-Categories
-Entry format and fees
-Prizes
-Deadline
-Judging Criteria

Who may submit?

The competition is open to English or French-language magazines with single copy retail sales in Canada. Magazines must also:

• contain a minimum average of 80% Canadian editorial content (written and/or edited by Canadians in Canada).
• be published weekly or less frequently. Daily newspapers are not eligible, nor are books.

Entries must come from the publishing company, though national distributors, wholesalers and retailers should encourage their publishing clients to enter the awards.

Which issues are eligible?

Any issue for which the on-sale date was in calendar year 2009.
Exceptions:

• Combined December/January issues of bimonthlies for which the on-sale date was in January 2009 or December 2009 may also be entered in this year’s awards.

How many times can I enter?

You can enter as many issues as you like in the appropriate categories. Entry fee is charged per entry.

Categories:

1. Best Newsstand Issue, Small Magazine (under 10,000 circulation)
2. Best Newsstand Issue, Mid-size Magazine (10,000 to 74,999 circulation)
3. Best Newsstand Issue, Large Magazine (total circulation 75,000 to 199,999)
4. Best Newsstand Issue, Extra-Large Magazine (total circulation over 200,000)

Total circulation includes newsstand sales, subscriptions and controlled copies, according to the most recent ABC or CCAB/BPA statements, or by sworn statement as published in CARD.

5. Best SIP or New Magazine Launch

NEW! This new category is aimed at special-interest publications (SIPs) or new magazine launches published in 2009, at any circulation level. SIPs refer to one-off specials or new annuals. Quantitative judging for this category will be based on sell-through rate for the entered issue only. (Qualitative judging criteria will be the same as for other categories.) Existing SIPs that have comparative historical data may choose to enter into this category; or the relevant circulation category above; or both. See Judging Criteria below for more details. 

6. Newsstand Magazine Cover of the Year

Magazines entered into categories 1 to 5 are automatically entered into the Newsstand Cover of the Year category. No separate entry form or entry fee is required. The winner will, in the judges’ estimation, be the truly outstanding newsstand cover of the year. Judges will use the criteria set out in the Judging Criteria section. 

7. Newsstand Marketer of the Year

Nominations will be accepted for this award. The Newsstand Marketer of the Year will be an individual who has demonstrated passion and innovation—and produced results—for a newsstand project in 2009. The work may be for regular duties performed beyond the call of duty, or for a special project, or for any special initiative. This “most valuable player” may work for a Canadian publishing house, a national distributor, or a wholesaler. There is no entry fee; just send us the name of your nominee, job title, employer, and a brief explanation as to why you are nominating this individual, with any supporting documents you deem relevant. See below for judging criteria. All nominations are confidential. Nominators are asked to include their own name and contact numbers. 

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Entry format and fees:

1. For each entry, you must submit one completed entry form. To enter online or for a PDF copy of the form click here. 
2. You must send 3 complete copies of each issue entered.
3. Payment must accompany each entry.  Entries and payment must be received by 5:00pm EST, July 9, 2010. All taxes included.
   

   	Early-bird: by 5 p.m., June 18	Regular: by  5 p.m., July 9
   Category 1 (Small)	$35 per entry	$50 per entry
   Categories 2, 3, 4, 5 (Mid-size, Large, Extra Large, SIP/New Magazine	$75 per entry	$95 per entry
   Category 6 (Cover of the Year)	No entry or fee required	No entry or fee required
   Category 7 (Newsstand Marketer)	No fee required – nominate today!	No fee required – nominate today!

   • Send cheque or credit card information. Cheques made payable to North Island Publishing. Your credit card statements will indicate North Island Publishing.
4. Include a simple note (fax or e-mail print-out is fine) from your distributor confirming that the numbers provided on this entry form are accurate.
5. A portion of entry fees will be donated to the CMC Circulation Management Association of Canada to support its educational activities.
6. There is no entry fee for Newsstand Marketer of the Year or Newsstand Magazine Cover of the Year.

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Prizes:

Along with certificates and recognition on MastheadOnline.com, and in news releases sent to trade and daily media, Gold winners will receive $18,500 in valuable prizes sponsored by HDS Retail and Masthead.

The Gold winner in category 1 (Small Magazine) will receive $1,000 in credits to be applied against promotions at select Great Canadian News Co. and Maison de la Presse outlets. The Gold winner will also receive a $500 cheque from Masthead to be applied against any other costs related to fulfilling the promotion, e.g. higher print run. Not currently carried by HDS Retail? No problem; all small magazines meeting the other entry criteria above are eligible. Credits are to be used for promotions not already contracted prior to winning the awards program and must be used before the expiry date indicated.

The Gold winners in categories 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Mid-Size, Large, Extra Large, SIP/New Magazine and Cover of the Year) will each receive $3,500 in credits to be applied against promotions with Great Canadian News Co. or other HDS Retail owned outlets in Canada. Credits are to be used for promotions not already contracted prior to winning the awards program and must be used before the expiry date indicated. 

NEW! Winners in categories 1-5 will receive Gold, Silver and Bronze designations for First, Second and Third places finishes, respectively. Gold winners will receive the additional prizes described above.

The winner of category 7, the Newsstand Marketer of the Year Award will receive $500 cash and a certificate. 

A shortlist of finalists will be announced by September 2010 and winners will be announced at a special reception held in Toronto, ON Fall 2010. 

The covers of short-listed magazines in each category will be displayed online at www.newsstandawards.ca.

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Deadline:

Early-bird deadline: 5 p.m. EST, Friday, June 18, 2010.

Final deadline: 5 p.m. EST, Friday, July 9, 2010.

Send entries to Canadian Newsstand Awards, 8-1606 Sedlescomb Dr., Mississauga ON L4X 1M6.

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Judging Criteria:

The judging panel includes a retailer, national distributor, wholesaler, art director, and circulation manager. They will review each individual entry based on the following criteria:

Criteria for categories 1 to 4:

Quantitative Criteria (worth 50% of the total score):

1. Variation in percentage for unit single copy sales of entered issue when compared to same issue previous year.
2. Variation in percentage for unit single copy sales of entered issue when compared to average unit sales of the title for 2009.
3. Final sales efficiency (i.e. newsstand sell-through percentage) of entered issue.
4. Variation in newsstand sell-through percentage between entered issue and same issue previous year.
5. Variation in newsstand sell-through percentage between entered issue and average sell-through of the title for 2009.

Qualitative Criteria (worth 50% of the total score):

These are some of the criteria judges will use to assess the newsstand effectiveness of particular issues. Not all criteria may apply to all magazines. Entrants are encouraged to briefly describe any design details they think are noteworthy; see the entry form.

• Effective use of cover real estate, relevant to category and title
• Benefit-oriented cover lines
• Cover image and text working together
• Typography (point size, colour, appropriateness)
• Design elements, including skybars, drop-downs, nabiscos, etc.

Bonus Points:

To earn bonus points, judges will take into consideration the following:

• whether the issue was supported with any type of in-store promotion
• whether the issue was supported by advertising (print, radio, TV, outdoor, etc.)
• whether the issue offered any “freemiums” to newsstand buyers
• whether the issue has successfully broken traditional newsstand formulas, to encourage innovation

Entrants are asked to briefly describe the support given to the entered issue.

Criteria for Category 5: Best SIP or New Magazine Launch:

Quantitative Criteria (worth 50% of the total score):

• Final sales efficiency (i.e. newsstand sell-through percentage) of entered issue.

Qualitative Criteria (worth 50% of the total score):

These are some of the criteria judges will use to assess the newsstand effectiveness of particular issues. Not all criteria may apply to all magazines. Entrants are encouraged to briefly describe any design details they think are noteworthy in their entry statement on the entry form.

• Effective use of cover real estate, relevant to category and title
• Benefit-oriented cover lines
• Cover image and text working together
• Typography (point size, colour, appropriateness)
• Design elements, including skybars, drop-downs, nabiscos, etc.

Bonus Points:

To earn bonus points, judges will take into consideration the following:

• whether the issue was supported with any type of in-store promotion
• whether the issue was supported by advertising (print, radio, TV, outdoor, etc.)
• whether the issue offered any “freemiums” to newsstand buyers
• whether the issue has successfully broken traditional newsstand formulas, to encourage innovation

Entrants are asked to briefly describe the support given to the entered issue.

Criteria for Newsstand Marketer of the Year

Nominators are asked to send the nominee’s name, job title, employer, and a brief description of the nominee’s achievements, paying special attention to the following criteria:

• Demonstrated innovation in a newsstand project or program in 2009
• Demonstrated passion for newsstands and for his or her job
• Proven results for a newsstand project or program in 2009

Nominees may work for a Canadian magazine publisher, a national distributor
or a wholesaler. This is a “most valuable player” award for work done in 2009.
Nominators should include their own name and contact numbers with their submission.

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