Welcome to the second
WNPA Better Newspaper Contest
Web site, produced by
SmallTownPapers, an affiliate
member of WNPA.

This site represents the second phase of digitizing the WNPA BNC.

Last year, during phase one, News Division entries were scanned and judged online.

New this year are the capabilities for members to submit entries and print entry forms, and for WNPA staff to manage the entries and export data on the contest winners. As in 2007, the News Division entries will be scanned for online judging.

• Submitting entries online creates a database of information WNPA staff will draw from to prepare winners' letters, certificates, and other contest-related materials
• When members key in entry form information online, they eliminate confusion over handwritten names and entry titles; and generate an accurate count of their entries in each category
• Scanned entries preserve the entry as it was published in the newspaper
• Scanned entries posted online are accessible anytime so judges can review the entries at their convenience
• Online judging reduces mailing and staff travel, and prevents entries from being lost
• The online process is better, cheaper and less stressful than the manual process

Online contest entries
After your newspaper's representative logs into the site, he or she creates a password that can be shared by the entire staff. With the password, each person can access the newspaper's account, submit and manage entries and print entry forms.

For entries in the News (Editorial) Division, please remember to mark the corners of your entry with bold black brackets so judges can locate your entry or jump on the scanned page.

Online contest judging
In the Judges' section of the site, judges will find their judging assignments and links to the:

• Online Judging Form
• Official Judging Instructions
• 2008 BNC Contest Rules

Convention sponsorship
Thanks to SmallTownPapers President Paul Jeffko for volunteering to scan the entries as part of his company's sponsorship of the 2008 WNPA Annual Convention, Oct. 3-4, 2008, in Yakima, Wash.

"Though we're not a newspaper publisher, as a re-publisher and distributor we are very supportive of WNPA and our fellow members. This is a way for us to showcase our service to Louisiana publishers while providing a real value to our association at no cost," he said.

SmallTownPapers, Inc. republishes 20 small-town newspapers from Washington state, and nationally over 450 small town newspaper titles from 47 states. Visit www.smalltownpapers.com.

Feedback
Please give us feedback on the site, the scanned tear sheets, the judging form or any other aspect of your experience on the site so we can improve the online process in future years. Thank you!

Send an e-mail to:
WNPA Member Services Manager Mae Waldron, mwaldron@wnpa.com
WNPA General Manager Bill Will, bwill@wnpa.com