Issued by: Magazine Publishers Association of SA (MPASA)


“With the incorporation last year of the former Mondi Journalism Awards,” says Silke Friedrich, 2008 Pica chairman, “the Pica Awards have grown in size. It is a challenge to keep the gala evening to an acceptable length, given that the awards comprise journalism and publishing sectors, and cater to consumer, business-to-business and customer magazines. Still, one is always tweaking the categories in a constant effort to enhance the quality and integrity - and adding, if necessary.”

This year, a Cover category has been added to both the Business-to-Business and Customer sectors. Previously, this category was confined to the consumer magazine sector because the on-shelf sales element gave judges a tool by which to measure the success of an entry; a spike in circulation pointed to an exceptionally compelling cover. Yet B-2-B and Customer publishers feel that regardless of whether a magazine carries a cover price, it needs to fight for a busy reader's attention - and entries in these streams will be judged purely on the quality of the coverlines, cover photograph/image and design.

Another change from 2007 is that each of the B-2-B and Customer streams now has an Annuals, Directories, Product Guides and Special Editions category, as well as a Supplements category.

The Launch category now also includes the relaunching of a magazine, provided that a demonstrable change has taken place - such as a profound shift in editorial focus and pitch, or a complete reformating and redesign. The period under consideration for Launch/Relaunch has been extended by six months and now runs from 1 January 2007 to 30 June 2008, to accommodate those magazines that weren't able to enter last year because their ABC certificates were not yet available.

All streams can enter the Editorial Excellence or Journalism sector, which boasts two exciting new categories - Profile Writer of the Year and Public Interest Writer of the Year. Eligible for the former category is work that presents the reader with a compelling, detailed portrait of a human being of note. The Public Interest Writer of the Year category calls on journalism's power to make a meaningful and positive difference to people's lives. According to the convenor of the Editorial Excellence judging panel, Gus Silber, “Entries need to explore, expose and actively tackle a pertinent issue of the day - in any field - in such a way that the article or series has a direct and quantifiable consequence for the greater good of our society.”

The deadline for entries into the 2008 Pica Awards is Friday, 8 August 2008.

Visit our PRESS OFFICE: MPASA promotes and protects the interests of magazine publishers in South Africa and supports the growth of the industry by being a gateway to members’ information needs.- more....

[30 Jul 2008 14:32]

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