Since 1977, the National Media Awards Foundation has been recognizing excellence in the content and creation of Canadian magazines. Each year, the Foundation grants more than $60,000 in prize money to award-winning writers, illustrators, photographers, and other creators, and bestows the honour and industry recognition of a National Magazine Award to the publishers, editors, art directors and other staff of more than 70 nominated publications.
And although that may be reason enough to enter, many previous winners are happy to give us more.
Here are 10 other reasons why you should consider entering the annual National Magazine Awards:
1. New Readers
Award-winning magazines attract new readers who are hungry for great stories.
2. Bragging Rights
Be able to tell your readers that you are delivering the best and most credible content, recognized by your peers in the magazine industry.
3. Get Noticed
With a National Magazine Award, writers, and artists find new audiences for their creative work and talent. In 2020, our virtual gala saw over nine thousand viewers!
4. Book Deal?
Publishers take notice of award-winning work, and a National Magazine Award could be a step towards launching a book project or signing with an agent.
5. Find Your Next Job
Award-winning writers are better able to find new editors and publishers interested in their work.
6. Promote Your Innovations
Magazines are growing, and we’re growing with them. The NMAF recognizes achievement in digital content creation and all other enterprising magazine journalism. In fact, this year we’ve introduced an exciting cross-programming initiative, encouraging NMA participants to submit their work to seven additional categories. All entries will compete among those submitted to the Digital Publishing Awards (DPA) and National Magazine Awards: B2B (NMA) programs, and winners will be announced across all three programs—this means that your work will reach an even wider audience!
7. Build Your Confidence
Freelancing is one of the most challenging pursuits for an artist or journalist, and sometimes even lonely. Awards and nominations are benchmarks of progress. (To help out you hard-working freelancers, we offer a Freelancer Support Fund).
8. Celebrate Your Creators
Editors, publishers and art directors have the opportunity to reward the creative talent that helps their magazines sell copies and connect with readers. We’re proud to offer a Small Magazine Rebate, which ensures that the awards represent a broad range of Canadian publications.
9. Even a Nomination is a Celebration
We all start at the beginning, and just getting our work out there, and getting it noticed, is a step on the path to success. Plus, all entries are read by our roster of top-notch Canadian and international judges. (Take a look at the amazing individuals who judged for #NMA20!)
10. Believe in What We Do
After all, magazines are the medium of creativity, passion, and a deep engagement with our readers.
Ready to submit an entry to the 2021 National Magazine Awards? Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s submission requirements, and here’s the link to our online portal. Keep in mind that the the early bird deadline is January 21, 2021 and final deadline is January 28, 2021 at midnight (ET). We can’t wait to receive your work!
