Comments on: Iowa newspaper awards make you feel good, don’t mean much else http://nbergus.com/2009/02/iowa-newspaper-awards-make-you-feel-good/ Thoughts on what media do, and can do better, and other things Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:13:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nick Bergus http://nbergus.com/2009/02/iowa-newspaper-awards-make-you-feel-good/#comment-12 Nick Bergus Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:21:23 +0000 http://nbergus.com/?p=285#comment-12 Good points, Gregory. Outside opinions are valuable. Of course it looks good to be able to call your paper an award-winning newspaper; it's good for advertising and readership, I'm sure. My point was that newspapers shouldn't neither do what they do to win awards nor put too much stock in winning them (or, as you suggest, not winning them). Good points, Gregory. Outside opinions are valuable. Of course it looks good to be able to call your paper an award-winning newspaper; it's good for advertising and readership, I'm sure. My point was that newspapers shouldn't neither do what they do to win awards nor put too much stock in winning them (or, as you suggest, not winning them).

]]> By: gregorynorfleet http://nbergus.com/2009/02/iowa-newspaper-awards-make-you-feel-good/#comment-11 gregorynorfleet Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:11:17 +0000 http://nbergus.com/?p=285#comment-11 Often a reader's, or a community's, perception of a newspaper is different than that of the editor. Consider stories of hot-button issues, or sensitive subjects. People will drop their subscription or re-subscribe over a story. Businesses will pull ads or maintain a contract.<br><br>But when a newspaper submits their work to a contest, then an independent judge -- someone who does not have a stake in a local subject -- can give a more objective assessment. Winning an award tells newspapers that they are maintaining their quality. (Not winning actually does not say much, since you may have had stiffer competition in one category, or not so much in another.)<br><br>Winning awards is not the only factor editors should consider, though. If you have strong advertising, then that shows your chosen readership area appeals to business owners. That's good. If you have a strong subscriber base, then readers are interested in your stories, photos and even the ads. That's also good.<br><br>Obviously, you can't please everyone. But if you can win awards, keep a strong subscriber base and maintain profitability, then you have the balance necessary for a quality newspaper and a good business. Often a reader's, or a community's, perception of a newspaper is different than that of the editor. Consider stories of hot-button issues, or sensitive subjects. People will drop their subscription or re-subscribe over a story. Businesses will pull ads or maintain a contract.

But when a newspaper submits their work to a contest, then an independent judge — someone who does not have a stake in a local subject — can give a more objective assessment. Winning an award tells newspapers that they are maintaining their quality. (Not winning actually does not say much, since you may have had stiffer competition in one category, or not so much in another.)

Winning awards is not the only factor editors should consider, though. If you have strong advertising, then that shows your chosen readership area appeals to business owners. That's good. If you have a strong subscriber base, then readers are interested in your stories, photos and even the ads. That's also good.

Obviously, you can't please everyone. But if you can win awards, keep a strong subscriber base and maintain profitability, then you have the balance necessary for a quality newspaper and a good business.

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