( Added: October 12, 2009 ) - The Sacramento Press (www.sacramentopress.com) kicked off its very first 'pro-am' contest, The Sacramento Press Journalism Open, on
Oct. 1. Participants of all skill levels, backgrounds and points of view can write about any local topic related to their community. The contest runs through Oct. 31, 2009.
"The future of local journalism depends on individual citizens," said David Watts Barton, the managing editor
of The Sacramento Press. "We are launching this contest to help ensure that quality news coverage on The Sacramento Press continues to grow, and our local community members have a place to tell their story."
The Sacramento Press has created an interactive platform that lets people tell and
discuss issues affecting their neighborhoods. Community news and stories of ongoing importance are often missed or ignored by large print newspapers and TV stations. The Sacramento Press is where these stories thrive.
The grand prize winner will enjoy a weekend for two at The Village at
Squaw Valley, including a meal for two at the PlumpJack restaurant and $50 for gas.
The first place winner will receive $500 and an original portrait by Wall Street Journal sketch artist, Noli Novak.
The second place winner will receive $250. Third, fourth and fifth place winners
will receive $100 each.
Ten additional prizes will be awarded for best lede (opening paragraph), most original story idea, best-researched article, best headline, best quote, most widely read story, best accompanying photos, best use of the Storyline, best "get" (unusual story or
difficult-to-get interview) and most community interaction (in comment section).
All winners will receive a Sacramento Press journalism kit comprised of an Olympus digital recorder, a bio-degradable pen, a reporter's notebook and a Sacramento Press T-shirt.
Entries will be judged
by The Sacramento Press editorial team, and winners will be announced on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009.
"The future of local journalism depends on individual citizens," said David Watts Barton, the managing editor of The Sacramento Press. "We are launching this contest to help ensure that quality news coverage on The Sacramento Press continues to grow, and our local community members have a place to tell their story."
The Sacramento Press has created an interactive platform that lets people tell and discuss issues affecting their neighborhoods. Community news and stories of ongoing importance are often missed or ignored by large print newspapers and TV stations. The Sacramento Press is where these stories thrive.
The grand prize winner will enjoy a weekend for two at The Village at Squaw Valley, including a meal for two at the PlumpJack restaurant and $50 for gas.
The first place winner will receive $500 and an original portrait by Wall Street Journal sketch artist, Noli Novak.
The second place winner will receive $250. Third, fourth and fifth place winners will receive $100 each.
Ten additional prizes will be awarded for best lede (opening paragraph), most original story idea, best-researched article, best headline, best quote, most widely read story, best accompanying photos, best use of the Storyline, best "get" (unusual story or difficult-to-get interview) and most community interaction (in comment section).
All winners will receive a Sacramento Press journalism kit comprised of an Olympus digital recorder, a bio-degradable pen, a reporter's notebook and a Sacramento Press T-shirt.
Entries will be judged by The Sacramento Press editorial team, and winners will be announced on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009.
For more information, including the full contest rules, visit: www.sacramentopress.com/open