FAQ EN – European Newspaper Award

01. The aims of the European Newspaper Award

The European Newspaper Award aims to improve the exchange of information on the concept and design of newspapers in print and online. The competition is very well established, with 184 newspapers from 25 countries participating in the 21st competition, which took place in 2019. More than 4,000 works were submitted in the 20 categories. In the media the competition is therefore also known as the „Oscar of the newspaper industry“.

02. The timetable of the competition

Competition period:
Works can be submitted that were created between 1 October and 31 October of the following year.

Start of submission phase:
1 September

Closing date:
1 November

Late submissions:
9 November. A higher fee will be charged for late submissions.

Announcement of the prize winners:
It is planned to inform all participants about their results at the beginning of December.

Congress, Award Ceremony and Dinner:
A Congress with award ceremony always takes place in the first half of the following year. The award winners will be informed in time about the details.

03. What awards are there?

The main prizes and the 20 categories aim to reward the best work in visual journalism in Europe. In the yearbook and publications in specialised journals and on the competition website you can see the trends and draw conclusions for your own work.

Main prize: European Newspaper of the Year
The European Newspaper Award has always been divided into the categories local newspaper, regional newspaper, nationwide newspaper and weekly newspaper, because these four types of newspaper have different resources and target groups.

Awards of Excellence
In addition to the four main prizes, the competition has 20 categories that focus on concept and design in print and online. In addition to print categories such as cover and cover story, section front pages, supplements etc., there are also online categories such as web design of news websites, films, animated infographics, scrollytelling etc. There is also a new category for podcasts.

Judges‘ Special Recognition
The Special Jury Prize is below the main prizes and above the Awards of Excellence in terms of its value. Special Prizes are a special award of the jury.

04. Which main prizes have been given so far?

This is the list of all main prize winners since the competition was founded.

1. European Newspaper Award (1999)
Local newspaper: Firda, Norway
Regional newspaper: Dagblad de Limburger, The Netherlands
Nationwide newspaper: Die Welt, Germany
Weekly newspaper: no award

2. European Newspaper Award (2000)
Local newspaper: Laagendalsposten, Norway
Regional newspaper: El Correo, Spain
Nationwide newspaper: The Guardian, Great Britain
Weekly newspaper: Die Woche, Germany

3. European Newspaper Award (2001)
Local newspaper: no award
Regional newspaper: no award
Nationwide newspaper: Diário de Noticias, Spain
Nationwide newspaper: Trouw, The Netherlands
Weekly newspaper: Independent on Sunday, Great Britain

4. European Newspaper Award (2002)
Local newspaper: Tønsbergs Blad, Norway
Regional newspaper: Bergens Tidende, Norway
Nationwide newspaper: Ta Nea, Greece
Weekly newspaper: Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Germany

5. European Newspaper Award (2003)
Local newspaper: Goienkaria, Spain
Regional newspaper: Heraldo de Aragón, Spain
Nationwide newspaper: Corriere della Sera, Italy
Weekly newspaper: Sunday Tribune, Ireland
Judges‘ Special Recognition: La Voz de Galicia, Spain

6. European Newspaper Award (2004)
Local newspaper: Diario de Noticias, Spain
Regional newspaper: Het Parool, The Netherlands
Nationwide newspaper: De Morgen, Belgium
Weekly newspaper: Sentinel Sunday, Great Britain
Weekly newspaper: Bergens Tidende, Norway

7. European Newspaper Award (2005)
Local newspaper: Östersunds-Posten, Sweden
Regional newspaper: Kleine Zeitung, Austria
Nationwide newspaper: The Guardian, Great Britain
Weekly newspaper: Die Zeit, Germany
Weekly newspaper: Presso, Finland

8. European Newspaper Award (2006)
Local newspaper: Hufvudstadsbladet, Finland
Regional newspaper: Bergens Tidende, Norway
Nationwide newspaper: De Morgen, Belgium
Weekly newspaper: Expresso, Portugal
Judges‘ Special Recognition: Superdeporte, Spain

9. European Newspaper Award (2007)
Local newspaper: The Mayo News, Ireland
Regional newspaper: el Periódico de Catalunya, Spain
Nationwide newspaper: Eleftheros Tipos, Greece
Weekly newspaper: Welt am Sonntag, Germany

10. European Newspaper Award (2008)
Local newspaper: Diári de Balears, Spain
Regional newspaper: Basler Zeitung, Switzerland
Nationwide newspaper: Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden
Weekly newspaper: Athens Plus, Greece
Judges‘ Special Recognition: nrc next, The Netherlands

11. European Newspaper Award (2009)
Local newspaper: Smålandsposten, Sweden
Regional newspaper: Stuttgarter Zeitung, Germany
Nationwide newspaper: i, Portugal
Judges‘ Special Recognition: 24 sata, Croatia

12. European Newspaper Award (2010)
Local newspaper: Diário de Notícias da Madeira, Portugal
Regional newspaper: Bergens Tidende, Norway
Nationwide newspaper: Politiken, Danmark
Weekly newspaper: Sunday Herald, Scotland
Judges‘ Special Recognition: Gealscéal, Ireland
Judges‘ Special Recognition: Frankfurter Rundschau iPad, Germany

12+1. European Newspaper Award (2011)
Local newspaper: Hordaland, Norway
Regional newspaper: Berliner Morgenpost, Germany
Nationwide newspaper: Berlingske, Danmark
Weekly newspaper: NZZ am Sonntag, Switzerland

14. European Newspaper Award (2012)
Local newspaper: Bygdanytt, Norway
Regional newspaper: El Correo, Spain
Nationwide newspaper: De Tijd, Belgium
Nationwide newspaper: Trouw, The Netherlands
Weekly newspaper: Die Zeit, Germany
Judges‘ Special Recognition: Welt am Sonntag Kompakt, Germany

15. European Newspaper Award (2013)
Local newspaper: Hallingdølen, Norway
Regional newspaper: Leeuwarder Courant, the Netherlands
Nationwide newspaper: de Volkskrant, the Netherlands
Weekly newspaper: Welt am Sonntag, Germany
Judges‘ Special Recognition: Moskovskie Novosti, Russia
Judges‘ Special Recognition: público.pt, Portugal

16. European Newspaper Award (2014)
Local newspaper: The Mayo News, Ireland
Regional newspaper: De Twentsche Courant Tubantia, the Netherlands
Nationwide newspaper: Público, Portugal
Weekly newspaper: Sonntagszeitung, Switzerland

17. European Newspaper Award (2015)
Local newspaper: Kvinnheringen, Norway
Regional newspaper: Ara, Spain
Nationwide newspaper: De Morgen, Belgium
Weekly newspaper: Expresso, Portugal
Judges‘ Special Recognition: publico.pt, Portugal
Judges‘ Special Recognition: Souriatna, Syria

18. European Newspaper Award (2016)
Local newspaper: Hufvudstadsbladet, Finland
Regional newspaper: Het Parool, the Netherlands
Nationwide newspaper: Politiken, Denmark
Weekly newspaper: Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Germany

19. European Newspaper Award (2017)
Local newspaper: Tageblatt, Luxemburg
Regional newspaper: De Limburger, the Netherlands
Nationwide newspaper: Handelsblatt, Germany
Weekly newspaper: Morgenbladet, Norway

20. European Newspaper Award (2018)
Local newspaper: Sunnhordland, Norway
Regional newspaper: Adresseavisen, Norway
Nationwide newspaper: Het Financieele Dagblad, The Netherlands
Weekly newspaper: der Freitag, Germany

21. European Newspaper Award (2019)
Local newspaper: Fædrelandsvennen, Norway
Regional newspaper: Leeuwarder Courant, the Netherlands
Nationwide newspaper: Público, Portugal
Weekly newspaper: Financial Times – FT Weekend, United Kingdom
Judges‘ Special Recognition: Fuldaer Zeitung, Germany

22. European Newspaper Award (2020)
Local newspaper: Contacto, Luxembourg
Regional newspaper: Het Parool, the Netherlands
Nationwide newspaper: de Volkskrant, the Netherlands
Weekly newspaper: Die Zeit, Germany

05. What award trophies are there?

A certificate is issued for each award. The certificates will be made available to the award winners free of charge as Pdf. You can print out the certificates yourself. Printouts can also be ordered for a fee, which are then sent by post.

For those who come to the Congress, the certificate will be handed over during a ceremony. The award ceremony is always at the end of the Congress. Photographs will be taken of the presentation, which will be made available to the award winners free of charge. Many newspapers report about the award ceremony, because it is a very good publicity in own behalf.

The certificates show on the left side the project that was awarded and on the right side the category and further information about the competition. Below are the names and signatures of the jury members.

06. What are the print categories?

The 22nd European Newspaper Award has the following print categories:

Awards of Excellence print categories:

1. Cover and coverstory
1.1. Local Newspaper
1.2. Regional Newspaper
1.3. Nationwide Newspaper
1.4. Weekly Newspaper

2. Sectional front pages
2.1. Local Newspaper
2.2. Regional Newspaper
2.3. Nationwide Newspaper
2.4. Weekly Newspaper

3. News pages
3.0. Refugees
3.1. Terror, war
3.2. Natural disasters
3.3. Environmental protection
3.4. elections (local, regional, national, European)
3.5. Coronavirus
3.6. Prominent deceased

4. Photography
4.0. Photographic series
4.1. Portrait
4.2. Cut
4.3. Sequence
4.4. Atmosphere
4.5. Perspective
4.6. Picture page

5. Photo report

6. Visualization

7. Visual storytelling

8. Alternative storytelling

9. Infographics print
9.0. Infographics
9.1. Small infographics
9.2. Infographics with special emphasis on maps

10. Illustration

11. Supplements
11.0. Weekend supplements
11.1. Supplements for special occasions
11.2. Magazine supplements

12. Special pages

13. Typography
13.0. Typography print

14. Concept, innovation print
14.0. New series, new concepts
14.1. Special editions, jubilee editions

Student works
Student works can participate in all categories.

Local pages
Local pages can participate in all categories.

07. Which online categories are there?

The 22nd European Newspaper Award has the following online categories:

Awards of Excellence online categories:

15. Concept, innovation online
15.0. Multimedia storytelling
15.1. Movies
15.2 Animation films

16. Online and crossmedia
16.0. Web design for news websites
16.1. Typography cross-media
16.2. Cross-media projects

17. infographics online
17.0. Data journalism
17.1 Infographics online
17.2. Animated infographics

18. Podcasts

19. iPhone and smartphone apps

20. Social media

Works on these topics can be submitted not only
in print, but also online and cross-media:
3. News pages
3.0. Refugees
3.1. Terror, war
3.2. Natural disasters
3.3. Environmental protection
3.4. elections (local, regional, national, European)
3.5. Coronavirus
3.6. Prominent deceased

Student works
Student works can participate in all categories.

Local pages
Local pages can participate in all categories.

08. How to submit your work?

The submission in the 20 categories is done with Pdfs or, in the case of online categories, with links to the respective project. A maximum of six works can be submitted per category and also per subcategory. Files are submitted via the upload center or on USB stick by mail.

In addition, two printed copies of each newspaper participating in the print categories are required from specific reference dates. These two newspapers are mandatory. The exact dates for the printed newspapers are listed in the actual competition announcement.

The Pdfs of the works must be labelled exactly. It is important to write the newspaper name correctly: „Financial Times“ is correct, „FT“ is wrong. „The Daily Telegraph“ is right, „Daily Telegraph“ is wrong.

With print categories it is important that double pages are also created as such. It is not allowed to send two single pages instead. With Adobe Acrobat it is not possible to create real double pages from two pdf pages. Double pages are created either in the editorial system – if it has this function – or with Photoshop. Here is a brief explanation of how this works:

For submissions in online categories, the instructions shown here should be followed exactly, as all works should be treated equally. Online projects will be presented in an upright format. At the top is the category and the contact person for the project, below is a screenshot of the start page. Each online project gets its own Pdf. Do not combine different online projects in one Pdf!

Cross-media projects are submitted in the online categories. You send Pdfs of the printed pages and a link to the website.

Upload Center
When you have compiled all the work, put it in a folder and zip the files. This one file is then uploaded in the upload center. It is no problem to submit or correct the work again within the submission deadline. The link to the Upload Center: upload.newspaperaward.org

The two printed newspapers will be sent by post. The jury should not decide on the main prizes without having the printed newspapers available. Pdfs are also required of the two complete newspapers. These are best taken from the e-paper of the newspaper. Single pages can be submitted here.

If you have any questions regarding the submission, please send an email to nkuepper@newspaperaward.org

09 What are the entry fees?

There is a progressive participation fee: Early Bird, standard and late. With a single payment you can participate in each category and subcategory with a maximum of six works. So if you only enter six works in each of the 20 categories, you can enter 120 works. The subcategories are not yet included in this example. This means: Participation in this competition is extremely low priced. For the 22nd European Newspaper Award 2020 the fees are phased in this way:

– Early-Bird: 270 Euro

– Standard: 300 Euro

– Late: 350 Euro

Deadline means: Receipt of the documents by us.

10. What is the structure of the jury?

The structure of the jury varies from year to year. The jury consists of participants and main prize winners of previous competitions. The jury of the 21st competition is typical in its structure. The members came from eight countries: Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Greece and Germany. They are journalists, scientists and designers.

Front row from the left:
– Silvia Brenes Pietro, EINA Barcelona, ES
– Marina Bräm, Design Director Digital Media, tamedia, CH
– Walter Jensen, Art-Director, Bergens Tidende, N
– Regina Baierl, Art-Director, Handelsblatt, D
– Theo Dersjant, Director Fontys School of Journalism, NL
– Søren Nyeland, Art-Director, Politiken, DK

Back row from the left:
– Annette Milz, Editor-in-Chief MediumMagazin, D
– Prof. Jordi Catalá, Barcelona, ES
– Prof. Dr. Martin Zimper, ZHdK/Cast, CH
– Marco Grieco, Art-Director, Expresso, P
– Marianne Bahl, Art-Director, DK
– Dimitris Nikas, Art-Director, H Kathimerini, GR
– Björn Heselius, Principal Designer, Nitor, FIN
– Marianne Hartz, Art-Director, Lebensmittel Zeitung, D
– Daniel Biscan, Art Director Foto, Main-Post, D
– Prof. Joachim Blum, Media-Consultant, D
– Gaudenz Bock, Art Director, Südwest-Presse, D

11. Who conducts the European Newspaper Award?

The European Newspaper Award was founded in 1998 by newspaper designer Norbert Küpper. Since then it has also been conducted by him. The competition is independent. It is financed entirely by the participation fees.

About Norbert Küpper
He qualified as a typesetter and studied design at the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences.

In 1984 he founded the office for newspaper design. He has redesigned more than 180 newspapers. He works mainly in the German-speaking area, but has also redesigned titles in the United Arab Emirates, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Italy.

From 1981 to 2007 he held a lectureship for newspaper design at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf.

He has been invited as a guest speaker to lectures and seminars at various universities, among others:
– Fontys School of Journalism, Tilburg, Netherlands;
– Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK/Cast, Audiovisual Media Studies (2019, 2020);
– Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Department of Design (2019).

In addition to his work as a newspaper designer, he researches reader behaviour with an eye-tracking camera. Current results are documented in the book Newspaper Design and Reading Research. The book presents six new designs by Küpper: VDI nachrichten, Stuttgarter Nachrichten, GrenzEcho (Eupen, Belgium) Mindener Tageblatt, Wirtschaftszeitungen Österreich (business newspapers Austria) and the trade newspaper Produktion. The book is based on an overview of his current eye-tracking projects.

Since 1989 he has been the author of a column on newspaper design in the magazine Medium Magazin, Germany.

In 2014 he was speaker at the 36th international congress of the SND – Society for Newsdesign – in Frankfurt/Main. His topic: „Europes Creative Diversity in Print and Online“.

In 2020 he was speaker at the Danske Medier award ceremony in Copenhagen. His topic: „Trends in Newspaper Design in Europe“.

2019: Invitation to a lecture for students at the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences.

2020: Invitation to a zoom lecture at the Zurich University of the Arts, study course Cast.

2020: Invitation to the award ceremony of Danske Media in Copenhagen.

12. Who conducts the European Newspaper Congress?

The European Newspaper Congress was founded in 2003 by Norbert Küpper. For the first four years, the event was conducted in the Coronation Hall of Aachen City Hall. Since then the Congress has been held in the City Hall of Vienna. The 19th European Newspaper Congress 2018 was attended by more than 500 journalists and publishing house managers from 33 countries. In 2019 the Congress was renamed the European Publishing Congress. It is conducted by Verlag Oberauer, Salzburg, in cooperation with Norbert Küpper.

The European Newspaper Award and the European Publishing Congress are two completely separate companies. The Congress is held in Austria, the European Newspaper Award is based in Germany.

13. Which media partners does the competition have?

Media partners are among others:

– Novum, World of Graphic Design, Munich, Germany
– Viscom, Print and Communication, Bern, Switzerland
– Der Österreichische Journalist, Salzburg, Austria
– Schweizer Journalist, Salzburg, Austria
– MediumMagazin, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

14. What publications are there?

Yearbooks Newspaper design
There is a yearbook for each year of the European Newspaper Award. The yearbooks are best ordered in the SHOP.

Supplement „Newspaper Trends“
From 1999 to 2016, a 16-page supplement was published in MediumMagazin for each European Newspaper Award, in which Norbert Küpper presented the main trends. The Oberauer publishing house stopped this cooperation by email on November 12, 2016. Since then it has been published by Norbert Küpper himself. The brochure is published in German and English and also contains the Call for Entries for the next competition. The number of pages has been increased from 16 to 36 in 2020.

15. Where can I download the award logo? – Here.

Download as SVG (74 KB)

Download as JPG (299 KB)

16. European Newspaper of the Year – List of Winners 1999 – 2021