FAQ
Where can I get a copy of the entry book?
The entry book can be viewed at http://www.betternewspapers.ca/winners.
When is the entry deadline?
The deadline for the 2010 BNC is Friday, Jan. 22, 2010.
What forms of payment does CCNA accept?
CCNA accepts the following forms of payment: cheque or money order payable to CCNA; VISA; or MasterCard. If you are paying by cheque or money order, please write "BNC - (name of your newpaper)" so that it is readily identifiable by CCNA staff.
My newspaper must submit cheque requisitions to our corporate head office, and cheques usually take a few weeks to be issued. Can we send our entries to CCNA by the deadline, and then send the cheque later?
Ideally, we would prefer that payments be included with the entry package. If you are unable to have a corporate cheque issued before the deadline, CCNA accepts other forms of payment. CCNA accepts personal cheques, as well as money orders from banks or the post office. CCNA also accepts credit card payments. It is in your best interest to include your payment with your entry package. Unusual delays in sending payment may result in your entries being withheld from the competition and possibly disqualified.
My newspaper wishes to enter the Outstanding Columnist category. However, our selected columnist only publishes a column every other week. Can we still enter?
Yes. Send three consecutive columns whether they are weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Attach an explanatory letter from the editor or publisher, explaining the circumstances.
I would like to enter my newspaper in the General Excellence competition. Where do I send my entry?
All CCNA members must send their General Excellence entries directly to the CCNA office.
How does CCNA determine if my paper is eligible for the national General Excellence competition?
A paper will enter the competition directly through the CCNA and be judged against all other national entrants within its circulation category. The circulation categories have been adjusted to offer fair judging.
What is a Blue Ribbon?
A Blue Ribbon award is given in the General Excellence division to any paper in the national competition that deserves recognition for excellence, as determined by the General Excellent judge(s). Recipients receive a certificate and a reproduction-quality logo that may be printed on the papers masthead or front page.
My paper is a sustaining member of CCNA. Are we eligible to enter all categories?
Yes. Sustaining members, including Canadian Forces Base Newspapers, may enter any category in the applicable circulation class, in the same manner as general members. The same entry fees apply for general and sustaining members.
How will I be able to remember which works we submitted?
When preparing your entries, you should be completing three forms for each entry: the entry form, the identification tag, and the entry summary form. The entry summary form gives you space to write down brief descriptions of your entries. You should keep this form in a handy location in your office so that you can readily refer to it when we announce the finalists and winners. CCNA is unable to keep track of the thousands of entries that are submitted each year, so it is up to you to maintain your records.
Can I submit more than one entry in a category?
No. Members are limited to one entry per category in their applicable circulation class.
If a work was published in several papers, can each paper submit that work?
No. The paper with the highest weekly first-edition circulation may enter that work. Any duplicates may be disqualified by CCNA's Better Newspapers Competition staff, committee or judges at any time that they are discovered during the competition.
How can I become a judge?
You will need a colleague to nominate you as a judge. Your area(s) of expertise (e.g., editorial, advertising, etc.) must also be indicated. Nomination forms may be obtained from the CCNA office. The list of nominations is given to CCNA's board of directors for review and approval. Past winners are also considered as potential judges.
I would like to sponsor an award. Who do I contact?
Contact Tina Ongkeko at the CCNA office by phone at 1-877-305-2262 x 325 or by e-mail at tongkeko@ccna.ca.
When and where will the winners be announced?
The finalists of the 2010 BNC will be announced on March 15, 2010.
When and where will the winners be announced?
The winners are always announced at an awards banquet during the annual national conference. In 2010, the banquet will be held on May 15 at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto. More specific details about the conference schedule can be found on the conference site at www.inkandbeyond.ca.
