Category Definitions & Specific Rules
For general rules, please see Eligibility
& Rules. The fee for individual entries in each category is $85 each, unless
otherwise stated.
Written Categories
Arts & Entertainment: Any article on
the arts or entertainment.
Best Short Feature: Any non-fiction article of
2,000 words or less. Opinion columns are not eligible. Entries will be judged exclusively on the strength and
quality of the writing. Any article entered in Best Short Feature category may not be entered in any other
written category
Business: Any article on business.
Columns: Any set of three (3) columns by the
same writer in the same publication.
Editorial Package: Any collection of articles
on a related theme in a single issue that reflects collaboration by editors and writers. Restricted to a
maximum of three (3) editorial package entries per magazine. ($150 entry fee for each)
Essays: Any article in which a writer's
perspective is paramount, offering an argument or a reflection. The regular columns of columnists are not
eligible.
Fiction: Any work of fiction first
published by the magazine. Entries in Fiction are not eligible for entry in any other written
category.
Health & Medicine: Any article on health
or medicine.
How-to: Any article that is instructional in
nature. Articles submitted in any of the Service categories may not be entered in the How-to
category.
Humour: Any humorous piece.
Investigative Reporting: Any article based on
original fact-finding and enterprising newsgathering.
One-of-a-kind: Any non-fiction magazine
article not entered in any other category. The intent is to open the competition to writing that is not
easily classified.
Personal Journalism: Any article that focuses
on the personal experiences of the writer.
Poetry: Any work of poetry first published by
the magazine (a series of up to three poems by the same author from a single issue is permitted).
Politics & Public Interest: Articles that
concern politicians, politics or public issues with the potential to influence national or local public
policy. Articles entered in this category may NOT also be entered in the category Society.
Profiles: Any article that focuses on one
person or a group. Articles entered in the Profiles category may not be entered in any other written
category.
Science, Technology & the Environment: Any
article on science, technology or environmental issues. Articles entered in this category may NOT also be
entered in the category Society.
Service-Health & Family: Any informational
article covering health, medicine, psychology, relationships and education. Articles submitted in this
category may NOT be entered in category Health & Medicine or in the category How-to, nor in any of the
other service categories.
Service-Lifestyle: Any informational article
that deals with interests including, but not limited to, travel, recreation, environment, décor, maintenance,
hobbies, food and fashion. Food articles may include recipes but may not consist entirely of recipes.
Articles submitted in this category may NOT be entered in category How-to, nor in any of the other service
categories.
Service-Personal Finance & Business: Any
informational article covering personal finance, business and careers. Articles submitted in this category
may NOT be entered in category Business or in the category How-to, nor in any of the other service
categories.
Society: Articles directly concerned with
social issues. Articles submitted in categories Politics & Public Interest or Science, Technology
& the Environment may not be entered in this category.
Sports & Recreation: Any article on sports
or recreation.
Travel: Any article that relies on a sense of
place for its impact.
Integrated Categories
Best Single Issue (NEW): This prize is awarded to the magazine that has published the best
single issue of the year in terms of the overall quality and originality of the content and its relevance to
the intended readers. Editors must include four (4) copies of a cover letter (max 300 words) to summarize the
issues goals. The NMAF's Rules for eligibility apply to all
magazines that wish to enter this category. ($150 entry fee for each)
Editorial Packaging for a Single Service Article: A single
service article that displays superior editorial packaging and that reflects collaboration by the editorial
team (which could include editor(s), writer(s), photographer(s), illustrator(s), stylist(s) and others).
Packaging elements could include (but are not limited to) annotations, illustrations, photography, sidebars
and captions. Collections of related articles are not eligible in this category. This category is intended
for entries that are driven more by instructional content than by storytelling. Entrants will be judged on
the combined strength of written and visual elements. Any article entered in Editorial Packaging for a Single
Service Article may NOT also be entered in Editorial Package or in Words & Pictures. This category does
NOT include related articles packaged together.
Magazine Covers: Any single magazine cover.
Words & Pictures: Any article that relies for its
impact on the successful integration of text and visuals as inseparable elements. Entries in Words &
Pictures may NOT also be entered in Editorial Packaging for a Single Service Article.
Visual Categories
Art Direction for a Single Magazine Article
Art Direction for an Entire Issue: Restricted to one issue
per magazine.
Fashion & Beauty: Any fashion or beauty layout using
photography or illustration.
Homes & Gardens: Any photograph or series of
photographs, for a single article, that celebrates interiors or exteriors. This includes architecture,
décor and gardens.
Illustration: Any full-page, spread, or cover illustration;
colour or black and white; single or series.
Photojournalism & Photo Essay: Any photograph or series
of photographs from a single issue, shot on location, which record events or situation not controlled by the
photographer. This category includes photo essay, travel and landscape photographs that accompany a
single article.
Portrait Photography: Any photograph or series of
photographs for a single article on one or more people.
Spot Illustration: Any illustration less than a page;
colour or black and white, single or series.
Still-life Photography: Any photograph or series of
photographs of an object or objects, for a single article. This category includes food and product.
The Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement
This award recognizes an individual's innovation and creativity through
contributions to the Canadian magazine industry. There is no fee for submissions in this
category. Applications consist of a letter indicating the candidates name, title and career achievements,
with supporting letters from at least two (2) other individuals. The deadline for submissions in this
category ONLY is March 1, 2009. Read more.
Best New Magazine Writer
This award will go to an individual whose early work in magazines shows the
highest degree of craft and promise. This category is restricted to candidates with a maximum of three year's
experience in professional journalism. Eligible work must be a minimum of 1,000 words in length. Candidates
must not have published a feature-length piece in a Canadian consumer magazine prior to 2008. The entry fee
is $85. Each submission must be accompanied by a one-page letter of reference from the
handling editor of the piece. Read more about the rules for this
category.
Best Student Writer
This award will go to a full-time student whose non-fiction or journalistic
work in a Canadian consumer magazine or university/college magazine shows the highest degree of craft and
promise. Each entry must be accompanied by a cover letter. The entry fee is $25 per
submission. Click here for more information.
Magazine of the Year
This award will go to the magazine that most consistently engages, surprises
and serves the needs of its readers. Entrants must send in five (5) sets of any three (3) issues from the
year 2008. The entry fee is $150. Editors must include a cover letter of no more than one
(1) page with an application. The letter will a) outline briefly the mandate of the magazine and b) summarize
briefly the magazine's achievements during the year. These might include examples of compelling packaging,
mix, writing and reporting, among other things. Read
more.
The submission deadline is Friday January 9, 2009 at 5pm Eastern Time and submissions
must be RECEIVED IN THEIR ENTIRETY to be eligible. Submissions postmarked by January 9, 2009
but received on Monday, January 12 will be subject to the late fee of $25 per entry.
Applications received after 5pm on Monday, January 12 will NOT be accepted.
Please call 416-422-1358 or email staff[at]magazine-awards[dot]com with any questions.
Good luck and we look forward to seeing you at the Awards gala on June 5, 2009.
