Illinois Associated Press Editors Association
News and Photo Contest Eligibility


News Contest Photo Contest

Photographic Excellence Contest Rules:

The contest is open to entries from regular employees of AP member newspapers published between May 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2009. Entries must be submitted by the publisher, editor, executive editor or managing editor. Entries must be postmarked no later than Feb 12, 2010 and sent to :

Susan Yount
The Associated Press
10 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60606

or, if applicable, MUST be included with the publication's overall editorial package.

The AP photo contest is completely digital. Newspapers should submit digital files of their photographer's ../images on a CD. No prints or slides will be accepted. In addition, please thoroughly read the "Contest Guidelines".

There are 10 categories this year with corresponding codes.
1. Spot News (SN)
2. General News (GN)
3. Features (F)
4. Pictorial (P)
5. Portrait/ Personality (P/P)
6. Sports Action (SA)
7. Sports Feature (SF)
8. Illustration (I)

9. Picture Story (PS).Note: There is a limit of 12 images per picture story. All images in a photo story count as one entry. Each picture story entry MUST have an introductory paragraph on an intro slide (does not count as one of the 12 photos.) Judges will be allowed to recategorize entries.

10. New! Multimedia Storytelling (MS). This category recognizes powerful and informative multimedia storytelling that uses video, slideshows, audio, flash interactive, text or any combination of the techniques. This category is intended to recognize an outstanding single multimedia project, not a series of related projects; however, projects are eligible if they are broken into chapters to respond to audience attention spans. Entrants must include either a direct online link to the project, with a password if necessary,or a CD/DVD of the project.

AP member newspapers may enter a maximum of five times per category.

Included on the entry sheet is a total column for all categories. Photographers should mark the total number of photos entered in each category.

A check for the total amount of entries should accompany the submissions or be included with the publication's overall editorial package. Entries to the contest will not be returned. Winners will be announced on this site and the AP wire when the judging is completed.

Prizes will be awarded at the Illinois AP Editor's Association fall meeting. In addition, a “Best of Show” will be selected by the member judges from among the first-place winners in each division. If the "Best of Show" also ran on the wire, that person will receive $100. Any first place winner that ran on the wire will receive $50.

If you have questions, please contact Bob Graves at AP/Chicago Photos, (888) 276-3804.