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One highlight of the annual Colorado Press Association convention, which starts later this week, is the awards ceremony, whereat newspapers are honored for their best efforts -- ads, stories, columns, photos, community service, etc.
As an occasional winner (not this year, alas) of CPA awards, it ill behooves me to criticize the process. But it would be more interesting if they gave the awards for things that many of our newspapers really work at:
· Best Check Presentation Photo. This must follow the standard format. Both donor and recipient stare directly at the camera. They shake right hands as the check is passed via left hands, held so that most of the face of the check shows. Despite the awkward position, they manage to smile. Extra points if the donor happens to be a large advertiser, the check is for less than $100, and the photo is on the front page.
· Best Puff. To enlighten those of you with the
good fortune never to have practiced this trade, a
puff
is a piece of complimentary coverage (it looks
just like a regular news story until you read it) about
someone whom the publisher wishes to do a favor for.
Almost any reporter can make it sound like real news when a new store opens. But it takes creativity to win in this category. The current president of the press association once produced a puff about how a men's clothing shop was adding a line of boots. He made it sound newsworthy. Such skill deserves recognition.
· Dumbest Alliterative Headline. Every so often,
they're clever; the Granby paper once produced a gem:
Baker's biffy bid beset by bureaucracy.
But there have been some clinkers; I produced one in
college, after the other copy editor bet me I couldn't
alliterate a headline with X: Extra exactions expected
Xmas.
It wasn't witty and it didn't render the story.
That's the kind of headline honored here.
· Most Virulent Case of Broncomania. Granted, Bronco-bashing is the current rage, but that wasn't so just a month ago. The major-media competition, open also to TV outlets, is based on exaltation of the trivial. Anybody who managed to fill a page with interviews of '77 Broncos who now live near New Orleans has a good chance here, as does the 15-minute segment about the kitchen and chef at the hotel where the Broncos were staying.
In the small-town category, we're looking for real
stretchers on local angles, along the lines of Cashier
at Qwik Stop recalls how Elway once stopped for gas
or
Family Connection: Local carpenter takes pride in Dan
Reeves, his third cousin twice removed.
Best Fake. So the overworked reporter didn't make it to the meeting, but your readers still expect something in the paper about the school board or the city council? The solution is simple -- the reporter calls his contact, usually the clerk or secretary, and concocts a story. The winner here will do such a good job that no one can tell he wasn't at the meeting. This can be done; don't ask me how I know, but I know.
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