Get a CJA Award! KOSTENIUK CALLS FOR ENTRIES

Hello everybody!

As you know, I'm the current President of the Chess Journalists of America (the CJA), the prestigious organization that joins all the people who promote chess through journalism.

Nowadays, there are more and more chess journalists, since "journalism" has moved away from being only connected to print (newspapers and magazines), but we also have journalists who share their work on the web, in blogs, in forums, through their photos and videos, in podcasts, as well as in all the social sites, such as Twitter and Facebook.

If you are reading this blog, it means you consume work of chess journalists, and I am sure many of you also create it! So it's FOR YOU that the CJA is running its annual Awards program, and I want YOU to participate and to WIN AWARDS!

It's easy to do, it's very inexpensive, and you will be recognized as a entrant or possibly a winner of one of the many categories. Each winner will get a signed certificate, and will be recognized in the both "The Chess Journalist" and in "Chess Life", which is the most widely read chess magazine in the world.

The deadline for submitting any and all entry materials for consideration in this year's CJA 2011 Annual Chess Journalism Awards competition to the CJA Awards Committee Chair is Wednesday, July 6, 2011.

The official announcement and official rules are as follows:

Recipient of the 2009 Chess Journalist of the Year Award and Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk, President of the Chess Journalists of America, and Ramon A. Hernandez, Chairman of the CJA Awards Committee and Chief Judge, announce their annual call for entries to the 2011 Annual CJA Chess Journalism Awards. The CJA awards honor the best in all facets of chess journalism. From journalism in print to those written and published online, the most excellent in chess articles, columns, photojournalism, infographics, layout and online are honored within their respective categories. Winners will be recognized in Chess Life and The Chess Journalist and will receive certificates.

You can download the Instructions PDF, and the Entry Cover Sheet.

I want many of you to apply, and many of you to win! Good luck!

• Directions

Please read the following directions before submitting an entry or multiple entries for consideration. You may submit an entry for one or more categories. In addition, you may also submit several entries for various categories. Each entry must be entered accompanied with its own cover sheet (provided on Page 4) There is small fee which must accompany each entry or the entry will not be reviewed for consideration. Any questions on the CJA Awards should be directed to the CJA Awards Committee Chairman and Chief Judge at rhernandez@cjaawards.org

• Eligibility

All entries must be for work published between June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011. CJA's Annual Chess Journalism Awards are open to any individual currently a CJA Regular Member, a CJA Life Member or those eligible to become a CJA Regular Member. You may submit entries to multiple categories.

• Fees

All entries require an entry fee of $15 for the first entry (includes 1 year of membership in the CJA) and $8 for each additional entry. Life members receive the first entry free, $8 for each additional entry submitted.

• Submitting an Entry

Each entry must contain the following:

· A check or money order (no cash) in the total amount of your entry payable to Chess Journalists of America

· One cover sheet per each entry you are submitting. A copy of the cover sheet is enclosed within this file. In addition, the cover sheet is available to download at our CJA website: HYPERLINK "http://chessjournalism.org/" \n _blankhttp://chessjournalism.org

· Print entries: All entries which did not run in Chess Life or Chess Life for Kids must be submitted off a tear sheet and therefore must be [a hard copy] cut straight down the middle of the publication's page. In addition, the same holds true for cartoons or photos. If the entry did run in Chess Life or Chess Life for Kids please mail a photocopy or a pdf of the entry as published in either respective publication. Entries which ran in CL and CL4K please indicate publication month which it ran in and which of the two it ran in.

NOTE: Entries for the Best State Magazine/Newsletter award category must send four copies of four original sets of one year's worth of issues.

· Online entries: Entries which appear on the internet must provide the URL which contains the entry. The writer's name must be attributed to the name of the individual on the award's cover sheet.

Mail all of the above (check, money order, awards cover sheet and tear sheets or copies of magazines where applicable) to the CJA Awards Committee Chairman and Chief Judge at:

Ramon A. Hernandez

1996 Anthony Avenue

Apartment #2B

Bronx, NY 10457-3911

• Deadline

All entries must be received on or by Wednesday, July 6, 2011

• Post-submission

All entries received become property of CJA and can not be returned. In addition any fees (either for awards entry and/or membership) are non-refundable. Any item submitted can be used by CJA for any use in our newsletter The Chess Journalist or online within our website HYPERLINK "http://chessjournalism.org/" \n _blankhttp://chessjournalism.org

Your entry will be promptly posted as having been received online on our website. In addition, you will receive an e-mail by the awards committee chairman notifying you he has received your entry.

You will be notified early August 2011 whether or not you won by the awards committee chairman. The results will also be presented in the CJA Awards Committee final report to the CJA delivered by or at the annual CJA meeting. A list of the winners will be mentioned in our CJA newsletter and a summary of the results provided on our website.

Journalist of the Year award contestants will be notified after August 10, 2011 on whether or not they won as this award though overseen by the awards committee chairman is the only award not selected by judges and is selected by the entire CJA regular members at our annual meeting held concurrently with and at the USCF's U.S. Open.

~R. A. Hernandez

CJA Awards Committee Chairman and Chief Judge

The following categories are open only to print journalist and print publications. The Chess Journalist of the Year and Best Chess Column Awards are each also open to online journalist and their websites.

THE TOP FOUR:

Chess Journalist of the Year

Awarded to the individual who has contributed the most to chess journalism within the past year. Only work from the past year will be considered. CJA members vote by mail ballot to select the winner; please provide resume of work (i.e. articles) for the CJA website.

Please note: If the CJA Chess Journalist of the Year Award has only one entry that nominee will have their fee refunded as a minimum of two different individuals are required for this award. To reiterate this the most prominent award presented by the CJA will not be awarded when there is only one nominee.

Best Story of the Year

Recognizes initiative and original news reporting of a situation, problem or issue affecting chess within the past year. Judges will look for entries which show leadership, quality writing, sensitivity and fairness. Please send a tear sheet of the page(s) containing the article, websites are ineligible for this award and it is open to individuals who are and aren't members of the mainstream media.

Best Chess Column

Awarded to the columnist for best spotlighting a story which focuses on in depth news, explains recent events or revolves around a features (human-interest) story as they each relate to chess. Please send three columns, four tear sheets of each column.

Best State Magazine/Newsletter

Awarded to the best USCF state chapter and their editor-in-chief for overall excellence in news articles, features stories, features section (cartoons); graphics, photography, layout and ability to reach their state members through this medium. Please send four copies of four original sets of one year's worth of issues. States with two publications must submit and thereby enter them separately. The entry must be the official state publication of their respective USCF state chapter/affiliate.

NEWS:

Best Tournament Report Article

Presented to the writer who best covers and conveys a story of a tournament occurring within the past year.

EDITORIAL:

Best Editorial

Editorials, signed or unsigned, written by one individual, that speak for the magazine/newsletter or their organization and takes a clear stand on a chess issue.

LAYOUT:

Best Chess Magazine/Newsletter Layout

Honors visual excellence in designing spreads within the chess magazine/newsletter and use of each space per page. Send four of the same issues published between June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011 demonstrating the publication's use of page designing.

ADVERTISEMENT:

Best Recognition in Chess Advertising

Honoring an in house advertisement staff, staff ad member or outside ad agency who has submitted an ad either selling a product, house ad or ad campaign all in relation to chess. If the ad was done by an ad agency then please give the ad agency's contact information. This award is limited to print media (mainstream or not)

MAINSTREAM MEDIA:

Excellence in Chess Writing, Mainstream Media

Entries ineligible for other categories. Awarded to chess writing in a mainstream publication (defined as a magazine listed in the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature). Regular chess features ineligible.

Best Regular Newspaper Column

This award includes syndicated columns and will be awarded to the columnist for who best spotlights a story which focuses on in depth news, explains recent events or revolves around a features (human-interest) story as they each relate to chess.

Best Regular Newspaper Article of Local Interest

Limited to local, metropolitan or regional columns. This award will be presented to the reporter who best spotlights a story which focuses on in depth news, explains recent events or revolves around a features (human-interest) story as they each relate to chess. It is also open to non-mainstream media publications and their editorial staff.

The following categories are open to journalist and publications both in print and those found online.

PHOTOJOURNALISM:

Best Chess Photojournalism

A single photograph portraying some aspect of chess. This award aims at recognizing the craft of photographically reporting chess, not just the artistic and technical qualities of photography. Please send a tear sheet of the page containing the photograph which should have the photo credit along side it. If the entry is on the web, please submit the URL containing the entry and acknowledging yourself as the photojournalist who captured the shot near the photo.

FEATURES:

Best Features Article

Acknowledging the best human-interest article in chess. The features article must be creative, sometimes subjective

article and primarily designed to entertain, educate or inform readers about an event, person, situation or an aspect of life.

Best Instructive Lesson

For written lessons of a game of chess, (should be a lesson, not just an annotated game).

Best Review

Presented to a writer for the best review of a book, software, etc.

Best Humorous Contribution

Open to chess jokes, cartoon, satire, irony, parody, etc. Judges will decide on the basis of which entry bought of the most laughter in contrast to other items entered within the category.

NEWS or FEATURES:

Most Notable Achievement in Correspondence Chess

For journalistic work of any type (article, photojournalism, graphic, editorial, etc.) regarding correspondence chess.

Best Historical Article

For articles describing an aspect of chess history, especially those tying chess history to social or cultural events from the past.

Best Interview

Not limited to a question and answer session, this award will be judged on the reporter's/writer's ability to show skill in eliciting instructive, emotional and revealing responses.

Best Chess Art

Send a magazine/newsletter cover, internet display, etc. If the entry is posted on the web you must be the designer of the artwork and owner of the website or affiliated with the organization who owns the URL.

Best Analysis

For openings, middlegames, endgames, games or groups of games analyzed deeply. Please send a tear sheet of the page(s) or URL containing the pgn pictures and analysis.

The following categories are open only to online journalist and their websites.

NEW MEDIA:

Best [USCF] State Chapter Website

Awarded to the top website which must be produced and maintained primarily by a member of that United State Chess Federation's (USCF) state affiliate. Awards will be based on design, ease of navigation, writing and editing, graphics and interactivity.

Best General Chess Website

Awarded to the top website which focuses on chess (either by offering instructional tips, serves as reference, etc) Awards will be based on design, purpose, ease of navigation, writing and editing, graphics and interactivity.

Best Chess Blog

Open to online chess blogs. Send URLs of three best blog entries off the same top-level domain. Blogs will be judged on visual appeal, content and ability to draw constructive comments from readers.

Posted by Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk

12th Women's World Chess Champion & CJA President

www.chessjournalism.org

www.chessblog.com

www.chessqueen.com