Real estate writing competition

Just a warning: If you win, you might have to hear me speak. I have committed to talk about real estate coverage at the NAREE convention.

The deadline to enter the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) Journalism Awards Program is fast approaching. The competition, open to ALL media covering real estate and home and design, has recognized excellence in reporting, writing and editing since 1949. Both individual awards, team honors, and awards for best publications have included coverage spanning topics from affordable housing, real estate lending or finance, and the business of real estate, to news and trend analysis on government housing policy, the environment, urban growth, land use investments, construction, architecture and design.

The NAREE competition offers a total of $6,500 in cash awards including:

* Best Overall Entry by an Individual – $1,250 Cash Award

Chosen from first place winners in categories 1-12, the overall winner will receive a $1,000 cash award plus $250 for winning one of the eleven individual categories.

* James D. Carper Award for Best Entry by a Young Journalist – $250 Cash
Award, plus other winnings if applicable.

To be eligible, work must be created by individuals 30 years or younger as of December 31, 2005, and entered in one of the twelve individual categories by Feb. 5, 2006. This winner will receive a $250 cash award, and is also eligible to win the category and the overall individual award if so chosen by the judges.

In total the NAREE competition offers twelve (12) categories for individually bylined work, and ten (10) categories for teams of journalists. $250 cash awards are for each first place category winner. First and second place winners will also receive award certificates.

Winners will be notified by mid-March and invited to attend the awards ceremony at NAREE’s annual conference April 26-29, 2006 in Charlotte, NC.

The 56th Annual Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held Friday, April 28, 2006, from 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM in the Consulate Ballroom, at the Marriott Charlotte City Center (100 West Trade St.) during “Real Estate High Points” – NAREE’s 40th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference.

Click on http://www.naree.org/ for full list of categories, judging criteria and a contest entry form. Must be postmarked by Feb.5, 2006.