Today I wanted to share with you an e-mail about our contest submissions this year. I sent this to our staff earlier.

Folks: We will send a bunch of "Newspaper of the Year" and other contest entries out this week, part of the New England Newspaper Association's annual awards. I want to tell you how proud I was to enter this year. In fact, some of our best papers —and best story-and-photo reports — didn't make it, as we subjectively selected things we hope the judges will appreciate.

Awards and contests are fickle. They're subjective. They're overrated. And they matter. The NENA awards especially are judged by top editors from around the U.S. who are flown to Boston (usually), treated well — and who take this responsibility seriously. We typically have not been considered a NENA "Newspaper of the Year," and we may not again this year. But we're getting close, I'm telling you. If breadth and strength of local content were the dominant criterion, as it is for readers, I think we would win the lion's share.

Here's what's in:
We are entering the Photo of the Year category for both newspapers. I asked Jim Evans and his staff make these selections. I'll ask Jim to fill you in on those Tuesday.

The "For I was Hungry" editorial series will be nominated for a Publick Occurrences Award. Each year, Nieman Fellows select 5-8 top newspaper projects and entries for this prestigious award.

The "hunger series" was innovative, took risks, got attention and is getting results. It has a shot. Good luck to lead writer Naomi Schalit and to Jim Evans and Sharon Wood, who also played roles in this project.

The KJ daily papers were from July 18 (when John Okie was arrested for the Mills slaying, after his father, too, was found dead) and from Sept. 14, a mandatory date. That paper led with the state rejecting several school-consolidation proposals (Keith Edwards) and a piece on the Farmingdale adult-book vote (Susan Cover).

The KJ Sunday newspapers were from June 3, when we led with a profile of Jean Paul Poulain (AJ Higgins) and a political analysis by Susan Cover. Also, the mandatory draw was Sept. 16, which led with a piece by Betty Adams on Kents Hill School not having all the records about John Okie.

The Sentinel daily newspapers were from July 23, which led with the Hunger series (different judges) and the Sept. 13 mandatory paper which had a good mix of news about a coal-tar cleanup (Doug Harlow), vermin house (Joel Elliott) and an award being offered for a murder (Larry Grard).

The Sunday papers were from Sept. 9, which led with an analysis on college costs by Colin Hickey, and the mandatory date of Sept. 16, which led with a piece on rafting by Joel. Both mandatory draw dates were generally favorable for the Sentinel.

Finally, we will enter the KJ of Feb. 26 for a "front-page award." There is only one front page recognized annually so you know this is tough, but I felt the Slates fire coverage (Elizabeth Comeau, Susan Cover, Andy Molloy) needed to be entered somehow.

We may submit more editorial and other articles for specialized awards too, but these are the highlights. The NENA contest is not a writing contest with a lot of categories. Those are NEAPNEA (New England Associated Press News Executives Association) and MPA (Maine Press Association) and they come a little later.