The competition officially begins today for the Canadian Newsstand Awards/Grand prix d’excellence en kiosque, now in its ninth year. A new category, more prizes, and more prize money will make this year’s competition the best to-date. New features for 2010 include:

•    New category for Special Interest Publications/New Magazine Launches
•    Expanded prize package, increased to $18,500 in HDS promotion credits
•    Designations for Gold, Silver, and Bronze in all circulation categories
•    Early-bird entry fee savings for those who enter by June 18



This unique cover competition is open to all English and French-language Canadian magazines and recognizes excellence in newsstand sales and cover execution by Canadian magazine publishers. Publishers, circulators, editors, designers and newsstand managers are encouraged to enter their best performers in newsstand sales and cover design for 2009.

Prizes include $18,500 worth of promotion credits for HDS Retail-owned stores, national promotion, and additional prizes are available to be won. New for 2010, the top three entries in each of the circulation categories will receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze designations for their respective finishes. Gold winners will also receive $3,500 each in credits while the winner in the Small Magazine Category will win $1,000 in credits, plus $500 cash. The prestigious Newsstand Marketer of the Year also receives $500 cash.

Last year’s winners include Châtelaine, Maclean’s, The Hockey News, The Beaver, and This Magazine. Mike Hughes, National Marketing Manager at Transcontinental Media was awarded recognition as the Newsstand Marketer of the Year.

Magazine entries are reviewed by a panel of judges representing each part of the newsstand industry. Judges look at a number of criteria for each entered issue, including total newsstand sales, sell-through percentages, newsstand promotions, and overall cover appearance. Entrants compete in categories based on circulation size from small to extra-large, or the new Special Interest/New Launch category. The Newsstand Magazine Cover of the Year, is chosen as “best in show” and given special recognition. The awards also recognize an individual as the Newsstand Marketer of the Year, selected from mailed-in nominations.

The early bird entry deadline for this year’s Newsstand Awards is Friday, June 18 and the final entry deadline is Friday, July 9. Winners will be announced at a special reception to be held in the fall.

The Canadian Newsstand Awards are sponsored by: HDS Retail/ Great Canadian News/ Maison de la Presse, CMC (Circulation Management Association of Canada), ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations) and Masthead.

See the gallery of past winners, view contest rules, and enter your magazine at:  www.newsstandawards.ca.