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By LuAnn Schindler
Publisher 

-Isms: Views on life in rural America

 

February 2, 2023



Should I or shouldn’t I?

That is this week’s question.

Should I dole out money to enter newspaper contests? Or, instead, should I reinvest those entry fees in my employees and business?

It’s a conundrum, for sure.

It’s not that I don’t like entering contests. In the past, I have submitted pieces to the Nebraska Press Association’s and Nebraska Press Women’s annual contests. Back when creative writing filled my teaching days, several pieces of poetry were entered - and won - contests. Even a one-act play I penned was recognized regionally.

I feel extremely fortunate to have been named among some of the best in journalism in state and national contests. It’s humbling when your work is on display with work from journalists you read on a daily or weekly basis.

Taking part in contests has benefits. Being judged by peers from other states and learning what they feel does - and doesn’t - work is always a learning experience. Feedback received from judges has been put to use, either in how I approach a story, what I look for when taking photos or when designing a Page or an advertisement. The learning aspect is definitely valuable.

Over the years, I have judged multiple contests for other news associations. That, too, is beneficial. Evaluating other’s work can be difficult. Sometimes, a clear-cut winner stands out. Other times, when I’ve narrowed it down to five top entries, it boils down to personal preference. Maybe it’s a turn of a word or phrase, a strong analogy, a lead paragraph that entices the reader. Maybe it’s the color combination of a photograph or a cleverly-designed graphic. No matter what category I’m assigned, I walk away with a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the written word.

The downside comes down to this:

Do I desperately need validation for the work produced for this newspaper that I’m willing to shell out more than $500 for bragging rights? Do I need to max out every category in the press contest to increase the odds of winning?

Simply, no. I refuse to do it. I’ve discussed it with my business and life partner and Scott and I sing the same tune. We’ll enter a group of pieces we think are the best of the best our staff produced this year. If any of those pieces earn an award, that’s a bonus for staff members who worked on those projects.

When preparing submissions, I catch myself reflecting on something that worked really well, as well as ways we could’ve presented information differently. Hindsight is always 20/20, right? Through self-reflection, though, comes growth. We’re always looking at ways to improve our product and bring you a quality newspaper on a weekly basis.

Our validation and motivation comes from you, our readers, who share encouraging words, offer story ideas and provide constructive critiques. We work diligently to give life to the personal triumphs, navigate through tragedies, dig through data and research to guarantee you’re receiving the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Reader input is the best assessment we receive ... and we appreciate when you share your thoughts and ideas with us.

 

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