2011 CSCMA Promo Awards

1. 2011 CSCMA Promo Awards The opportunity to gain new ideas for proven methods to grow readership and/or circulation revenue is an invaluable part of your membership in CSCMA. Recent revisions in ABC rules governing readership qualifications have expanded opportunities for innovative new readership strategies. This is your opportunity to share your ideas as well as gain from the experience of others.

2. 2011 CSCMA Annual Promotional Display Competition The awards come with a new format in 2011. While the categories remain similar to prior years, your entry will be made electronically using a Microsoft Power point layout as a template. Submitting your entry should not only prove to be faster and more efficient it should ultimately make sharing ideas with others much easier. Each participant in our 2011 Spring conference will receive an electronic copy of all entries. This format has been borrowed from our friends at the Ohio Circulation Managers Association. They have used a similar template with great success for several years. We thank them for sharing and providing permission to emulate a proven strategy to make submitting and sharing ideas easier.

3. Entry Categories • Subscriber Acquisition – Promotions designed to gain new readers for a subscription commitment: direct marketing, carrier contest, crew sales, kiosk, free-standing inserts, direct mail, and web or email sales programs. • Subscriber retention and/or customer service – Promotions designed to gain subscription renewal or payment from existing subscribers. • Single Copy – Includes all promotions for newspapers sold directly to the reader in single unit increments (rack or dealer sales). • Newspapers in Education– Promotions with the objective to gain program funding; or readership targeting teachers, students, or parents. • Third party or other verified circulation– Promotions targeting readers where the newspaper is either provided without cost or purchased by a third party. This category may include business to business promotions that solicit purchase of newspapers for a designated audience. • Brand Marketing– Programs designed and created by newspaper employees to grow the value of the brand. Work created by advertising agencies is not eligible for this category. 2011 CSCMA Annual Promotional Display Competition

4. Use the next two slides to submit your entry. • The example information requested for your entry is presented in blue type, email address in orange. Please insert your information in place of the sample data. • Do not adjust the slide layout or theme. • A common template will ensure judging of entries is based on content and design of your promotion. The layout will also provide the foundation for combined presentation of all entries. Your entry should be creative and innovative, the power point template should be the same for everyone. • First slide – enter text for the category, objective, and results • Enter details regarding the category, contact information at your newspaper, the objective of the promotion, and results. • Second slide – insert visual presentation of the promotion • Insert images of the promotion as originally presented to the target audience via the web, direct mail, free standing insert, or run of paper ad. Please import the images as a .pdf or .jpeg format. Use text as necessary to highlight key elements of the presentation. • Third slide – permitted for additional examples • More than one .pdg or .jpeg image may be included on each slide. Use the third slide for additional examples. But, please limit your entry to not more than three slides. This will ensure equity in judging and continuity in the final presentation. • Submit your entry to: CSCMA2011@GMail.com • A confirmation email will be sent to acknowledge your entry. How to enter

5. Newspaper: The Akron Beacon Journal City: Akron, Ohio Circulation Group : 50 - 100 thousand (select from: <25; 25 – 50; 50 – 100; >100 thousand) Category and Name: Newspaper in Education Name of Entry: Block Party Fundraiser Submitted By: Colleen Benson Phone: 330-996-3635 E-Mail: cbenson@thebeaconjournal.com Title: Newspaper in Education Coordinator Objective: Fund classroom newspapers while raising reader awareness of NIE. Results:The Akron Beacon Journal NIE program started using the ABC approved block party fundraiser to provide funding for classroom newspapers in 2004. That year, the block party published monthly and raised $10,845 for NIE. In 2005, the block party raised $13,005 for NIE, an 20% increase over the previous year. Each month, up to 45 restaurants or retail establishments donate a $50 gift certificate, which is sold to readers for only $30. NIE Coordinator and Assistant have made many logistical changes to please readers and make the fundraiser work smoothly. Final results:As of August 2006, the block party has raised $9,140 for NIE. At this rate, the 2006 yearly total will exceed the 2005 total. Readers and donors have been very pleased with the program.

6. Sample of full-page Block Party Fundraiser • Approximately 70% of 2006 donors are repeat donors • Approximately 20% of 2006 donors donate EVERY month • Year to date, the block party has averaged $1,143 each time it has published • All contact with donors/advertisers including thank you letters, renewal forms and proposals is initiated through the NIE Department

7. General Rules • Competition entry materials must have been developed and used during the past year. • You are not required to attend the conference to enter or win. • Promotion Awards entries must be submitted in provided electronic template (Microsoft Power Point). • All entries must be received in the correct format by April 4, 2011. • Newspaper circulation size must be determined by combined daily circulation according to the most recent audit. • Each newspaper may submit not more than two entries in each category. 2011 CSCMA Annual Promotional Display Competition

8. Judging • Entries will be judged on specific results achieved and creativity and originality. • Entries are judged in competition to other entries. • Judges may omit or combine an awards in specific categories if no qualified entry is submitted. 2011 CSCMA Annual Promotional Display Competition

9. Every category will judged with balanced consideration among results and creativity. The judging criteria and weighting encourages you submit an innovative idea even if it has yet to reach its full results potential. Of course, proven winners are always welcome in the competition even if the idea isn’t new. If you’re a tenured circulator that has tried or seen just about everything the business has to offer, don’t hesitate to submit an idea that has consistently worked at your newspaper. The next generation of circulators depends on you to gain experience and grow. Your ideas can be invaluable to a bright mind that lacks experience. The competition has two goals: • Recognize the best entry in each category. • Offer every member at least one idea they can use to achieve circulation goals at their newspaper. Best wishes in the competition and thanks for contributing. 2011 CSCMA Promo Awards

10. Please contact Promotion Award Committee Chair Mathew Johnsrud Circulation Director The Journal Times 262.631.1792 matt.johnsrud@lee.net Questions, Comments, Concerns?