2023 Canadian Farm Writers’ and Broadcasters’ Awards
Entry Deadline: CLOSED
Eligibility Dates: January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022
Awards Banquet:
Farm Writer and New Writer of the Year: Opening Ceremony at the IFAJ 2023 World Congress
Awards Banquet: Online via Zoom, End of September 2023
Contact Us
Awards Chair: Hugh Maynard
1-877-782-6456 x 708 or secretariat@cfwf.ca
Awards Administrator: Alexandra Hayden
1-877-782-6456 x 709 or Awards@cfwf.ca
New price for non-members is $50. By becoming a member, you can save on the entry fee. To become a member, please visit, https://cfwf.ca/become-a-member/
Rules & Guidelines
The Canadian Farm Writers’ and Broadcasters’ Awards Competition honors excellence in agricultural journalism, broadcasting, communications and photography. Please read the entry guidelines, rules and description carefully. Incomplete entries and entries submitted in the wrong category will not be accepted. If in doubt, please contact the Awards Program Administrator at awards@cfwf.ca.
The Rules
1. This competition is open to any English-language written, audio or video story, as well as photography that is editorially generated that are published or broadcast in English in Canada on an agricultural topic or issue between: January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.
2. “Agriculture” refers to the production, processing and marketing of food and fiber in Canada. Eligible entries must cover some aspect of primary production of food, fiber and/or bio-products and/or agricultural business and/or public and private institutions that serve farmers. “Agriculture” DOES NOT include home gardening.
Other entry restrictions may apply in individual category descriptions.
3. Submitting Entries
a) Fill out the online form and provide two electronic copies of a published version of each entry (preferably PDF, or JPEG acceptable). Entries will not be accepted if in Word document format. One copy includes references to author’s names and publications and One that has those references blacked out. See “How to enter” for the list of categories that require blackout entries.
b) If submitting multiple entries for multiple entrants, please follow the instructions on the group entry form.
4. Employees – entries by government employees of material published in government publications or released to other media and/or entries written by employees of advertising and public relations agencies on behalf of clients doing business with farmers in Canada, are eligible where applicable.
5. Excerpts, condensations or serializations from books are inadmissible.
6. Series of articles or broadcasts may not be entered, although a single item from the series may be entered, and (in some categories) a single entry may include a main story and several short support stories or sidebars published in the same issue.
7. Only one entry is permitted per person per category.
8. Entries written or produced by a team of no more than three people may be submitted. Please make sure to note the additional team members in the Notes section on the online form.
9. Entry in one category as part of a team precludes an additional entry in that category by an individual member of the team.
10. All prizes will be awarded to individuals rather than to companies or government departments.
11. Blind judging will be done in applicable categories and entries will be judged without writer/publication identification. Please ensure all author and publication mentions are blacked out (labeled over, stroked out with dark marker, etc.) before submitting your entry.
Judging & Awards
Judging
Written entries are judged for style, content, objectivity, balance and originality – unless otherwise stated in category descriptions. Photos and or illustrations that accompany the text will not be part of the judging.
Broadcast entries are judged for style, content, objectivity, balance and originality – unless otherwise stated in category descriptions.
Communications entries are judged for style, content and originality. Photos and/ or illustrations that accompany the text will not be part of the judging.
Photography entries are judged for technical clarity, creativity, originality and audience interest and impact.
Farm Writer, New Writer and Story of the Year Awards will be judged by a panel of three CFWF Senators, Board or Lifetime members. Winners will be chosen based on the highest average score from three judges.
The head judge will make the final decision on the eligibility of entries. Ineligible entries will be returned with entry fees.
All entries submitted by members will receive judge feedback, not just the winners. This means that even if your entry is not selected as a winner, you will still have the opportunity to learn from the judges’ evaluations and improve your skills for future competitions.
Awards
Thanks to the generous support of contributors and sponsors, the three top winners in each category receive a certificate and cash award – 1st place (Gold) $125, 2nd place (Silver) $100, 3rd place (Bronze) $75.
A “Communicator of the Year” will be selected from the first-place winners in the Electronic Media, Communication and Opinion Writing categories, and will be provided with an additional cash award of $250.
A “Feature of the Year” will be selected from amongst the first-place winners in the Technical, Current Affairs and People Feature categories, and will be provided with an additional cash award of $250.
A “Reporter of the Year” will be selected from the first-place winners in the Technical, Current Affairs and Business/Economics Reporting categories, and will be provided with an additional cash award of $250.
A “Photo of the Year” will be selected from the first-place winners in the People, Production and Landscape Photography categories, and will be provided with an additional cash award of $250.
Story of the Year will receive a certificate and a $500 cash award.
Farm Writer of the Year will receive a certificate and a $750 cash award.
New Writer of the Year will receive a certificate and a $500 cash award.
Winners will be announced at the Online CFWF Awards Banquet at the end of September. CFWF reserves the right to use the entries of the winners in the awards presentation program for exhibit or display, but not for sale or profit.
Winners in each category become eligible to be submitted to IFAJ contests, depending on the criteria for the contest.
Categories
1. Farm Writer of the Year
Description/Criteria: Awarded to a CFWF member based on 12 months of published material in any Canadian media outlet regardless of publishing frequency. The writer will exhibit a strong commitment to Canadian agricultural writing focused on agronomy, ag. technology, current affairs, business, people, places and daily farm life.
The writer must submit five entries supported by a letter (400 words max.) by the entrant describing why they believe their entries merit the title of Farm Writer of the Year. Submissions can be from the same or multiple published sources, for example, print, magazines, blogs, broadcast, radio, etc. Photos and/ or illustrations that accompany the text will not be part of the judging.
Entrants must have been a CFWF member in good- standing for the last three consecutive years.
(Entry fee is $50)
2. New Writer of the Year
Description/Criteria: Awarded to a new CFWF member based on the previous 12 months of published materials in any Canadian media outlet regardless of publishing frequency. The writer will exhibit a strong commitment to Canadian agricultural writing focused on agronomy, ag. technology, current affairs, business, people, places and daily farm life.
The writer must submit three entries (a series is considered as one entry) supported by a letter (400 words max.) by the entrant describing why they believe their entries merit the title of New Writer of the Year. Submissions can be from the same or multiple published sources, for example, print, magazines, blogs, broadcast, radio, etc. Photos and or illustrations that accompany the text will not be part of the judging.
Entrants must have been a CFWF member in good- standing for no more than two years.
(Entry fee is $20)
3. Story of the Year
Description/Criteria: Awarded to a CFWF member who receives Gold in any of the communicator, reporting and/or feature categories of the same year. The story will be deemed the single-best submission out of all the winning submissions regardless of topic.
1. Electronic Media – Video: The Jack McPherson Award
To be awarded to the best video news story or feature broadcast by a Canadian medium less than 60 minutes in length on an agricultural topic. Format may include television broadcasts, webcasts, short films and other analog or digital formats accessible to a public audience. Copies of video entries must be provided via a website link, in AVI, MP4, MOV, MPEG or WMV file format.
2. Electronic Media – Audio: The Tom Leach Award
To be awarded to the best audio news story or feature broadcast by a Canadian medium of less than 60 minutes in length on an agricultural topic. Format may include radio broadcasts, podcasts or other analog or digital formats accessible to a public audience. Copies of audio entries must be provided via a website link or
MP3 file format.
3. Communication – Short: The Alice Switzer Award
To be awarded to the best text of fewer than 750 words published by a Canadian organization, institution or company intended to provide information to a targeted audience about an agricultural topic. A short communication text can include news releases and single articles from newsletters, journals, e‐newsletters, research magazines, booklets, reports, etc. which DO NOT contain paid advertising from an external source.
Info-graphics derived from and considered an integral part of the content of the short communication can also be included in the judging.
4. Communication – Long: The Henry Heald Award
To be awarded to the best text of more than 750 words published by a Canadian organization, institution or company intended to provide information to a targeted audience about an agricultural topic. A long communication text can include media packages, newsletters, journals, e‐newsletters, research magazines,
booklets, reports, etc. which DO NOT contain paid advertising from an external source. Info-graphics derived from and considered an integral part of the content of the long communication can be included in the judging.
5. Opinion Writing: The Frank Jacobs Award
To be awarded to the best single opinion piece published by a Canadian medium for an intended audience on an agricultural topic that appears on an editorial page, section, or blog. The opinion piece should tackle issues and take a position, present strong arguments using fact and logic combined with personal observation and other techniques written with originality and fresh insight that should be persuasive and help readers understand the writer’s point of view and importance of the subject matter.
A feature is a special‐interest article that offers an in‐depth exploration of a topic or issue, that contains an element of human interest in the story line along with strong quotations, solid research, originality and creativity. The feature should help the reader understand topics, issues, places or people more thoroughly.
6. Technical Feature: The Peter Lewington Award
To be awarded to the best feature article published by a Canadian medium that provides advisory information on practical farm management techniques leading the intended audience to consider whether to adopt the ideas and techniques mentioned on their farms and should include “how‐to” information as well as the
benefits and limitations that can be achieved. A technical feature will be judged on whether it meets its specific audience’s needs and will include a farmer on the judging panel.
7. Current Affairs Feature: The Dick Beamish Award
To be awarded to the best feature article published by a Canadian medium that provides insight into a current agricultural topic or issue. Current affairs is defined as an examination of events happening at the present time that have a political or social interest and importance to Canada.
8. People Feature: The Jack Cram Award
To be awarded to the best feature article published by a Canadian medium that highlights an individual or group of individuals and the role they play in, the contribution they have made to and their accomplishments on behalf of Canadian agriculture. The feature must provide the reader with an in‐depth profile of those being featured including colourful descriptions, unique anecdotes, strong quotes and excellent narrative structure.
Reporting should be stories of a hard‐news nature and present an issue or news event clearly with strong quotes, facts, balance, background and ramifications of a development. Originality and style are important elements in this category.
9. Technical Reporting: The O.R. Evans Award
To be awarded to the best single news story by a Canadian medium that reports on a technical agricultural topic or issue. Technical is defined as reporting on aspects of farm management, equipment, processes, practices, materials and suppliers that could be of interest to agricultural producers.
10. Current Affairs Reporting: The Q.H. Martinson Award
To be awarded to the best single news story published by a Canadian medium that reports on a current agricultural topic or issue. Current affairs is defined as reporting on events happening at the present time that have a political or social interest and importance to Canada.
11. Business/Economics Reporting: The C.B. Fairbairn Award
To be awarded to the best single news story published by a Canadian medium that reports on an agricultural business or economic topic or issue. Business or economic is defined as reporting on events or matters of a trade, commercial, monetary, fiscal or other similar nature that are of interest and importance to Canada.
Photographs must be original and unique, telling an untold story related to agriculture. The image must have strong compositional elements and, ideally, help the reader understand an issue or moment within Canadian agriculture. The photograph should be a portrait image, in either black and white or colour, that implies a relationship and relies on composition and the fullest use of the medium in order to enhance and convey a message.
Photography entries must be provided as high‐resolution (at least 300 dpi). All photo entries must also include an electronic version or photocopy of an original tear sheet or web page printout for verification purposes. A descriptive sentence must be included to assist the judges to place the photo in context.
12. People Photograph: The Don Baron Award
To be awarded to the best single photograph published by a Canadian medium that portrays people in found situations or as part of news coverage of people in agriculture and rural communities. The photo should convey elements of human interest and provide an interesting perspective of commonplace subjects in agricultural life in Canada.
13. Production Photograph: The John Phillips Award
To be awarded to the best single photograph published by a Canadian medium that portrays some form of agricultural production in found situations or as part of news coverage. The photo should portray crops, livestock, pests and the technologies or processes of producing food, feed, fuel or fibre that convey the essence of agricultural production in Canada.
14. Landscape Photograph
To be awarded to the best single photograph published by a Canadian medium that portrays an agricultural landscape in found situations or as part of news coverage. The photo should portray nature, a landscape or rural scene that contains images highlighting rural flora, fauna, the atmosphere or scenery that conveys the context of farming life in rural Canada.
Group entries are for people entering on the behalf of more than one person. If you are entering for one person or yourself, please refer to the entry forms above.
Please note that Farm Writer of the Year and New Writer of the Year must be submitted using the “2022 Writer of the year” entry form found under the “Writer of the year Categories” tab.
Group Entry Process
1. Download the group excel sheet and fill in ALL the required information.
2. Create two Zip files for your entries.
- Zip File #1 – This zip contains entries files with the author’s name and publication information blacked-out
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Please label each entry clearly. Must include the Authors name, Title and Blacked-out
- Zip File #2 – This Zip contains entry files with all information intact.
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Please label each entry clearly. Must include the Author’s name and Title
3. Upload your completed excel sheet and Zip file to the form below and complete the payment.
How to enter
Follow these steps for how to submit your entries. Note: all entries must be submitted by July 3rd, 2023 11:59 PM EST to be eligible. Late entries will not be accepted.
1. Read the Rules and Guidelines carefully, especially the category descriptions and blind judging procedure.
2. Choose the appropriate category for your entry (only one entry per category).
3. Blackout ALL references to your name and publication to facilitate blind judging for the following categories:
- Communication – Short
- Communication – Long
- Opinion Writing
- Technical Feature
- Current Affairs Feature
- People Feature
- Technical Reporting
- Current Affairs Reporting
- Business/Economics Reporting
4. When uploading your entry (or entries), please be sure to label the file clearly. Entries with blacked-out information need to clearly be labelled as blacked out.
5. Accepted file types are PDF or JPG. Please ensure that each entry is one PDF or JPG. file. To find out how to merge multiple pages, go to the Useful Resources and Links section.
6. Large files may take longer to upload, please do not refresh the page. If you have trouble uploading a file, first check the file size. To compress the file, visit the website mentioned in the Useful Resources and Links section entitled “How to create smaller PDFs”.
7. For group entries: Follow go to the group entry form. You will need to fill out an excel sheet with all the required info and create a ZIP file with all the entries. Entries that require information to be blacked out must be clearly labelled. Then you must upload both the excel sheet and the ZIP file to the entry form.
8. Entry Fees
CFWF member (dues paid): $20
Non-members: $50 (entry fee only – or you can become a member and only pay $20 for your entry, contact your regional association here: https://cfwf.ca/become-a-member/
Third-party: $20 (entry fee only – entries must be paid by the CFWF member submitting them on behalf of the non-member)
Useful Links
- How to create smaller PDFs – http://www.compress-pdf.co.uk/
- How to merge PDFs (multiple pages of one entry) www.pdfmerge.com
- How to enter (instructional video) https://youtu.be/c97D_HyokMI
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