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Five teams of judges review more than 12,000 entries in the annual judging to decide the best of the best. The highest award is The World' s Best-Design Newspapers™, which is decided by a team of five judges over four days of judging.
Four teams of five judges each decide the remaining winners over three days of judging from the remaining categories in the competition.
World Best-Designed Newspapers™ — Entries are evaluated on writing, visual storytelling, use of resources, execution, photography, headlines and "voice" as well as the newspaper' s overall design. Judges consider the publication' s circulation when they decide the final publications that will be considered for this award. They select the very best publications from those entered in the competition.
Award of Excellence — This is granted for work that is truly excellent. This award goes beyond mere technical or aesthetic competency. But to receive an award these entries need not be "perfect." It is appropriate to honor entries for such things as being daring and innovative if the entry is outstanding but less than 100 percent in every respect. Judges are asked to be very selective in giving this award — This award is granted for work that goes beyond excellence. The technical proficiency of the Silver Medal should stretch the limits of the medium. These entries should shine. If the entry does not stretch the limits of the medium this medal is not presented. Again, judges are asked to be very selective with standards much higher than those used for an Award of Excellence.
Gold Medal — This award is granted for work that defines the state of the art. Such an entry must stretch the limits of creativity. It should be impossible to find anything deficient in a gold-winning entry. It should be perfect or near perfect. Very few of these awards are given. This is the highest award given for general judging
In addition to the Award of Excellence and the two medals (explained above), two special honors are possible: the Judges' Special Recognition and the Best of Show. These honors are given only when special circumstances warrant the awards.
Judges' Special Recognition — This honor is awarded by a team of judges or by all judges for work that is outstanding in a particular respect not necessarily singled out by the Award of Excellence, Silver or Gold award structure. This recognition has been granted for such things as use of photography, use of informational graphics and the use of typography throughout a body of work. This body of work may be a particular publication, section or sections by an individual or staff. The special recognition does not supplant any Award of Excellence, Silver or Gold award and should be seen as an adjunct.
Best of Show — As the name implies, this is the best of the Gold Medal winners. Any discussion for this award takes place at the conclusion of the judging. Judges have an opportunity to view all Silver and Gold winners as edited for the book at the end of the judging. The award may be for one or more categories but only one Best of Show may be given in a competition. Some years judges have given no Best of Show awards. Voting is by secret ballot and must be unanimous for the award to be given.
