Thanks to everyone who has tried out the new online contest entry system. Because we are using the latest version of the omniCONTEST software, we’ve run into a few minor glitches with uploading entries. However, we have been working with omni to get those issues fixed. I believe all of the problems to date have been addressed, so thanks for your patience! If you run into ANY problems, please contact Ruth Pettis or Dana Neuts.

Latest fixes:

1. Daily Newspapers category:  separated into A, B and C by circulation size
2. TV category:  separated by market size
3. *.Pdf uploads should now be available for all categories.
4. We’ve added a place for an administrative contact form on each entry. Scroll down to the bottom of the contact page to enter the administrative contact’s name, email address and phone number.
5. Submit or complete status in confirmation messages: Ignore this. This is an administrative issue. We have updated the email confirmation messages. If we are not sure if your entry is complete, we will contact you directly.

As we launched our Region 10 SPJ contest, many journalists have been asking if the NW Excellence in Journalism contest is open to students. It is only open to pros. However, SPJ’s annual Mark of Excellence awards contest is in full swing and is only open to students. The deadline is just a week away though, so get those entries in. Submit online by Jan. 26.

More info. can be found here —>  MOE awards for student journalists

Seattle, Washington, January 17, 2011 – Today Region 10 of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) announced its call for entries for the 2010 SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest. The contest honors exceptional journalism published or produced in 2010 in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana in all forms of media (print, online, radio, and TV). Both SPJ and non-SPJ members are invited to participate in the contest.

This year’s contest is getting off to a late start so that organizers could implement a different online contest vendor this year, omniContests. The SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest is officially accepting entries today through 11:59 pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. SPJ Regional Director Dana Neuts, a freelance journalist in Kent, Washington, highlights several changes to this year’s contest:

– All entries except General Excellence entries must be submitted online this year.

– Entries can be paid online (preferred) or via check.

– In the Daily Newspaper category, Feature Photography has been expanded from one category to two to include both Feature Photography and Portrait Photography.

– SPJ members will receive a $5 discount on contest entry submissions, $15 for regular entries and $40 for General Excellence entries. Non-SPJ members will pay $20 and $45, respectively.

In the 2009 contest, more than 2,500 entries were received from around the region. An increased number of entries is expected this year. Entries will be submitted to out-of-state judges in March, and he Western Washington Pro and Southwestern Washington/Oregon Pro chapters will present awards to those in their area at banquets in Seattle and Portland on Saturday, May 21. The remaining awards will be announced online that evening and presented by their respective chapter leaders.

To enter the contest online, please visit http://www.spj-northwest.org. For questions, please contact contest administrator Ruth Pettis at 206-781-8097 or contest coordinator Dana Neuts or 360-920-1737.

There are three more months until the SPJ Region 10 conference and the William O. Douglas Pro Chapter is in the midst of preparation. Look for updates in the coming weeks on conference programming and information on how to register.

In the meanwhile, book your hotel room now. The chapter has secured a special conference rate of $104.95 at the Red Lion Hotel – Richland Hanford House. The rate is good for the nights of April 8 and 9. Book your room by March 8 to take advantage of the rate.

Visit the William O. Douglas chapter website for details.