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| 1 - Banff (AB) Crag & Canyon |
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| 2 - Ladysmith/Chemainus (BC) Chronicle |
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| 3 - Corner Brook (NL) Humber Log |
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Judge's Comments
Judging this class was an interesting and eye-opening experience. For starters, it revealed that most papers share the same problems. While most are adequately covering their communities, things can be done to improve the overall package. Generally speaking, there were some good papers in this competition.
Most tried to squeeze as much content onto their pages as they can. Many appear grey and heavy. They could all benefit from some white space to allow their pages to breathe. This was particularly true for those papers that follow a strict 60-40 advertising versus editorial ratio. They put too much content into a limited news hole and the result looks dreadful. Publishers may want to relax the formula to give editors and reporters room to display their work. Advertising pays the bills, but readers deserve something as well. Editorial copy is an essential component of the paper, not just something to wrap around the ads.
Advertising content is fairly healthy. Most ads were well designed with graphics and various types. My one major complaint, other than cramming too many ads on a page, is using too many fonts. Simple and clean sells more than cluttered and fancy type.
On the editorial side, I found the writing to be weak, particularly the leads and headlines. The first rule of journalism is to write good leads. Reporters are not doing their jobs if they can't do that. Most papers use the same typeface and style throughout their issues. Choose a font family and use some variety to create a page that flows with dominant headlines at the top and so forth. Photography is also weak. Avoid static, posed photos and large group shots. If you must use them, make sure people are named. Readers deserve to know who is in the photo.
Blue Ribbon Recipients:
Banff (AB) Crag & Canyon
Corner Brook (NL) Humber Log
Edson (AB) Leader
Happy Valley-Goose Bay (NL) Labradorian
Harbour Breton (NL) Coaster
High River (AB) Times
Hinton (AB) Parklander
Ingersoll (ON) Times
Invermere (BC) Valley Echo
Labrador City (NL) Aurora
Lacombe (AB) Globe
Ladysmith/Chemainus (BC) Chronicle
Minden (ON) Times
Port Hardy (BC) North Island Gazette
Summerland (BC) Review
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