CLICK HERE for the award information in a .PDF format.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: AUGUST 22, 2007

The APME Innovator of the Year Award recognizes innovation in print, online, management, structure or other area that demonstrates a bold, creative effort to improve a news or information product and increase audience. Demonstrable success is not essential but could improve the entry's standing.

ELIGIBILITY

The competition is open to any editor or staff member of an AP member newspaper, a team from a member newspaper or a newspaper.

CONTEST PERIOD

Entries must have been published or launched between Aug. 1, 2006, and July 31, 2007.

SUBMISSIONS

Online: If an entry is not available to the public during August, September and October, the entrant is responsible for making the site available to judges through a Web link.

Print: Submit tearsheets, PDFs or CD.

Online and print: Combinations are welcome and should be submitted according to rules for both.

Management, structure or other: Explain thoroughly the innovation and how it improved or increased efficiency, effectiveness, coordination and audience or enhanced the newspaper's competitiveness or ability to improve content. Provide examples of resulting content as appropriate.

Send cover letter, page files and other material electronically to apmedev@yahoo.com (please follow with a short e-mail requesting confirmation that it was received) or ship to:

Mark Mittelstadt, APME
The Associated Press
19 Commerce Court West
Cranbury, NJ 08512

Phone: (212) 621-1838

DEADLINE

Entries must be received at the APME Cranbury, N.J., office by Aug. 22, 2007.

ENTRY FEE

A $50 contest fee must accompany each entry. Checks payable to "APME" should be included with the entry or mailed separately to the address above. It also is possible to pay entry fees online with a credit card at www.123signup.com/calendar?Org=apme. (For more on APME Supporting Membership, go to the membership page on the APME Web site.

JUDGING

A panel of APME Board members will judge all entries and select three finalists. The finalists will be presented to attendees of the APME conference in Washington, D.C., Oct. 3-6, and a vote of attendees will determine the winner. A representative of each finalist will be asked to present his or her newspaper's entry at the conference. Attendance is not required to win.

RECOGNITION

The APME Innovator of the Year will be honored at the APME conference in Washington, D.C., and will receive a plaque recognizing the winning effort. Also, APME's quarterly magazine, APME News, will feature the winner in a cover story in its Winter edition.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact Scott W. Angus, APME Innovation Committee chairman, sangus@gazetteextra.com; (608) 755-8250.