DEADLINE: JULY 6, 2009 (Late deadline: JULY 13, 2009)

The 2009 APME Online Convergence Awards recognize Associated Press or Canadian Press member newspapers and their online partners for the effective interplay between a story in print and the same story online.

These awards recognize print-online combinations that exhibit the best applications of both in presenting the story. The article can be on any topic – an in-depth investigation, a breaking story, a feature story, a profile. Innovative projects where the print and online components complement and enhance each other will earn the highest marks. Judges will rate the Web package on an effective and imaginative use of the medium.

Nominations may be made by a newspaper itself or its online partner for work published between June 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009. (Eligibility period restores one month reduced in 2008 competition due to earlier convention that year.)

There shall be three awards: one for newspapers with average daily circulation to 39,999; one for newspapers with average daily circulation of 40,000 to 149,999; another for newspapers of 150,000 average daily circulation or more, according to the latest audited figures. APME reserves the right to decline to award a winner in any category.

All entries will be submitted online at www.omnicontests3.com/apme/omnicontests.

Include electronic files of stories, series and/or editorials and community reaction. No more than 20 electronic files may be submitted, including a letter describing the nominated story and how it was developed between the print and online staffs. The letter should discuss additional elements produced for online and how the online efforts contributed to development of the story in print. The letter also should discuss any action resulting from the coverage. It also should mention significant challenges to the accuracy or approach of the entry, as well as steps the newspaper and/or the online unit took to address those concerns. Published corrections or clarifications must be included.

The letter describing the nominated story should clearly note (1) the newspaper's daily circulation and (2) the number of unique visitors to the Web site.

Entry questions should be directed to:

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

Phone: (212) 621-1838

E-mail: mmittelstadt@ap.org

Entries must be submitted online by July 6, 2009, to be assessed the normal entry fee, or by July 13, 2009, for an additional $25 assessment.

A $100 contest fee ($75 for APME members) will be assessed all entries submitted online by July 6. Entries submitted from July 7-13 will be assessed $125 ($100 for APME members.)

Follow information on the online application to submit payment by credit card or to send a check.

(For more on APME membership go here).

Judging will be done in late July by a committee appointed by the president of APME, to include a senior online editor of The Associated Press and other top online journalists. Winners will be recognized at the APME annual conference in St. Louis Oct. 28-30, 2009.

Over 150,000 circulation:

The Oregonian, Portland, Ore., for an engrossing series of video diaries recounting the final days of a former Oregonian news researcher dying of lung cancer.

40,000 to 150,000 circulation:

The Roanoke (Va.) Times, which looked at the rapid graying of the region and whether it was prepared for the swelling ranks of senior citizens.

Under 40,000 circulation:

Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, for a multi-platform collection of coverage of the 2007-08 Kansas Jayhawks national basketball championship season.