from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — The U.S. Trotting Association is looking for entries for the 2017 International Media Awards, held in part with the World Trotting Conference hosted by Standardbred Canada in August.

Entries must be received by the USTA by March 31.

In categories with more than one U.S. submission, the entries will be posted for an online vote to be conducted between April 3 and April 24. One U.S. based entry will be submitted per category to Standardbred Canada. No entry fees are required for submission.

All entries must have been published, originally broadcast or otherwise first distributed between Jan. 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2016. After the U.S. entrants have been submitted to Standardbred Canada, finalists for all participating countries will be voted on by International Trotting Association members between July 24 and Aug. 15.

All submissions should include a cover letter with the name, address, phone number and e-mail address of the producer, author or photographer, and the name of the station, cable system or publication on/or in which it appeared, along with the date of broadcast/publication. There are no cash awards; the winners will receive a trophy from the 2017 host organization, Standardbred Canada.

Please make your submissions digitally to Allison.conte@ustrotting.com and include a brief summary. For those submissions requiring a physical submission, please send to: U.S. Trotting Association, Attn: Allison Conte, 6130 S. Sunbury Rd., Westerville, OH 43081.

The nine categories are as follows:

BEST NEWS ARTICLE
For articles written ‘on deadline’ about ‘breaking’ events, including reporting about races, racing industry happenings and so forth, and published in daily or weekly newspapers or online publications. Please send an electronic word doc or pdf version of the article.

BEST MAGAZINE ARTICLE
For ‘long-form’ articles written as ‘features’ and published online or in magazines. Please send an electronic word doc or pdf version of the article.

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
Photos, not enhanced by any computer-aided special effects, other than those used to clarify the subject matter contained in the photograph; must be submitted as an 8-inch by 10-inch print, along with a high resolution digital version of the photo (minimum 300 dpi jpeg file).

BEST PRINTED OR WEB-BASED ADVERTISEMENT
For advertisements promoting races, breeding services and any other product, service or activity related to the sport of harness racing or Standardbred horses. Please send an electronic pdf version of the ad.

BEST VIDEO OR FILM (ONLINE VIDEO INCLUDED) ADVERTISEMENT
Video or film-based advertisements for racing, breeding or any other product or service related to the Standardbred industry. Please send a DVD or provide a link via e-mail to the video/film and provide a short summary of what the submission is about.

BEST TELEVISION PROGRAM OR DOCUMENTARY (ONLINE OR BROADCAST)
For programs that air on broadcast or the internet, whether long or short-form that do not include advertising content. Please send a DVD or provide a link via e-mail to the program and provide a short summary of what the submission is about.

BEST POSTER
For printed posters used to promote racing, breeding or any other industry-related activity, product or service. Please mail the actual poster and e-mail an electronic pdf version.

BEST WEBSITE
For publications, organizations or non-commercial entities that appear on the internet.

BEST SOCIAL MEDIA (NEW CATEGORY)
For demonstrated excellence in social media usage and innovation. Please include a summary of the social media tools used, links to the social media tools, and relative measurements of reach and impact.