NAA Awards Programs

NAA supports a variety of contests, competitions and awards that spotlight the best and the brightest programs, projects and people in the newspaper industry. Here is an overview of the many special events. Headlines will lead you to fuller explanations and entry information.

ACME Awards (see Media Innovation Awards)
The former ACME Awards have been redesigned into the current Media Innovation Awards. See Media Innovation Awards listed below.

ATHENA® Awards (Retired)
The Award To Honor Excellence in Newspaper Advertising (ATHENA®) is retired, but past winners can be viewed at the ATHENA Awards Web site.  This award once recognized the most outstanding advertising work in newspapers annually. The best newspaper ads in the United States were spotlighted for their creative and the Best in Show winner was recognized with a donation in the agency's name to fund a print advertising curriculum at Virginia Commonwealth University's Adcenter in Richmond, one of the nation's leading portfolio schools.

Circulation Federation Lifetime Achievement Award
The Circulation Lifetime Achievement Award honors dedication and service to the field of circulation and the newspaper industry.

Circulation Federation Tony Mineart Newspaper Merchandiser of the Year Awards
These awards honor those retailers who have demonstrated a long term cooperative effort to sell and market newspapers in their stores.

Circulation Federation Newspaper Carrier of the Year Award
This annual competition rewards newspaper carriers for outstanding achievement at the local, regional and national levels.

Circulation Federation Sales Executive of the Year Award
Here's your chance to win recognition for the Circulation Sales Executive in your organization who has successfully grown circulation, readership or both.

Classified Federation Advertiser of the Year Award
The Advertiser of the Year Award presented by the Classified Federation is a newly established award to recognize Classified advertisers who model the industry's cutting edge, and break the traditional bounds of creativity in the category.

Classified Federation CAMEO Award
The CAMEO (Classified Advertising Managers Executive Order) Award was established to recognize a classified advertising professional whose efforts on a local, regional, national or international level have positively impacted the newspaper classified industry.

Classified Federation Eric Anderson Lifetime Achievement Award (Retired)
Retired in 2007 by the Classified Board of Directors, this former lifetime achievement award honored individuals for outstanding careers in classified advertising.

Classified Federation James M. McGovern Award
The James M. McGovern Award represents the highest and most distinguished award that the Classified Federation of the NAA offers. It recognizes a person who is totally dedicated to the field of classified advertising and to the goals of the classified organizations such as the Federation.

Display Federation Advertising Agency of the Year Award
This award is presented annually to the advertising agency that has most demonstrated its consistent dedication and commitment to the newspaper advertising medium. The recipient has demonstrated creativity, flexibility, innovation and partnership over time.

Display Federation Advertising Person of the Year Award
This award is presented annually to an advertising person who has fostered the ideals of partnership and cooperation in working with the newspaper industry. This award recognizes a person from a newspaper advertising customer who has been open, honest and willing to work with our industry toward a common goal of successful partnership over time.

Display Federation John Maione Award
This award is given annually for distinguished service in the development of new ideas in promoting newspaper cooperative advertising, and for cooperation, counsel and guidance in NAA plans and projects.

Display Federation Newspaper Advertising Educator of the Year Award
This award is presented annually to the individual educator who has demonstrated dedication, caring and nurturing of students in the pursuit of a career in newspaper advertising. The recipient may be a teacher, media advisor or trainer. The winner has consistently fostered the principles and creativity of the newspaper medium to students.

Display Federation Newspaper Advertising Partnership Award
This award is given annually to a newspaper advertiser who has demonstrated consistent, dedication and commitment to the newspapers.

Display Federation Sales and Marketing Leadership Award
This award is presented annually to an individual for significant and sustained excellence in serving the newspaper industry both inside and outside his/her own organization in the field of advertising.

James K. Batten Leadership and Career Development Program
Developed for mid-level professionals (formerly known as the Breakthrough Program) by the NAA's Diversity Department, this program is a structured effort aimed at developing the next generation of newspaper industry leaders.

Katharine Graham Lifetime Achievement Award
The NAA Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 1998, is presented to individuals who have been conspicuous in their career accomplishments and whose leadership and contributions to the newspaper industry have been exemplary.

MD&P Federation Lifetime Achievement Award
The Market Development and Promotion Federation's Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor the industry presents to daily newspaper marketing professionals.

MD&P Federation Marketing Master Award
The Market Development & Promotion Federation's Marketing Master Award is the highest honor the industry presents to a daily newspaper marketing professional for a single year's accomplishments.

Media Innovation Awards  
The Media Innovation Awards, which include the Digital Edge Awards, recognize the most innovative and results-generating solutions for newspaper companies in the areas of circulation, marketing, advertising and research.

Minority Fellowship Seminars
In 2001, NAA's Minority Fellowship program celebrates its 21st year. That translates into a long-standing commitment to advancing the careers of newspaper professionals throughout the United States. Since the program began, we have awarded more than 500 fellowships to ethnic minority newspaper personnel and journalism educators.

Digital Edge Awards (see Media Innovation Awards)
The Media Innovation Awards, which include the Digital Edge Awards, recognize the most innovative and results-generating solutions for newspaper companies in the areas of circulation, marketing, advertising and research.

Digital Media Federation Online Innovator Award
The Online Innovator Award recognizes the achievements of a leader whose commitment to digital media directly influences the direction and success of his or her company and inspires change throughout the industry. The winner embodies the spirit of innovation that drives the growth of online publishing, actively shares lessons learned and acts as a mentor to others.

Presstime 20 Under 40
Presstime, NAA's flagship publication, annually recognizes 20 newspaper employees under the age of 40.

Presstime Innovative Operations Award
Sponsored by NAA's Presstime magazine, the Best Practices Awards recognize and publicize best practices in five areas of newspaper operations -- pre-press, press, materials, post-press and on site (worker health & safety and environmental management).

Research Federation Award of Merit
The Research Award of Merit is the highest honor awarded annually to a professional researcher for achievements related specifically to newspaper research. You are invited to nominate a colleague whom you believe is a role model for the newspaper research profession.