Robinson Prize
ACES awards $3,000 each year to a person whose exemplary work upholds the craft. The prize is named for Pam Robinson, a co-founder and past president of ACES.
The American Copy Editors Society's annual prize for excellence in copy editing is named for Pam Robinson, a co-founder and past president of ACES.
While there are contests that recognize aspects of the copy editor's role, such as headline writing or design, the Robinson Prize focuses on excellence over the whole range of skills and contributions in editing.
"Our intention in ACES from its founding has been to hold up the work of our colleagues so that they get the recognition they deserve," said John McIntyre, former president of ACES, in a 2005 announcement of the award's creation. "The Robinson Prize will be a means to uphold editing and editors."
Nominees are evaluated on a combination of elements, which can include editing, design, mentoring and training, fostering a sense of teamwork and pride among colleagues, and anything else that furthers the role of the copy editing profession.
"This award isn't designed to applaud the best speller in the newsroom or the best grammarian," said Teresa Schmedding, one of the drafters of the award. "Being a good wordsmith isn't enough. Today's copy editors need to be skilled in conflict resolution, show excellent news judgment, demonstrate initiative and be able to find creative solutions to help their papers succeed in this era filled with increased competition."
The prize is named for Pam Robinson, news editor of the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service in suburban New York. Robinson was a co-founder of ACES in 1997 and the society's first president. One of her goals was to make copy editors more visible and to encourage them to take on a more constructive role.
"I can't think of anyone it would be more fitting to name this award after than Pam, who has given her heart and soul to the development of ACES," Schmedding said.
An elite panel of judges evaluates work samples and recommendations from newsroom supervisors for each nominee.
The entry deadline is Dec. 1 each year, and the winner is announced at the ACES national conference the following year.
For additional information about the Robinson Prize, contact Alex Cruden at alex.cruden@comcast.net.
Application
A PDF version of the 2009 application can be found at http://www.copydesk.org/contests/robinson/robinsonprize.pdf
Prizes
The winner of the award will receive a plaque and $3,000 and will be recognized at the next national conference.
Eligibility
The contest is open to all copy editors working for English-language news publications. Work considered for nomination should be current but need not be tied to a specific calendar year. Members of the ACES Executive Committee, employees of ACES and the administrators of the contest are ineligible.
Entry fees
- ACES members in good standing may enter for $50; non-members may enter for $200.
- To qualify for the lower rate, the nominee must be a member when the entry is submitted. A nominee who joins the society or renews a membership when the entry is submitted, qualifies for the member rate.
- To pay your entry fee, attach a check (payable to ACES) or a credit-card authorization form to the front of the top copy of your entry using a paper clip. A single check or credit-card form may be used for multiple entries. ACES’ tax number is 11-3390739.
Preparing an entry
- The nomination form must be completed in its entirety. Each submission must also include work samples to support the nomination, a letter of recommendation from someone who supervises the nominee’s work and three other letters of recommendation from journalists who work with the nominee. Entries that do not conform to these requirements may be disqualified.
- Entries should be submitted as high-quality photocopies or scans on standard letter-size paper (8½ inches by 11 inches). Do not send clips or tearsheets.
- Submit five copies of each entry. Each work sample submitted for consideration must include a separate page attached to the front that includes the nominee’s name and an explanation of why this work should be considered. The explanation should not exceed 200 words. This page must also include additional required information such as a citation for an article or Web site. See individual entry explanations for information.
Work samples (a minimum of five; a maximum of 10)
- Stories, designs, headlines: To submit before-and-after work samples, computer printouts of earlier version are acceptable, but you must submit final versions of stories as they appeared in print; computer archive printouts are not acceptable. Copies of headlines and designs must be submitted as they appeared in print.
- The size of your originals may be reduced if necessary when copying or scanning. If reduction renders the text or design too small to read, it may be reproduced at a larger size on a separate page. On the summary page, include the date the item was published and the name of the publication.
- Published articles: For published work, the summary page must include the title of the publication, the date, volume or edition number and the page numbers on which the article appeared. Published works that cannot be independently verified will be discounted. Examples of superior editing, in addition to the before-and-after versions, should also include a concise summary of the nature of the editing, such as catches, improvement of syntax or prose style, restructuring and the like.
- Books: A submission may include only one copy of the book but must include five copies of the cover, title and contents pages.
- Web pages: A submission of work that has appeared on Web pages must include a printout of the material and, on the summary page, the full Web address and the date the material was posted. A Web page or blog must include at least three samples of postings and, on the summary sheet, the full Web address and the dates the material was posted.
- Journalism accolades and honors: A submission that includes journalistic accolades or honors must include a copy of the award or a letter from the organization bestowing the honor. The summary page must include contact information for the organization or person granting the honor; if the organization or person cannot be contacted, the submission may be discounted.
- Additional material: Other items, such as stylebooks written by the nominee, letters of commendation or results of a key role on a project, may be considered. If your material does not fit any of the categories outlined above, follow the rules for edited stories or contact Alex Cruden at alex.cruden@comcast.net for additional guidance.
Letters of recommendation (four)
- The recommendations should be typewritten and no longer than one letter-size (8½ inches x 11 inches) page. Letters must include the name, job title, relationship to the nominee, phone number and e-mail address and signature of the writer and should address why the nominee should be considered for the award, based upon outlined criteria. Writers may be contacted for personal interviews; those who cannot be contacted may be discounted.
- One from supervisor: While a direct-line supervisor is preferred, letters may be submitted by another manager who regularly supervises the nominee’s work.
- Three other recommendations: Letters should be from professional colleagues who work closely with the nominee and can attest to the nominee’s skills or roles played in key projects. Personal references will be discounted.
Additional entry information
- Entry pages may be oriented vertically or horizontally on each page, and the two orientations may be mixed within one entry. For horizontal pages, orient the top toward the right.
- All or part of an entry may be submitted in color but is not required.
- Staple each copy of the entry, including the entry form.
- There is no limit to the number of entries from a single organization or publication.
- Do not fold entries. Place them flat in Manila envelopes about 9 inches by 12 inches, shipping boxes or similar containers. Multiple entries may be submitted in a single envelope or box.
Deadline
Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 1. All items submitted after that date are ineligible and the fee will be returned.
Mailing address
Send entries to:
Carol DeMasters
ACES Administrator
7 Avenida Vista Grande Ste. B7 #467
Santa Fe NM 87508
Judging
- Each category will be reviewed by several judges who are considered experts in the field. The judges will be urged to consider the disparate nature of the entries and come to a consensus on their importance to the copy editing profession or a specific publication. One prize is offered annually, although the judges may choose not to award a prize if they determine that an insufficient number of entries has been received or that no entry is deserving of recognition. The judges may single out some entries for special recognition.
- No ties will be allowed.
- The decisions of the judges will be final except under extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, the judges' decisions may be reviewed by the ACES Executive Committee, which is empowered to resolve any disputes and which retains ultimate authority over the competition and award.
Ceremony
- Results will be announced publicly at ACES' national conference. The winner or the nominating supervisor will be notified in advance to allow time to make travel arrangements.
Questions?
Inquiries about the contest may be directed to Andy Bechtel at abechtel@email.unc.edu.