ENTRY FORMS

2012 KASB/KANSPRA PUBLICATIONS CONTEST GUIDELINES

INTRODUCTION

    The Kansas Association of School Boards and the Kansas School Public Relations Association invite you to participate in their annual publications contest. The contest recognizes the top publications produced by Kansas school districts, cooperatives and vocational-technical schools. Entries must be from KASB members.

AWARDS

    Certificates of Excellence and Certificates of Merit will be awarded in each category based on total points earned by the entry. Entries scoring a nine or 10 will receive a Certificate of Excellence. Entries scoring a five through eight will receive a Certificate of Merit. Sweepstakes winners (those with the highest overall point accumulation per enrollment category) will be announced at the KASB Delegate Assembly, Sunday, December 2, 2012.

ENTRIES

    Publications produced between Aug., 3, 2011, and July 31, 2012, are eligible. All entries must be submitted with the official entry form (see reverse). This form may be copied if you plan to enter more than one category. This form is also available on the KASB Web site. All entries become the property of KASB and will not be returned.

CATEGORIES

    Enter as many categories as you wish, but only one entry per category (except Building Level Newsletter). To ensure your entry is accepted and judged accurately, please be sure to enter in the correct category and send all information requested below.
  1. SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER – one or more issues or one or more special editions of any newsletter or bulletin published on a regular basis and distributed to external audience (patrons).
  2. BUILDING LEVEL NEWSLETTER – one issue of any newsletter or bulletin distributed to parents/students of one attendance center. (You can enter one newsletter per building, however only the top three scores will be used for sweepstakes winner point totals.)
  3. STAFF NEWSLETTER – one issue of any newsletter or bulletin developed for and distributed to school district personnel. This could include electronic distribution.
  4. BROCHURES AND PAMPHLETS – one copy of a brochure or pamphlet that explains a district activity or program. (Single sheet of paper.)
  5. BOOKLETS – one copy of a booklet that explains a district activity or program, longer in length than a brochure or pamphlet. (Multiple sheets of paper.)
  6. SPECIAL EVENTS PUBLICATION – special publication(s) designed for a unique event.
  7. ANNUAL REPORT – a yearly publication to inform patrons of the school district activities held the previous year. (Annual Budget Report does not qualify in this category.)
  8. HANDBOOK – a yearly publication designed to inform students, staff and/or parents about organization and policy.
  9. SCHOOL CALENDAR – a desk or wall calendar that includes school events or information. (Only the portions actually prepared by a school district will be judged.)
  10. LOCAL NEWSPAPER SUPPLEMENT – an informational supplement generated by the school district staff, most generally printed as an insert in a local paper, to present school district information. (Single news articles do not count.)
  11. STRATEGIC PR PROGRAM – campaign materials for media relations, public relations/awareness or finance elections. Package should include coordinated use of two or more channels (i.e., print, audio, video, web, speeches, etc.).
  12. PR VIDEO, VIDEO NEWS RELEASE OR VIDEO PSA – video promoting or explaining an organization, event or program or feature story highlighting a person, event or program.
  13. PHOTO/PHOTO SERIES – photographs taken by an employee for publication.  Submit prints or print-outs no smaller than 5"x7" along with tear sheet as proof of use.
  14. WEB SITE – a Web site designed to inform patrons.  (Include a copy of the “index” page of the site and the web address.
  15. DISTRICT REPORT CARD – annual publication to inform patrons of the district’s performance the previous year.
  16. NEWSPAPER ARTICLES – regular story written by the superintendent or other district official supplied by your district to the local newspaper.

JUDGING

    A judging team of communications experts from a state public relations association will serve as judges of all entries in the 2009 contest. Winners will be notified in November.

JUDGING CRITERIA

    Entries will be scored from a one (poor) to 10 (excellent) based on the following criteria: research/assessment; analysis/planning, evaluation/results and overall appearance. Categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15 & 16 will be judged based on content and readability. Categories 6 & 11 will be judged on focus and clarity. Categories 12, 13 & 14 will be judged on product quality.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION

    Questions or additional information? Contact Andrea Hartzell at KASB by calling 800-432-2471, e-mailing ahartzell@kasb.org.