TAKEAWAY: Last March we ran a series of blog posts about the SND Competition which sparked tremendous interest and much debate. Now SND wishes to revive the discussion prior to the upcoming competition. A good thing!
As many of you can imagine, it is not easy to publish a daily blog. Think also of those news editors and the front page: it is not everyday that one has a good selection of topics that truly deserve front page coverage.
But we try, just as do those editors who never fail to have a fresh front page for the readers when they wake up each day.
So, when the effort is rewarded, it is a reaffirmation that we should continue to write this blog, no matter how difficult it may be sometimes.
A recent announcement proves the point.
I am referring to the decision of the Society of News Design’s competition leaders, to publish a four-part series on the Best of News Design Print Competition that will run before the International Entry Deadline. This is in part in response to our own series in this blog in March 2013 about infographics. That series ranks among the best read of TheMarioBlog posts, and it also set the record for the number of comments elicited. A solid and healthy discussion of the contest followed.
I am happy to read that the discussion will continue, and that it may even lead to changes just before the upcoming judging.
I had a chat with Josh Crutchmer, Deputy Design Director of the Buffalo News, who is also a member of SND‘s print competition committee and was SND33 coordinator.
I asked Josh his reasons for running this series prior to the competition this year:
First, I think it is fair for those who are interested to know that the discussion we had back in March did not simply happen and fall by the wayside. The issue of graphics and illustrations in the competition has been in need of attention for several years now, and it seemed to be the professional and appropriate move by SND’s competition committee to not only take the matter up but to let the society know that the issues raised during your series last spring were taken into account.
I also asked Josh if he anticipates that there will be significant changes in the judging/entries for the upcoming contest?
I want to be very clear: Our goal was not explicitly to increase the number of graphics and illustration winners. The goal was to ensure that every entry has a chance to be judged as fairly as it can, and against the appropriate competition from around the world. We took two primary factors into account: First, breaking down the categories so that, for example, business content is not judged next to features content, seems fairer than in previous years. And second, organizing categories to take into account that, generally speaking, graphics departments are smaller and spread thinner than a decade ago, would suggest evolving the competition as times do the same.
With that as the setup, I do think a consequence of the changes will be that entries that rise to the level of excellence will be awarded appropriately. And my personal opinion is that more graphics and illustrations will be honored going forward. Check back in two or three years, but I believe that’s what we’ll find.
Our original series:
SND & Infographics: Part 1
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/psnd_amp_infographics_is_it_tougher_to_win_today_p/
Part 2: What are solutions to improve competition?
Part 3: SND & Infographics: A tale of two entries
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/psnd_amp_infographics_a_tale_of_two_entries_p
SPD Competition 2014
So you have done all this good work, and the audience loved it, and you, too, were quite pleased with the results.
Time to enter that fantastic print and/or digital material in the Society of Publication Designers’ annual competition.
Take advantage of the special entry rates that remain in effect for 9 more days. The standard rate of $45 per entry for members, $90 per entry for non-members, holds through January 17, after which there’s a $10 surcharge on each late entry.
For more information:
http://www.spd.org/competitions/