Who may submit?
The competition is open to English- or French-language online publications based in Canada. The publication must carry some original editorial content (i.e. content published first online), and a minimum average of 80% Canadian editorial content (written and/or edited by Canadians living in Canada). Websites published by daily newspapers, community newspapers, book publishers and broadcasters are not eligible. (Note: "Magazine websites" published by newspaper publishers are accepted.) Websites that are strictly promotional sites or act as a brochure site for a magazine are also ineligible unless they feature some original content written.

What will be judged?
Your work will be reviewed by independent judging panels of highly regarded industry professionals and experts. Some categories have their own specific qualities noted below, but generally, your online publication will be judged based on content and design at the time of judging.

Divisions

Select the appropriate division, either Red or Blue, depending on the type of online publication you publish. The divisions are based on the type of editorial content that your website provides, and helpful so that judges are comparing "apples to apples".

Division Red
Consumer, custom, religious, public association

Division Blue
Business-to-business, professional association, farm, scholarly

If you're having a hard time deciding what division you should be in, think about your primary audience and who they are. If your audience is "everyone", that probably means you're a consumer publication and you should be in Division Red. If they're "lawyers", that probably means you're a business-to-business publication, and you should be in Division Blue. If it's a bit of in-between, just check one division on your entry form and we'll let you know if it should be moved.

Categories

There are ten categories below. Red and Blue divisions have the same categories. You can choose to enter your website into more than one category.

1. Best overall magazine website
Awarded to the publication deemed to best serve the needs of its target audience through content, design and use of the Web medium. This category is for websites that also have a sister publication that exists in print. The web publication should share the same name, or similar name to the print publication.

2. Best overall online-only publication website
Awarded to the publication deemed to best serve the needs of its target audience through content, design and use of the Web medium. This category is for online-only websites that do not have a printed companion or magazine.

3. Best website design
Awarded to the publication deemed most successful in combining traditional elements of graphic design with functionality and navigational elements necessary for an easy-to-use, fast website. This category is for both online-only magazines and print magazine websites.

4. Best news coverage
Awarded to the publication deemed to best serve its audience through timely, original news reporting. Based on three news articles published between June 1, 2008 and June 15, 2009, selected by the publication's editor(s), that demonstrate the quality of the site's reporting and writing.

5. Best blog
Awarded to the blog deemed to best serve its intended audience through commentary, opinion, reportage, photography and/or illustration. Single- and multi-contributor blogs are eligible. Blog must be active at time of judging. Based on three posts published between June 1, 2008 and June 15, 2009, selected by the publication's editor(s) that demonstrate the quality of the blog's content.

6. Best video feature
Awarded to the video feature deemed to best serve its intended audience through use of the medium. Based on three videos, posted between June 1, 2008 and June 15, 2009, selected by the publication's editor(s), that demonstrate the educational and/or entertainment value of the video feature. Videos must be original to the website. Both content and production values will factor into the judging.

7. Best community feature
Awarded to the community feature—such as social networks, forums, message boards, user-generated content initiatives, etc.—deemed to best serve its intended audience by bringing together a community or communities of people. Based on reading and viewing the social media area of the publication's website at the time of judging. The editor(s) may include quantifiable statistics (such as number of users, posts, and/or growth rates) in their written statement.

8. Best online-only article or series of articles
Awarded to the article or series of articles deemed to be the best written and best reported among the entries. The article must not have appeared in a print publication. Features and service pieces are acceptable.

9. Best cross-platform initiative
Awarded to an initiative deemed to offer the best re-purposing, re-packaging and/or extension of a feature from a related print product. The print content may have been published before or after the online content. Judges will base their scoring on how well the Web content enhances the print content, integration, and use of each medium's strengths and overall quality of the content.

10. Best e-newsletter
Awarded to the best e-mailed newsletter or news bulletin purposed for driving traffic to the main website. Design, content, and use of the e-mail medium will be considered in judging.

Format

Entries must be submitted using the online entry form.

Entry Fees

Entry fees are $50 per entry per category.

Fees are payable by credit card via the secured online credit card payment site. Credit card statements will show "North Island Publishing" for your COPA entry fee.

Prizes

Along with the great prestige of forever being one of the first-ever winners of the Canadian Online Publishing Awards, winners will have perpetual bragging rights, time in the limelight, explosive traffic numbers to their website, and glares of envy from their online rivals. It's also great news to share with advertisers, sponsors, and industry supporters too.

On top of all that, Winners of the 2009 awards will also receive the following honours and benefits:

• All winners will be presented with a certificate at the COPA reception to be held in Fall 2009 in Toronto, ON.
• Winners will be promoted to 12,000 advertising professionals and media buyers through the Media In Canada e-mail news bulletin.
• Winners will receive editorial coverage in MastheadOnline and Masthead Express.
• Press releases will be sent to the advertising, marketing and media trade press and the daily media about COPA winners.
• Winners will be recognized on the online Winners Gallery on the COPA web site.
• Winners will also be provided with the COPA Winners logo to use on media kits and sales promotions, for their own sales and marketing efforts.

Awards Reception
Short-listed and winning entries will be acknowledged at the first annual Canadian Online Publishing Awards reception, to be held in Toronto in Fall 2009.

Deadline

June 15, 2009

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of your most asked questions. If your questions aren't answered here, please contact us.

1. Is my website eligible for this competition?

The competition is open to English or French-language online publications based in Canada. The publication must carry some original editorial content (i.e. content published firstly online), and a minimum average of 80% Canadian editorial content (written and/or edited by Canadians living in Canada). Websites published by daily newspapers, community newspapers, book publishers and broadcasters are not eligible. (Note: "Magazine websites" published by newspaper publishers are accepted.) Websites that are strictly promotional sites or act as a brochure site for a magazine are also ineligible unless they feature some original content written firstly for the Web.

2. Do blogs count?

Yes, as long as your blog contains original content, written firstly for the Web, and meets all the other criteria listed above.

3. How do I submit an entry?

You must complete the online entry form and submit your entry online. The entry form will have a space provided for the direct URL of the web page, article, or online piece to be judged. You need to make sure that this URL is a static link and will not change from the time that you submit the entry to the time that the item is judged.

4. When is the deadline to submit entries?

The contest ends June 15, 2009. All entries must be uploaded to the competition website no later than 5pm (EST) on June 15, 2009.

5. How many entries may I submit?

You may submit as many entries as you'd like to any category in any division. You may submit your website in a multiple of categories, as long as it qualifies for that category. Entry fee is $50 per entry.