2013 NEAL AWARDS CATEGORIES
Call for Entries Enter Today! FAQ How to Enter Video
ENTER: A substantive article dealing with subjects, events or developments of importance to the target audience or industry. Entry may contain sidebars, related links and other supporting print or digital elements, as long as the main article can be distinguished from the secondary ones.
DO NOT ENTER: A regularly-featured column, commentary or department
2. BEST SUBJECT-RELATED SERIES
ENTER: A series of two or more stories dealing with subjects, events or trends of importance to your target audience or industry. Entries may include a combination of print or digital content, but must clearly reflect a single, cohesive editorial theme. The content must be a consciously planned series published over time.
DO NOT ENTER: A subject-related package published concurrently, columns, a single article with sidebars or educational or instructional packages (see Best Instructional Content).
ENTER: A package of two or more stories that explore a common topic and are published concurrently. Entries may include a combination of print or digital content, but must clearly reflect a single, cohesive editorial subject.
DO NOT ENTER: A subject-related series published over successive issues or time period, columns, a theme issue where a single subject dominates (see Best Theme Issue), a single article with sidebars or educational or instructional packages (see Best Instructional Content).
ENTER: A profile that brings to life a person, business, institution or association. Entries will be judged on objective, thorough reporting, which includes the profile subject’s strengths and weaknesses. Integrated packages of print and online content are encouraged.
DO NOT ENTER: Single-source interviews, Q&As (unless used as a supporting element of a broader profile package) or a series of articles on a single subject.
ENTER: Three examples of opinion-based columns, editorials or blog posts by a single author or team of authors. Subject matter may cover a single topic or a variety of topics. Individual blog posts may be entered either in this category or in Best Blog, but not in both. Entries may include a combination of these formats.
DO NOT ENTER: Publishers’ memos.
6. BEST NEWS COVERAGE
ENTER: Breaking news coverage and news analysis of an event or issue of importance to the target audience or industry. This can be a single article or multiple articles (print or digital), or a combination of articles and multimedia coverage. Enter only significant examples that advance the story and no more than ten examples. Explain why this news coverage was particularly useful to your audience and how the timing of the event affected your coverage (e.g., breaking news vs. ongoing news analysis).
DO NOT ENTER: Feature articles, profiles, technical articles or commentary.
ENTER: Any carefully researched, in-depth technical content (print or digital). Entries must demonstrate clear, concise writing and creative presentation of complex data, information and ideas. Entries may include sidebars and supplemental Web components such as videos and content that explains a new process, technology or scientific principle.
DO NOT ENTER: News stories, editorials, advertiser-supplied white papers or how-to articles.
ENTER: One to three examples (from a series on a single topic) of instructional content that helps readers do their jobs better. Judges will be looking for emphasis on direct instruction such as in “how-to” pieces and continuing education content. Entries may be from print and/or digital media, including articles, videos, webcasts, webinars, podcasts or other interactive online materials such as quizzes, schematics, surveys, etc.
DO NOT ENTER: News stories, editorials, advertiser-supplied white papers or technical articles that do not focus on practical application.
ENTER: A single issue that best exemplifies your overall mission and reflects your magazine’s typical format. It must be part of your regular publishing cycle and distributed to your full circulation. Any content outside of the regular format, such as advertorials or supplements, must be clearly identified as such. For both print and electronic magazines, the entire issue must be submitted.
DO NOT ENTER: Websites, newsletters, theme issues (see Best Theme Issue of a Magazine), bonus issues outside the regular publishing cycle or standalone supplements.
ENTER: A single issue that best exemplifies your overall mission and reflects your publication’s typical format. It must be part of your regular publishing cycle and distributed to your full circulation. Any content outside of the publication’s regular format, such as advertorials or supplements, must be clearly identified as such. For both print and electronic tabloids/newspapers, the entire issue must be submitted.
DO NOT ENTER: Websites, newsletters, theme issues (see Best Theme Issue of a Magazine), bonus issues outside the regular publishing cycle or standalone supplements.
11. BEST THEME ISSUE OF A MAGAZINE (NEW CATEGORY!)
ENTER: A single issue where coverage of a single topic or theme dominates the issue. It must be distributed to your full circulation. Any content outside of the regular format, such as bonus issues, advertorials or supplements, must be clearly identified as such. For both print and electronic magazines, the entire issue must be submitted.
DO NOT ENTER: Websites, newsletters or stand-alone supplements.
12. BEST WEBSITE
ENTER: A Website that consistently maximizes the use of the medium’s immediacy, depth and interactivity to meet the needs of the target audience and deliver the highest standards of b-to-b journalism. Entries should include a compelling and relevant mix of content, ease of use and audience engagement.
DO NOT ENTER: Websites that are not editorially controlled or sites that contain no original content. Submitted websites should not hyperlink editorial content to advertising or other sponsored material.
13. BEST CROSS-PLATFORM PACKAGE (previously named Best Integrated Package)
ENTER: A cross-platform package of materials representing integrated coverage of a single story, topic or theme. Include three or more distinct elements that create a fully integrated editorial package for the target audience or industry. Elements may include print or digital content, multimedia or mobile pieces, interactive Web features or tools, print or electronic newsletters and online or in-person events. Submissions must reflect how the different elements are integrated and provide access and connectivity across platforms. Entries will be judged on the quality of the content as well as the clarity and effectiveness of the integration.
DO NOT ENTER: Repurposed print articles with no interactive or other Web- or event-related elements; packages with fewer than three elements or with advertorial content.
14. BEST BLOG
ENTER: The home page and three sample posts from a blog that reflects journalistic excellence, deep industry expertise and a unique voice that spurs audience interaction and discussion. Blog entries should showcase original elements not possible in a print publication, such as user feedback or other interactive features. Entries must have made their first appearance online. The blog must be updated at least once a week by one or more authors to be eligible. Blog posts may be entered either in this category or in Best Commentary, but not in both.
DO NOT ENTER: Articles or columns with no interactive elements or Web-specific aspects, such as those prepared for print publication and simply repurposed online.
15. BEST RANGE OF WORK BY A SINGLE AUTHOR
ENTER: Up to five examples that showcase a single author’s work across at least three different editorial genres (e.g. news, analysis, in-depth features, commentary, video, audio, blogs and/or social media). Judges will be looking to honor an individual who shows outstanding ability to work across the range of media now required by a brand, while maintaining high levels of editorial craftsmanship and journalistic enterprise and innovation. Winning entries are likely to include substantive work dealing with a number of subjects, events or developments of importance to the target audience or industry.
DO NOT ENTER: Content produced by multiple authors and content from only a single editorial genre. Pieces used to support an entry in this category are not disqualified from submission in other categories.
16. BEST NEWSLETTER
ENTER: Three examples of an electronic or print newsletter distributed at least quarterly to your target audience. Entries must contain original content created initially for distribution in the newsletter
DO NOT ENTER: Newsletters that link exclusively to previously published content or promotional newsletters that contain advertorial content, unless that portion of the content is explicitly labeled as advertising.
17. BEST USE OF VIDEO
ENTER: Links to three examples of videos that are either stand-alone entities or enhancements to other content. The videos must contain original material that was exclusively controlled by the editorial department.
DO NOT ENTER: Promotional, advertorial or commercial videos in which the sponsor of the video is featured.
ENTER: Examples of content specifically designed for a mobile device — iPad or other tablet, e-reader, smartphone, etc. — that enhances a title’s editorial mission and brand. Entries should reflect an engaging, appropriate and compelling service offering, whether content is delivered via an app or traditional Internet protocols. Judges will be looking for creative individual products and/or evidence of a coherent strategy to address the mobile content needs of your target audience or a sector of it. Judges recognize this is a fast-changing area of activity and so will accept a broad definition of mobile media and welcome innovative approaches.
DO NOT ENTER: Your existing website or digital version of your print publication optimized for mobile users.
19. BEST WEBCAST
ENTER: Links to three episodes of an online series — video, audio, narrated slides or other multimedia programming. Episodes must be published under an umbrella title for the series. The programs’ content must contain original material and must be under the control of the editorial department. Advertising or sponsorship messages must be clearly identified as such.
DO NOT ENTER: Promotional, advertorial or commercial programming for which the publication or website has been compensated to include specified subjects, guests or presenters. Webinars should be entered in the Best Instructional Content category.
20. BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
ENTER: Examples of social media participation that enhances a title’s editorial mission and brand. Judges will be looking for evidence of successful engagement with a title’s audience through, though not limited to, the use of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Tumblr, and user-generated content on community blogs and forums. Judges will be looking for outstanding examples of targeted engagement with a particular segment of a title’s audience or evidence of a broad and continuing strategy of engagement with its entire audience to build a community around a brand. Judges recognize this is a fast-changing area of activity and so will accept a broad definition of social media and welcome innovative approaches.
DO NOT ENTER: Content generated by marketing departments.