Contest Entry Instructions

The RNA Excellence in Religion Reporting contest is administered through the BetterBNC media awards platform. Below are directions for preparing and submitting entries.

Tip:
If you are entering a contest on your own, you’re an Open Call Contestant. If you’re entering applicants on behalf of a news organization, you’re a Contest Manager. No matter how you enter, the first step is to create a login account. Instructions for that are here.

If you have additional questions, please contact Sarah Ventre.

Skip to:
How to Log In
How to Submit Entries
Contest Categories
How to Pay for Entries

How to Log In

  1. Go to betterbnc.com

  2. Click ‘Contestant Login’

  3. Select the appropriate contestant type:

    Contest Manager
    If you are the single point of contact for your organization, select “Contest Manager,” then skip to Contestant Manager Login below.

    Authorized Entrant
    If you have received an email authorizing you to submit entries on behalf of your media organization, select “Authorized Entrant” on the login page. Then skip to Authorized Entrant Login below.

    Open Call Contestant
    If you are an individual submitting your own entries (this includes non RNA members and freelancers), skip to Open Call Contestant Login below.

Contest Manager Login

  1. Select the contest you would like to enter

  2. Select your media organization

  3. Enter your password

    Note: If this is your first time logging into your account, use the temporary password: bnc. After you log in, the system will require you to update your password. Going forward—including in future years—you will log in with the password you set.

    If the designated Contest Manager should leave your organization, please contact your Contest Administrator to have the contact info in your account updated.

  4. Click “Login”

Authorized Entrant Login

  1. Select the contest you would like to enter

  2. Select your media organization

  3. Enter your email address

  4. Enter your password

  5. Click “Login”

  1. Click “Open Call Login” in the blue bar at the top of the page

  2. If you already have an Open Call Contestant account, enter your email address and password. Then click “Login” and skip to Request to Make Entries below

  3. If you do NOT already have an Open Call Contestant account, click “Create Your Open Call Account’

  4. Fill out the form

  5. Click “Submit” at the bottom of the page.

    Note: Once you fill out the form to create your Open Call Contestant account, the system will send you a validation email with a link that must be clicked before you can log into your account.

Open Call Contestant Login

Request to Make Entries (Open Call Contestants Only)

  1. Hover over the red “Open Call Contestant” text in the blue bar at the top of the page

  2. Select “My Contests” int he menu that appears

  3. In the “Available Contests” section, check the box next to the contest you would like to enter

  4. Hover over the red “Open Call Contestant” text again

  5. Select “Manage Entries”

How to Submit Entries

  1. Click “Submit Entry” from the “Manage Entries” page

  2. Select a division (group of categories)

    Note: It is possible that your outlet has been miscategorized as a small or large organization. Small newspapers have a circulation of up to 100,000. Large newspapers have a circulation of more than 100,000. If your outlet has been miscategorized, please contact Sarah Ventre.

  3. Select a category

  4. Select the media organization where the entry was published or performed (Open Call Contestants only)

  5. Enter the entry headline or title

  6. Add entry content

    To upload digital file attachments other than audio or video, click “Browse,” navigate to the desired file and then click “Open.” Only PDF, DOC/DOCX, TXT, JPG, GIF and PNG files are allowed. To upload additional attachments to a single entry, click the “Browse and Attach More Files” button. BetterBNC will allow files up to 20MB, however, we suggest keeping your files to around 5MB. For files larger than 20MB, click the “RealView” icon on the “Submit Entry” page to create a free account, upload your files and the copy and paste the URL into the URL field on the “Submit Entry” page. You may also use a similar third-party website like scribd.com or issuu.com that provides hosting services.

    To add web/audio/video content, copy and paste the content’s URL into the provided URL field. To host your content online, either upload it to a free streaming website (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo, Kiwi6 or Soundcloud) or talk to your IT person about adding it to your station or publication’s website. Make sure the content will be accessible online throughout the duration of the contest and awards process.

  7. Add comments

  8. Enter credits

  9. Click “Submit Entry”


    IMPORTANT:     Please be sure that items are not behind a paywall or password-protected area. If they are, you must provide username and password information in the comments section of your entry. Judges may disqualify your entry if work samples are inaccessible.

Contest Categories

  • Religion Story of the Year

  • Excellence in Religion News Analysis (Multimedia)

  • Excellence in Religion Commentary (Multimedia)

  • Renner Award for Enterprise and Serials (Multimedia)

  • Gerald A. Renner Award for for Excellence in Feature Writing (Multimedia)

  • Excellence in Religion Documentaries (Broadcast)

  • Excellence in Religion Photography: Single Image and Gallery (Photo)

  • Excellence in Religion Reporting: Online Only

  • Excellence in Short Religion Video (Broadcast)

  • Excellence in Religion Reporting: Television (Broadcast)

  • Excellence in Religion Reporting: Large Daily Newspapers & Wire Services

  • Excellence in Religion Reporting: Small & Mid-Sized Daily Newspapers

  • Excellence in Religion Reporting: Magazine & Non-Daily Newspapers

  • Excellence in Overall Religion Coverage: Magazine, Single Issue

  • Excellence in Religion Reporting: Radio (Broadcast)

  • Excellence in Religion Reporting: Podcast (Broadcast)

  • Nonfiction Book Award

  • Chandler Award for Excellence in Student Religion Reporting

How to Pay for Entries

When all entries are submitted:

  1. Navigate to the “Manage Entries” page

  2. Click “Calculate Entry Fees”

  3. Follow the instructions to pay for your entries