Guidelines

To Qualify...

• Entries must be published, aired, or launched between May 15, 2003 and May 30, 2004. For a series or ongoing news coverage, more than half of the individual installments must have been published, aired or launched during the eligibility period.
  
  
• Entries may include a single story, a project, or a series of stories, exercises or news "experiences." Pioneering efforts are encouraged.
  
  
• Entries must consist of journalism content created by a news-producing organization. To enter, individuals must have been affiliated with such organizations at the time of publication.
  
  
• Finalists will be announced in summer 2004. Winners will be announced at a fall 2004 Batten Awards Symposium in Washington, D.C. Winners are expected to participate in an educational panel during the awards and will also be invited to take part in other activities to educate the profession about journalism innovations.

Download a PDF of the Call for Entries
(Please be patient, application may take several moments to upload.)

To Enter...

All entrants must submit the following:

1. An Application, available here.
   
   
2. An Entry Fee of $25, checks only, made out to J-Lab.
   
   
3. Exhibits: Digital entries on CD-ROMs, DVD videos or Zip disks are encouraged. No 3.5-inch floppy disks. Entries will initially be vetted on Macintosh computers. You will be contacted if there are any problems reading your files.
   
   Multi-media entries should apply the following the guidelines, as appropriate.

• For ONLINE: Submit up to five functioning, cached, or archived URLs. URLs may be listed on the application as links or may be submitted on a CD-ROM or Zip disk. Links must be viewable on the day of judging. Please direct the judges to the most relevant pages of the entry. Entries must remain online for at least one year from the date of the awards to serve as an educational resource. Winners will be asked to supply a version of their entry suitable for archiving.
  

• For PRINT: If possible, submit the entry as an Adobe PDF document on a CD-ROM or Zip disk. Limit entries to the 20 best days of coverage; explain additional efforts in your application. If PDFs are unavailable, tearsheets are acceptable. Up to five accompanying URLs may be submitted; please list them on the application and direct the judges to the most relevant pages.
  
  
• For TELEVISION: Submit a compilation of highlights, original stories or series of programs on 1/2-inch VHS videotape. Entry must not exceed 25 minutes. Voice-overs and narratives may be included in the compilation of highlights. No commercial breaks. Up to five accompanying URLs may be submitted; please list them on the application and direct the judges to the most relevant pages. Winners will be asked to supply a higher quality tape of the original program.
  
  
• For RADIO: Submit a compilation of highlights, a program or series of programs on high-quality audio cassette or audio CD. Entry must not exceed 25 minutes. Voice-overs and narratives may be included in the compilation of highlights. No commercial breaks. Up to five accompanying URLs may be submitted; please list them on the application and direct the judges to the most relevant pages. Winners will be asked to supply tapes of the original program(s).
  
  
• For MORE HELP: If your efforts are not well covered by the above guidelines, contact J-Lab at
  301-985-4020, or e-mail jstrobel@j-lab.org for recommendations.

  To Submit...

  Entries must be received by Thursday, June 10, 2004. Mail the application form, the exhibits, and the entry fee ($25 check only, made out to J-Lab) to:
  
  Batten Innovations Awards
  J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism
  7100 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 101
  College Park, MD 20740-3637

  Judging...

• All questions on the entry form must be completed in English and all submissions will be evaluated by predominantly English-speaking judges.
  
  
• The winners will be selected by an impartial board of judges --the Batten Advisory Board. The judges' selection will be final and not subject to review by the staff of J-Lab or the Knight Foundation.
  
  
• The judges shall have discretion to pick more than one winner and to issue Special Distinction Awards, as merited.
  
  
• If an Advisory Board member is from a news organization entering the competition, that organization shall receive no special treatment.
  

Participating...

• Entrants will receive an email confirming receipt of entry.
  
  
• The Batten Awards program reserves the right to use, reproduce, or link to submissions, with appropriate credits, in educational programs about journalism innovations.
  
  
• Finalists will be announced in the summer 2004. Winners will be announced in the fall of 2004 at the Batten Awards Symposium in Washington, D.C.
  
  
• To stay on top of announcements, sign up for the J-Flash newsletter.

For more information on the Batten Awards Advisory Board click here.

Any questions? Email news@j-lab.org or call 301-985-4020.

J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism, 7100 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 101, College Park, MD 20740-
P: 301-985-4020 • F: 301-985-4021 • E: news@j-lab.org • www.j-lab.org