School Bell Award Nomination Information

 

  1. Local education associations may submit nominations in any, or all categories which apply to them – newspapers and/or radio and television.
  2. Newspapers, radio stations, or television stations are invited to submit their own nominations if accompanied by a letter of endorsement by a local education association.
  3. A local association can submit only one entry per category for each individual newspaper, radio station, TV station or reporter. A local that nominates two newspapers would submit two separate entries.
  4. Newspapers printed in the same city by the same printing corporation but with different publishers and editors must be entered as two separate newspapers.
  5. Any nominations for individual reporters must be entered in Category 12.  If the medium that person works for is nominated in another category, that reporter’s work should be part of that entry also. An entry for an individual reporter should contain all of that reporter’s work no matter how many different topics covered. Do not submit two separate entries for the same reporter.
  6. When an entry reaches the TEA headquarters and meets the official qualifications, it then becomes an official nomination. The TEA cannot disqualify an entry because the medium it represents might be antagonistic to another local association or to the TEA. All local associations in Tennessee have the right to nominate newspapers, radio stations, and television stations which cover education in their areas. [It is very important that all local associations, especially in urban areas served by daily newspapers as well as radio and TV stations, communicate with each other their intentions to submit nominations.]
  7. January 1 to December 31 is the period on which the awards will be based.
  8. Nominations must be postmarked or reach the Tennessee Education Association no later than February 15.
  9. Each entry must be submitted in hard cover form. Radio and TV entries are most easily submitted in loose-leaf notebooks. These are quite convenient to put together and are easy for judges to handle. Newspapers can be entered in any kind of hard cover form such as a photograph album, scrapbook or loose-leaf notebook. A large article can be folded so that the entire story will be in one place.
  10. A letter of nomination must be attached to the second page of the scrapbook or bound volume. Additional letters may be attached on following pages if desired. Letters must state both the number and description of the category in which each nomination is entered. Only one letter of nomination is required to make an entry official.
  11. Newspaper nominations should be submitted in scrapbook or notebook form, according to the following guidelines.

    1. Each article, editorial or feature story must be dated. A scrapbook or notebook at least 8½ x 11 must be used. Larger books are acceptable and most of the time—for newspapers—are easier to handle.

    2. Articles must be taped, pasted, or in some way attached permanently in the scrapbook. Bound tear sheets (entire pages of the newspaper) are not acceptable.

    3. News stories, features, cartoons and editorials, etc. will all be part of one entry. They may be arranged chronologically or by topics. 

  12. Radio or Television entries should contain a summary of the station’s work, the kinds of programs/coverage contained in the entry and can also include special comments about certain parts of the entry. Video and audio excerpts (not more than 20 total minutes) should be submitted showing the variety of issues covered.

    1. Audio must be submitted in a cassette or CD format.

    2. Video must be submitted in VHS format/DVD format.

    3. Label all entries showing category number and the radio or TV station’s call letters.

    4. There must be one complete entry per station and should include everything the station covered in news programs, locally produced programs, editorials, special features, etc. (Entries for an individual reporter will contain only that reporter’s work.) Individual reporter entries are separate from the entry for the station. (See categories 4, 5, 6 and 12.)

  13. Copies of letters of commendation written to the newspaper, radio station, or TV station may also be submitted following the letters of nomination. However, these letters are not necessary.

     
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