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Achievement Awards Guidelines

The Achievement Awards recognize the innovation and creativity made by an individual or publication to the magazine industry. Achievement Awards include both individual and publication categories: Achievement in Publishing, Editor of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Best New Magazine and Magazine of the Year. Achievement Awards are open to all current AMPA member magazines (with the exception of the Best New Magazine award, which is open to all magazines that fulfill the eligibility criteria).

Submission Costs and Deadlines

Entry portal to open: November 25, 2022
Early Bird entry deadline: January 13, 2023 at 4PM
Entry deadline: February 3, 2023 at 4PM
Fees apply to Best New Magazine and Magazine of the Year categories
Early Bird fee: $40 per entry
Regular fee: $50 per entry
Small circulation (<1,000) and freelance Early Bird:$35
Small circulation (<1,000) and freelance Regular: $45

Guidelines and Rules for All Achievement Awards

  • Nominees must be current AMPA member magazines (with the exception of the Best New Magazine award)
  • Individual nominees must be current residents of Alberta
  • Publication nominees must have a head office in Alberta
  • AMPA reserves the right to use the winning nomination materials in the awards program for exhibit, educational purposes, online and/or in a publication of collected work, but not for sale or profit

Categories for Achievement Awards

Achievement in Publishing (no entry fee)

The individual will have demonstrated:

  • A history of creating excellent magazine content and/or products
  • Long-term success in the magazine industry
  • Significant contributions to the Alberta magazine industry, including volunteer work, advocacy, leadership and collaboration
  • A nominee can be anyone who works with an AMPA member magazine, has made a significant contribution to Alberta’s magazine publishing industry, and is a current resident of Alberta.
  • To qualify, a nominee must have worked a minimum of five years in the Alberta magazine industry.
  • The award is open to all magazine professionals in various areas of publishing, including but not limited to publishers, editors, art directors, freelancers, sales managers and circulation experts.

Best New Magazine (fees apply)

The winner is a magazine that demonstrates excellence in editorial and design, fulfills a niche within the industry, and has strong potential for long-term sustainability

  • To qualify, the magazine must have a head office in Alberta (but does not have to be an AMPA member magazine), and have begun publishing after January 2019.
  • Magazines that don’t abide by the national Magazine Advertising-Editorial Guidelines aren’t eligible. (View these guidelines at https://albertamagazines.com/images/member/Code-of-Reader-Advertiser-Engagement-2.pdf).
  • The nomination form requires information about: the magazine (including the editorial mandate, audience, staff positions, frequency, circulation and distribution); how the magazine fulfills a niche within the industry; and why the magazine has strong potential for long-term sustainability.
  • Nominations require four copies of two recent issues that demonstrate the publication’s best work mailed to the AMPA office AMPA office at King Edward cSPACE #420, 1721 29 Avenue SW. Calgary, AB T2T 6T or or appropriate links to digital magazines by Feb. 3, 2023.

Editor of the Year (no entry fee)

The winner will have achieved standards of excellence in the creation of an Alberta magazine or magazines, demonstrating that they:

  • fulfill the stated mandate or vision of the magazine through editorial content that is engaging and relevant to its target audience
  • maintain high standards of editorial quality throughout the magazine

Judges will also recognize the nominee who demonstrates strong qualities of resourcefulness, collaboration and vision, as demonstrated by the nominee’s ability to:

  • bring out excellence in writers
  • maximize economic and people resources in the creation of superior content
  • engage stakeholders in venues beyond the magazine in ways that strengthen the magazine’s brand and sustainability
  • A nominee can be anyone who works with an AMPA member magazine, has made a significant contribution to Alberta’s magazine publishing industry, and is a current resident of Alberta.
  • To qualify, magazine editors must have been employed by an AMPA member magazine and worked on at least two consecutive issues in the eligible year.
  • The nomination form requires information about: the magazine (including circulation, frequency, mandate, audience, staff positions and editorial budget); the candidate’s duties at the magazine; and the candidate’s achievements relative to the editor position
  • Nominations require two letters of support, and four copies of two issues from the past year that demonstrate the candidate’s best work mailed to the AMPA office AMPA office at King Edward cSPACE #420, 1721 29 Avenue SW. Calgary, AB T2T 6T7 by Feb. 3, 2023.

Volunteer of the Year (no entry fee)

The individual can be anyone who has worked with an AMPA member magazine, has demonstrated that they bettered the Alberta magazine industry through their involvement, and has inspired others to take part in the industry.

  • To qualify, a candidate must have contributed more than 30 volunteer hours in 2021 to an AMPA member magazine or to AMPA.
  • The nomination form requires information about: the candidate’s magazine-related volunteer activities this past year; volunteer activities the nominee has been involved with in their lifetime (including non-magazine related work); and why the candidate volunteers for the Alberta magazine industry
  • Nominations require two letters of support.

Magazine of the Year (fees apply)

The magazine consistently engages and serves the needs of its readers.

  • To qualify, the publication must be an AMPA member magazine and have a head office in Alberta
  • Magazines that don’t abide by the national Magazine Advertising-Editorial Guidelines aren’t eligible. (View these guidelines at https://albertamagazines.com/images/member/Code-of-Reader-Advertiser-Engagement-2.pdf).
  • The nomination form requires information about: the magazine (including the editorial mandate, audience, staff positions, frequency, circulation and distribution); and a summary of the magazine’s achievements during the past year.
  • Nominations require four copies of two recent issues from the past year that demonstrate the publication’s best work mailed to the AMPA office AMPA office at King Edward cSPACE #420, 1721 29 Avenue SW. Calgary, AB T2T 6T by Feb. 3, 2023.