2012 OWAC Craft Awards Competition Rules

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM(S) (PDF - PRINT ONE PER ENTRY).

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY FEBRUARY 29, 2012

General rules

• Original clips are no longer needed to enter contest.
• All entrants are required to read and adhere to these rules, and sign their entry forms to declare that they have done so.
• Each entry must have a completed entry form attached. The first entry is free.  Each additional entry must be accompanied by a $10.00 entry fee in the form of a check made payable to OWAC.
• Entries must have been published or broadcast in the 2011 calendar year.
• Entries must be postmarked by February 29, 2012.  There will be no extension of deadline!
• Entrants must have paid annual membership dues.
• Entrants must have been paid for their work.
• Members are limited to two entries in any one category. There is no limit on total entries.
• An entry in one category cannot be submitted in another category, except for the following:
       20. Best Freelance Work, and
       21. Best Conference-related Work.
• OWAC Writer of the Year will be selected from the 21 First Place winners.

Entry preparation

• Unless specifically noted, the original published work is not required.
• Unless otherwise noted, submit a copy of original work showing name of publication, the author’s byline and date of publication to verify entry was published in 2011.
• Submit a second copy for judging where identifying marks showing author and publication are removed (such as cutting out or covering with piece of paper when copied).
• Internet printouts are acceptable as the original work. You do not need to submit original published work or copies of original published work.
• All writing entries must be submitted on 8 ½” x 11” paper, unless the format, such as calendars, makes this impossible.
• For writing entries, judges will only take the quality of writing into consideration. Lavish layouts and photos are irrelevant.
• For photo entries, entries must be jpegs submitted on CD or flash drive. Each separate photo entry must be submitted on separate CD or flash drive with its own entry form. Do not submit collections of photos for different awards on a single CD or flash drive. Verify that jpeg file on CD or flash drive opens.
• For photo entries, photographs published in any medium are acceptable.
• For radio entries, submit radio show or features on a CD.
• For TV/video entries, submit entries on a DVD.
• For newsletter entries, entrant should identify their role in publication as editor, writer, photographer, publisher, or multiple skills, if appropriate.
• For book, a revised edition of a previously published book is acceptable, but it must be the first time the book in any edition has been entered in the OWAC contest.
• For website, submit URL.
• For web-only stories, submit printouts of entry, with same guidelines as for newspaper feature, as well as URL.
• No entries will be returned, except for DVD videos and books, which will be made available for return at OWAC conference.

Entry categories and description

 

1. Newspaper feature
A feature is a piece of writing that covers a selected issue, person or event in-depth and usually focuses on the human-interest elements of a situation, event or adventure.

2. Newspaper column
A column is a piece of writing that gives the writer’s perspective or opinion, such as an essay or first-person report, often on an issue of the day.

3. Magazine feature
A feature is a piece of writing that covers a selected issue, person or event in-depth and usually focuses on the human-interest elements of a situation, event or adventure.

4. Magazine column
A column is a piece of writing that gives the perspective or opinion, such as an essay or first-person report, usually on an issue of the day.

5. News report in any medium
A news report is a straight account, without spin and free of all faction, where the reporter delivers information with attribution that is verifiable.

6. Series of articles
A series of articles is a formal connection of stories, numbered Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, etc., with thematic unity from start to fish and published consecutively.

7. Newsletter
A newsletter is a printed report, often in booklet form, that provides news or information of interest to a specific group. Note: Send two copies of complete newsletter with entry form.

8. Book (other than travel or guidebook)
This award is specifically designed for outdoor books that are not guidebooks or travel books, such as memoirs, fiction and photography books. Note: Send two untouched copies of book with entry form.

9. Guidebook or travel book
A guidebook or travel book provides details of a geographic area or a skill, often both, and is published with the intent to be the ultimate information source for that geographic area or skill. Note: Send two untouched copies of book with entry form.

10. Feature photo
A feature photo covers a selected issue, person or place, and usually focuses on the human-interest elements of a situation, event or place.

11. Action photo
An action photo captures a moment in time, a real-life event that cannot be duplicated.

12. Series of photos
A series of articles is a formal connection of photographs with thematic unity from start to finish and published as a single work. The maximum number of photos for this contest is five.

13. Radio show
A radio show is either a one-hour show or a collection of shorter features.

14. Fiction
Fiction is a literary work based on imagination and not necessarily on fact. Any form is acceptable: feature, column, radio broadcast, TV/Video or book.

15. TV show or video
A TV show or video is a visual broadcast event that is played on television or DVD.

16. Website
A website is a set of interconnected WebPages, always opening with a homepage, accessible on the Internet.

17. Web-only article
A web-only article is a feature, column or news report published solely on a website.

18. John Reginato Conservation Award
The John Reginato Conservation Award is named after the co-founder of OWAC and honors work that exemplifies John Reginato’s life-long passion to restore and conserve fish or wildlife resources damaged from neglect.

19. Phil Ford Humor Award
The Phil Ford Humor Award is named after an OWAC charter member and honors work that exemplifies Phil Ford’s ability to capture the outdoor world with a wink and a grin that so often accompanied his telling of an experience in the field.

20. Best Freelance work
Freelance work is any work not completed by a staffer or one whose name does not appear on the masthead of a publication.

21. Best Conference-related work
Conference-related work is any work based on work from an OWAC conference.

OWAC Writer of the Year is selected from winners of categories 1-21

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM(S) (PDF - PRINT ONE PER ENTRY).
ALL ENTRIES (WITH PAYMENT) MUST BE POSTMARKED BY FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Send all forms and check (payable to OWAC) to:

 

Tom Stienstra
OWAC Awards
2280 Grass Valley Highway
Box No. 305
Auburn, CA 95603.

Questions regarding this contest should be e-mailed to OWAC Awards Chairman Tom Stienstra.

Good luck!