CJA Chess Journalists of America 2012 Awards - Call for Entries

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everybody!


It's the time of the year many of you are waiting for, time to apply for prestigious CJA Awards!


The Chess Journalists of America, via its Chairman of the CJA Awards Committee and Chief Judge Joshua Anderson, once again sends out a call for nominations to its Annual Chess Journalists of America 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.  Recognized annually by their peers, the public and members of CJA, the prestigious awards showcase work in the categories listed below which were published between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012.  Submissions must be received by June 15, 2012.

CJA is the national not-for-profit body formed to encourage, promote, represent and influence policies as they relate to chess journalism.  Membership is open to everyone, not necessarily only chess journalists, at an annual membership fee of $10.  Award winners are presented with certificates and are acknowledged both in Chess Life and CJA's newsletter The Chess Journalist.  CJA's Annual Chess Journalism Awards are also open to anyone and there is an entry fee of $15 (which includes membership or renewal to CJA) for the first entry and an $8 fee for each subsequent entry. For the Best Book category, the entry fee is $25 per book (no CJA membership is included). CJA is online at http://chessjournalism.org, for additional information on the awards or in joining CJA, please contact CJA Awards Committee Chairman Joshua Anderson at joshuamiltonanderson@gmail.com or visit http://cjaawards.org. 


If you want to apply, prepare one copy of each item you want judged (please note that books require 5 copies), a cover letter covering what sections you are submitting for and a check made out to CJA. Items should be sent to:
Joshua M. Anderson, 31 Summit Ave., Paoli, PA 19301. Phone 484-948-5692.


Award Categories 


THE TOP FIVE:
Chess Journalist of the Year
Best Story of the Year
Best Chess Column
Best State Magazine/Newsletter
Best Book (paper-printed only; five copies required for judging)

NEWS:
Best Tournament Report Article

EDITORIAL:
Best Editorial

LAYOUT:
Best Chess Magazine/Newsletter Layout

ADVERTISEMENT:
Best Recognition in Chess Advertising

MAINSTREAM MEDIA:
Excellence in Chess Writing, Mainstream Media
Best Regular Newspaper Column
Best Regular Newspaper Article of Local Interest




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

PHOTOJOURNALISM:
Best Chess Photojournalism

FEATURES
Best Features Article
Best Instructive Lesson
Best Review
Best Humorous Contribution

NEWS or FEATURES:
Most Notable Achievement in Correspondence Chess
Best Historical Article
Best Interview
Best Chess Art
Best Analysis
Best Article for Children

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

NEW MEDIA:
Best [USCF] State Chapter Website
Best General Chess Website
Best Chess Blog


Have a look at what you've done during the last year for chess, it's likely you can apply for an award. And if you win, you will be recognized on the web and in the World's top chess magazine, Chess Life. It's worth it. In 2009 I was voted "Chess Journalist of the Year" and have also held the prestigious role of President of the organization until last year.


Good luck to all!


Posted by Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk
12th Women's World Chess Champion
2009 CJA Journalist of the Year

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

I want you to Join the CJA today!

Dear chess friends and chess Journalists!

I am addressing this post to all of you out there who love chess, who have ever played chess, or written about chess in any way or form. Yes, that's you, reading these lines!

Nowadays the bounds and methods of journalism have grown considerably. According to Wikipedia,

Journalism is the craft of conveying news, descriptive material and opinion via a widening spectrum of media. These include newspapers, magazines, radio and television, the internet and even, more recently, the mobile phone.

I love the word "widening"! That means that any of you, who have ever written about chess in any medium, not only in the printed media, such as books, magazines, and newspapers, but also in new technologies, such as video (video podcasts, YouTube, video sharing sites), audio (songs, audio podcasts), photographs (photography sites), blogs, home pages, social sites (Twitter, Facebook) are journalists in some way, and at the very front of chess promotion! Yes, again, I'm speaking about YOU reading this post!

It's now possible from one's cell phone to update one's blog or Twitter account in seconds and that's one of the fastest way to relay or receive information. I read "tweets" every day from chess enthusiasts around the world with the freshest chess news. Today chess lovers can find out in real time how their chess heroes are playing, watch their games, and see tournament results tables. Even webcams are often installed in chess tournament halls, it makes you feel you're right there with the players, all this is journalism of the 21st century, and we are all part of it!

I thank every single one of you who has ever created any such kind of chess journalism. You are making the game cooler, younger, more alive! I want you all to join the CJA! But let me first start with the beginning.

I first become acquainted with the CJA thanks to its president, Jerry Hanken, who came to me in August of 2004 at the US Open in Fort Lauderdale and introduced me to the organization he cared so much about, the CJA. He told me all the benefits of being a member, and how I could not afford not to be a member. Jerry and I even played in that 2004 US Open Blitz tournament (Nakamura won the tournament, I came in second), and gave me a real fight in his favorite English opening. I immediately then joined the CJA, and since then have always been proud to be a member.

When Jerry invited me to become Vice-President of the CJA 2 years ago, he told me not to worry, as long as he's around, I won't have to do much. Jerry called me often to discuss new articles (read his article about me) and work went on as usual. He was very strong in his opinions, and always faithful to putting chess #1 in all his decisions. Suddenly the unthinkable happened, on October 1, 2009, I got the sad news that Jerry passed away, from complications of diabetes (read USCF post and a blog post). I had just spoken to him while he was in the hospital some days earlier and he was in good spirits, hoping to go home soon. In memory of Jerry Hanken, I will be holding high the torch for the CJA, to help it prosper and to continue to promote chess, with your help!

The CJA stands for "The Chess Journalists of America", but I don't want you to think it's limited depending on where you live, this is truly a worldwide association, and I intend to do my best to help promote it to the whole chess world.

One of the very best features of the CJA is its fantastic yearly AWARDS PROGRAM. One of the main goals I have as President of the CJA is to recognize any of you who really do something to promote chess, in any positive, original way you do so.

There are close to 20 awards categories in the Awards Program, such as (I use the 2009 categories, these may change a little for 2010):

• Chess Journalist of the Year

• Best Chess Column

• Best Achievement in Correspondence Chess

• Best Chess Art

• Best Chess Photograph

• Best Tournament Report

• Best Regular Newspaper Column

• Best Chess Web Site

• Best Historical Article

• Best Interview

• Best Editorial

• Best Review

• Best Analysis

• Best Instructive Lesson

• Best Humorous Contribution

• Special Recognition Award

I will gladly consider other categories upon request, due to new technologies, such as best Chess Podcast, best Chess YouTube Channel, best Chess Tweet, best chess poem, best chess iPhone app, best chess playing site, best live chess viewer, or any other you can think of. This will be difficult for the judges, but I will do my best to help. Feel free to add any comments to this post if you have any suggestions.

The CJA Awards are very prestigious. The winners get recognized officially with a beautiful certificate, of course also on the web, and in the most widely circulated chess magazine in the world, Chess Life (both printed and online versions). I have the honor of having won the 2009 "Chess Journalist of the Year" award, succeeding eminent chess journalists Macauley Peterson (2008), Mig Greengard (2007), Peter Tamburro (2006), Frisco del Rosario (2005), Andrew Soltis (2004), Fred Wilson (2003), Yasser Seirawan (2002), Hanon Russell (2001), Al Lawrence (2000). Don't you want to try to be the next "Journalist of the Year"?

Before becoming CJA President, I have applied for several awards, and have won "Best Chess Art" (see my chess comic on the cover of the CJA Magazine #130), "Best Chess Video or Podcast" (for my Chess Killer Tips free video podcast, "Best Deep Analysis" (for my game Huss-Kosteniuk, which I commented in a magazine and also on video), so I'm sure you can also apply for an award, and get recognized for what you do for chess.

This should be plenty to convince you to become CJA members. The good news is that the cost to become a CJA member (and also get the quartely CJA magazine) at this time is only $10 for the USA and $15 for any other place in the world! That's a very low price for all the benefits you get from being with equally minded colleagues.

To make it easier for people to sign up to the CJA or renew their memberships, there are now additional options, perfect for people outside the USA who don't find it convenient to send a check.

a) Send a check made for $10 (USA) or $15 (outside USA) made out to CJA, c/o Randy Hough, 1826 W. Garvey Ave. #5, Alhambra, CA 91803, USA

b) Pay by Paypal (Paypal does not require registration, any credit card should work) via my webshop, all monies received will be transferred to the CJA:

Link for Paypal $10.00 (USA), click or press the button

Link for Paypal $15.00 (World), click or press the button

If you have any questions about the CJA and have any doubt about should you become a member or not, feel free to contact me by email, and I will gladly personally answer your questions. More information can also be found on the CJA web site.

Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk

Women's World Chess Champion

Chess Journalist of the Year

CJA President

www.chessblog.com

www.chessjournalism.org