Cross media competition to focus on communities, citizen journalism

Last year’s inaugural XMA competition, which focused on integrated print-digital coverage of the Football World Cup 2006, had 55 newspapers from 29 countries entering a total of 65 special projects (www.ifra.com/xma).

One of the hottest topics at present in publishing houses is the creation of “communities” and involving readers in the generation of content. Technological developments are making it increasingly simple for readers to actively participate in the design of media and their contents.

Taking full advantage

And as the many Web 2.0 platforms evidence, they are taking full advantage of this opportunity, says Ifra. Many of the contributions submitted by readers also find their way back into the printed newspaper.

Emphasises Reiner Mittelbach, Ifra CEO, “Newspapers especially are predestined to adopt an even more active role in their markets, as they are mostly the acknowledged leading medium in their areas of distribution.

“Whether through blogs, forums, topic portals or the integration of reader-reporters, publishing houses are already extensively using their channels to dialogue with readers as well as to reinforce their function as a platform for readers to mutually exchange their views. It is a pleasure to see how creatively newspapers worldwide are focusing on this topic. We are looking forward to receiving many exciting entries.”

The Ifra XMA Cross Media Awards 2007 will be presented for innovative projects from all over the world that manage successfully to intensify their relationships with the readers, as well as the relationships among the readers themselves. The main emphasis here is on projects that creatively connect the printed media with the possibilities of digital media in order to achieve maximum customer loyalty.

Entry details

Publishing houses conducting projects in the period between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2007 are invited to enter their projects for the Ifra XMA Cross Media Awards 2007 competition. The final date for receiving entries is 30th June 2007.

Entries can be submitted online under www.ifra.com/xma. A jury comprising international newspaper and media experts will evaluate the entries.

Interested publishing houses can obtain all further information from Barbara Kropp (Ifra XMA Awards Team) who can be contacted by email at or , or by phone +49 6151 733 6.

Awards ceremony

The XMA Award Winners will be announced at the IfraExpo 2007 (8 - 11 October – www.ifraexpo.com) that will be held for the first time in Vienna, and presented at a XMA special showing.

The Ifra XMA Cross Media Awards 2007 competition is supported by Escenic.