into
breaking news or an issue of wide public interest and explains or clarifies a
situation. Judging will be based on readability, thoroughness of research and
ability to make technical details clear to the reader.”
Division: Editorial Daily Contest
Competition: D21 Reporting and Writing - Robert P. Kelly Award (DU)
“One entry per newspaper. Bob Kelly was a seasoned journalist who honed
his skills at the Somerset Messenger-Gazette before serving as executive editor
of Princeton Packet Publications for many years. He passed away after a short
illness in 1984 and soon after NJPA established the Robert Kelly Award as a
regular component of their annual Better Newspaper Contest. Three stories
written by a permanent staffer with less than a year of professional experience
at the time of publication, excluding paid or unpaid internships. Judging will
include basic reporting skills, language use and clarity. An editor's letter
(500 words or less) must accompany the entry.”
2012 Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper
Contest
I judged the following categories in the 2012 Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest:
- Local Breaking News Coverage (C06) – 19 entries
- Category X:
Utilizing Public Records (C05,C06) – 9 entries
