BNC circ division changes mulled
A teleconference has been set for Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. for members of the Membership Committee to discuss possibly modifying classifications for daily newspapers in the upcoming 2006 Better Newspaper Contest Editorial Division.
Currently, daily newspapers are divided into three groups for the competition: Daily A – 20,000 and above; Daily B – 9,000-20,000; and Daily C – Below 9,000.
With the latest USPS Statements of Ownership and Circulation copied to MPA as required, at least two newspapers have dipped below the 20,000 in circulation. The decrease, although modest, is significant for the contest since it would reduce the number of competing papers in the largest circulation division from five to three.
One possible modification would be to lower the range of Daily A from 20,000 to 15,000 and above. That would keep any members who have traditionally competed in the large daily category from dropping to a lower division and affect only one other paper currently competing in Daily B.
Entry packets and rules for the contest will be released in late December. The deadline for entering the 2006 competition is Tuesday, Feb. 6. The contest will be judged by members of the Arkansas Press Association. Winners will be revealed at the 141st annual MPA Convention next June in Biloxi.