Please see the contestant instructions linked below to utilize the BetterBNC awards platform.
IMPORTANT: To submit a technical support request anytime throughout the awards process, click the “Help & Support” link at the top left of the main webpage at https://betternewspapercontest.com/ then select the “Start Trouble Ticket” at the top of the next page.
Entrants and judges may also contact BetterBNC technical support by phone at 360-427-6300 Monday through Friday from 8 am – 5 pm PT.
BetterBNC is optimized for the Google Chrome browser; and Firefox for PC and Mac. Please have a recent version downloaded and installed for the best contest experience.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Native American Journalists Association has postponed the 2020 National Native Media Conference until 2021. NAJA will announce new conference dates soon and will maintain the partnership with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, in co-hosting the rescheduled 2021 conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
NORMAN, Okla. — The Native American Journalists Association will recognize outstanding coverage of Indian Country during the 2020 NAJA National Native Media Awards. The annual competition recognizes excellence in reporting by Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists across Turtle Island.
NAJA is still accepting entries for the 2020 National Native Media Awards through the extended deadline of June 12.
Recipients may request direct shipping at cost and outlets and individuals will be invoiced according to the number of items in the shipment. NAJA will share additional information on awards disbursement as soon as it becomes available.
This year, entries to the 2020 National Native Media Awards will be submitted using the BetterBNC Media Awards Platform. BetterBNC will manage all entries and judging.
2020 NAJA National Native Media Awards Contestant Instructions
Entry fees are $25 per entry for professional, associate or tribal media members, $10 per entry for student members, and $50 per entry for non-members. Contest entries will now be accepted through May 31, 2020.
Circulation Groups:
- Student Division
- Associate Division I – (Circulation below 5,000)
- Associate Division II – (Circulation 5,000 – 10,000)
- Associate Division III – (Circulation above 10,000)
- Professional Division I – (Circulation below 5,000)
- Professional Division II – (Circulation 5,000 – 10,000)
- Professional Division III – (Circulation above 10,000)
New Categories:
- Radio / Podcast – Best Newscast
- Radio / Podcast – Best Coverage of Native America
- TV – Best Newscast
- TV – Best Multimedia
- Print / Online – Best Multimedia
2020 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award
The 2020 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award recognizes important contributions made by journalists in the past, as well as encourages the new generation of Native journalists to achieve career excellence. This award honors NAJA’s mission and the exemplary people who have led the way with outstanding work and contributions to the field of journalism.
The winner of the NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award will receive $5,000 from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
All entrants must be NAJA members, however, there is no entry fee for this category and there is no cost to nominate a member for this award.
2020 NAJA Elias Boudinot Free Press Award
The NAJA Elias Boudinot Free Press Award recognizes a publication or media outlet that has shown dedication and commitment to upholding freedom of the press, information and transparency in Indian Country.
All entrants must be NAJA members, however, there is no entry fee for this category and there is no cost to nominate a member for this award.
2020 NAJA Richard LaCourse Award
The NAJA Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism honors groundbreaking work by a Native American journalist or a team that creatively uses digital tools in the role of community watchdog. Special consideration is given to journalism that helps a community understand and address important issues. A $500 cash prize will be awarded to the winner of the NAJA Richard LaCourse Award.
All entrants must be NAJA members, however, there is no entry fee for this category.
Judging
Entrants may reduce their entry fees by volunteering to judge another category / division. For each category judged, entrants may be forgiven one entry fee. Volunteers may judge up to four categories and may not judge a category in which they are competing. Any known conflicts of interest and preferences for categories should be submitted using the judge’s sign-up form.
2020 NAJA National Native Media Awards Judging Instructions
For questions about volunteer judging, contact NAJA Program Manager Sterling Cosper at scosper@naja.com.
Support
To submit a technical support request anytime throughout the awards process, click the “Help & Support” link at the top left of the main webpage at https://betternewspapercontest.com/ then select the “Start Trouble Ticket” at the top of the next page.
Entrants and judges may also contact BetterBNC technical support by phone at 360-427-6300 Monday through Friday from 8 am – 5 pm PT.
Contest Rules and Eligibility Guidelines
- Contest entries will be accepted through May 1, 2020.
- Submitted entries must have been published, broadcasted, or posted on or between Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2019.
- Entries may only be submitted via link – no hard copies will be accepted.
- Please provide clear directions for locating entry within any larger master folder(s). Include page numbers and time stamps in the comments section, as needed.
- Entrants submitting a single story from a full issue should include issue information, page number(s), jumps and headline / cutline in the Notes section of the entry form to provide specific location instructions to judges.
- If an editor or producer is entering the work of an employee at the member rate, the employee must be a current NAJA member or the work will not be considered.
- Individuals may submit up to five separate entries in any one category, as desired. Entries in multiple categories are encouraged. (Example: In the best news photo category, an individual may submit up to and no more than five different photos to compete against each other, in addition to competing with other outlet or individual submissions.)
- General excellence awards are for Indigenous-owned media outlets (tribal media) that are at least 50 percent Native-owned, managed or controlled. Entrants must submit links/clips to/for three-five editions/broadcasts to be considered for this category.
- Best Layout awards are for Indigenous-owned media outlets (tribal media) that are at least 50 percent Native-owned, managed or controlled. Entrants must submit links to three or more editions to be considered for this category.
- Best Multimedia category is open to documentaries, series, or extended interviews/talk shows, compilations of audio, video, images, and original art for online audiences. Can be stand-alone or complementary to aired content. Entries may be a minute to an hour long.
- Best Coverage of Native America category is open to associate members only.
- Best Photo of Native America category is open to associate members only.
- Associate members and non-Native entrants may only enter the Associate Divisions.
- Only those categories with a minimum of three entries from three or more individuals or organizations will be judged. Categories without the minimum number of entries may be combined, as applicable. NAJA will make all accommodations possible for ensuring entries are included for judging, which may include, but isn’t limited to, combining divisions and categories.
- Judges have the right to withhold an award if they determine that no entries merit recognition.
- Judges have the right to transfer entries from one category to another based on their reading of the contest guidelines. Entrants will not be notified of such a transfer prior to the announcement of awards.
Payment Information
- The entry fee is $25 per entry for professional, associate or tribal media members, $10 per entry for student members, and $50 per entry for non-members. Entries will be accepted through May 1, 2020.
- Payment will be accepted via credit card, PayPal or invoice / check for tribal media. PayPal will process all credit card payments at the point of sale (you do not have to have a PayPal account to utilize this service).
- Total payment for multiple entries may be submitted as a single transaction, however, all payments must be received by NAJA on or before the entry deadline in order for the entry to be eligible for judging.
- Checks should be addressed to the Native American Journalists Association: NAJA – OU Gaylord College, 395 W. Lindsey St., Norman, OK 73019.
- Each entry must have a completed entry form and payment. Only complete entries with full payment received on or before the entry deadline will be judged.
- NAJA may not issue refunds but will make every attempt to judge all entries submitted, which may result in some categories or divisions being combined to meet the minimum entry requirement.
- Entrants may reduce their entry fees by volunteering to judge another category / division. For each category judged, entrants may be forgiven one $25 / $50 entry fee. Volunteers may judge up to four categories and may not judge a category in which they are competing. Any known conflicts of interest or preference for categories should be submitted using the judge’s volunteer sign up form.