SYRACUSE -- Looking for something to do this weekend? If you work in news in the markets we cover (or in the surrounding counties), this is your last full weekend to sit down, review your best 2012 material, and submit your entries for the Syracuse Press Club's 2012 Professional Recognition Awards. The deadline is February 1, a week from today.
The SPC service area includes all of Central New York, much of the Southern Tier and the North Country. The official list of counties: "Onondaga, Madison, Cortland, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Herkimer, Oneida, Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, Broome, Tompkins, and Seneca counties; and as far west as State Route 14 in Tioga, Chemung, Wayne, Schuyler and Yates counties."
There are several categories each for print, broadcast and online media outlets. Any work published or broadcast during 2012 within the aforementioned geographical area can be entered. For most folks, the fee is $25 per entry. For a number of student categories, limited to college-affiliated media outlets, the fee is $15 per entry.
If you're planning to enter, be sure to read BOTH of these pages on the SPC website:
In addition to the professional recognition awards contest, the Syracuse Press Club honors a select few with "Club Awards" each year. Nominations for the club awards are being accepted through a separate page on the Syracuse Press Club website. As described on the SPC website, the Club Awards include the following:
The Gus Bliven-Joe Ganley-Mario Rossi Career Achievement Award is presented annually to a person who has excelled in his or her chosen career path in journalism.
The Selwyn Kershaw Professional Standards Award is presented to individuals whose high standards in performing their work serves as an inspiration to others.
The A. Brohmann Roth Newcomer Award is presented to individuals who are just beginning their careers in journalism. To be eligible for this award, nominees must be in their first three years of employment in print, broadcast, or new media.
We also honor newsmakers that regularly work with the media. The Philip A. Hofmann Presidents Award for Best News Source recognizes those involved in making news that provide access, information, and insight to journalists covering stories important to the citizens of Central New York.
There's no charge to submit nominations. Just head to the SPC website to provide the name(s) of your nominee(s), and why you feel that he/she/they should be selected.
All winners will be revealed later this spring, and honored at the Syracuse Press Club's annual Scholarship and Professional Recognition Awards Dinner in May.