Some people feel it's unseemly to turn a professional action into a competition. Of course, journalists are notoriously competitive. Or at least they were in days when there were several newspapers covering the same city. Reporters would throw red herrings in each others path. Sometimes leaving false clues in the courthouse pressroom. Or faking a phone conversation another reporter is sure to overhear.
Yes, we are that bad. Every bit that bad.
But should we be competitive about who wrote the best story in a given category? Or should that be reserved for students?
Some folks say yes, but I disagree.
When readers say they like something we've written, it may mean they were mentioned in it. Or that they interpret it as being on their side of a story. Maybe they just like it. And maybe they are discerning enough to deserve an opinion. But it's not the same as recognition by one's peers.
That's not saying journalism organizations don't like the money they make from contests. Although it's not easy money. Contests are complicated, probably more so now that they are totally online. Like many other things supposedly made easier by computers, this wasn't.
The organization has to determine if the categories needs tweaking, then advertise the contest, they check over the entries and handle the money, which may come in by check or credit/debit card or through Pay/Pal. Then we have to round up judges: people in the business with a certain amount of expertise in a certain area of journalism.
That may not sound too difficult, but journalists are busy people. We don't work 40-hour weeks. Even when we have part time jobs they take up more time than most full-time jobs. We also have families and some of us are involved in professional organizations. So finding a few of our colleagues willing to take even more time out of our busy schedules can be, um, challenging.
Sometimes we cajole. Sometimes we remind them of the time we got them out of a major cluster-foxtrot with an editor. Sometimes we outright bribe. Usually with pizza, but occasionally with other things. Then, once we have the judges, and the judging, we have to get the award certificates printed. Get plaques made for special awards and get them to the awards reception.
That's a chore in and of itself. First, we have to get the entire board of the organization to agree on a proper venue. Is it big enough? Can everybody see/hear the speakers? Can you get kosher meals? Can you get vegan meals (it's a darn good thing most journalists don't eat real healthy, more than one vegan in a group is grounds for felonious assault)? Is it easy to get to by public transportation? Then we have to decide about serving alcohol.
The booze question used to be easy. Of course you serve booze. These are reporters.
On the day of the event, though, we all know it was worth it.
Even the most seasoned reporter or editor or graphic artist knows the best recognition is an accolade from one's peers. It may not be a Pulitzer. It may just be a Spujie (the NJProfessional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalist). But it was chosen by our peers.
Like finally being appreciated by the family.
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