Singapore Magazine Awards 2010

Updates: The MPAS Singapore Magazine Awards 2010 entry submission has been closed. Thank you for participating. We invite you to join us in our Award Presentation night on March 16, 2010, 6.30pm at Rang Mahal Pavilion, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, Sentosa. [more information...]

I. Background

The MPAS Singapore Magazine Awards 2010 main objective is to recognize the best magazine publishing efforts in Singapore.

The focus category will be Consumer Magazines, along with two special categories, Best Trade Magazine of the Year and, Best In-house/Contract Magazine of the Year.

The MPAS Awards 2010 will seek for excellence in the following areas:

  1. Editorial Contents
  2. Design & Creativity
  3. Photography
  4. Print Production
  5. Advertising & Marketing
  6. Digital Media
  7. Overall Magazine Standards



    8. The categories for the competition are:

    1. Feature Story Of The Year
    2. Front Cover Design Of The Year
    3. Visual Spreads / Photography Series Of The Year
    4. Advertisement Creative Of The Year
    5. Advertising Campaign Of The Year
    6. On-Line Magazine Of The Year
    7. Media Agency Of The Year
    8. Chinese Language Magazine Of The Year
    9. New Magazine Of The Year(Launched between Jan 2009 and Dec 2009)
    10. MPAS Magazine of the Year
    11. Luxury Magazine of the Year
    12. Fashion Magazine of the Year
    13. Food Magazine of the Year
    14. Car Magazine of the Year
    15. Watch Magazine of the Year
    16. Business/Finance Magazine of the Year
    17. Travel Magazine of the Year
    18. Health/Fitness Magazine of the Year
    19. Parenting Magazine of the Year
    20. Best Trade Magazine of the Year
    21. Best Contract Magazine of the Year



      22. For each of the respective category mentioned above, three awards: Gold, Silver and Bronze, will be presented to the selected participants.

      The Awards will be presented during the annual MPAS Gala Dinner and Awards Night in the 1st quarter of 2010. Publishers, senior executives from media, press, advertising agencies, PR Companies and Government bodies will be invited to attend this auspicious event.

      II. Judging Criteria of Various Categories

      The Award is for a published project implemented in 2009.

      The panel of judges will look at how well and distinctive the published project is being accepted and regarded.

      The Judging Criteria for the various categories are as follows:

      a. Best Feature Story:

      • Contents – 40%
      • Composition – 20%
      • Grammar – 10%
      • Lay-out – 20%
      • Stand-first, Sub-heads & Captions – 10%

      b. Best Front Cover Design:

      • Design & Concept – 40%
      • Photography – 20%
      • Relevance – 20%
      • Captions & Headings – 20%

      c. Best Visual Spreads / Photography Series:

      • Creativity & Design – 30%
      • Presentation & Mood – 30%
      • Relevance/Consistency to Theme – 30%
      • Overall Impact – 10%

      d. Best Advertising Creative:

      • Creativity & Concept – 40%
      • Relevance / Distinction of Copy – 30%
      • Impact – 20%
      • The X-Factor – 10%

      e. Best Advertisement Campaign:

      • Creativity & Concept – 30%
      • Magazine Spread & Penetration – 20%
      • Multi-Media Platforms – 20%
      • Success Factor – 30%

      f. Best Online Magazine:

      • Overall Design – 20%
      • Contents Scope & Relevance – 30%
      • Level of Interactivity – 20%
      • Connectivity & Networking – 10%
      • Marketing Capabilities – 20%

      g. Best Media Agency:

      • Creativity of Print Ads – 50%
      • Range of Accounts & Service Level – 25%
      • Business Relationship with Publishers – 25%

      h. Best Magazine Categories:

      • Editorial Contents & Coverage – 40%
      • Overall Design & Layout – 25%
      • Advertising Support – 20%
      • Printing & Production Quality – 10%
      • Circulation Audit – 5%

      Depending on the categories, the Judging Panel will be selected from media journalists, tertiary English professors, editorial consultants; professional designers or art directors, lecturers from design schools; professional photographers; trade/media associations; government agencies; commercial organizations; as well as Magazine Associations in the region and FIPP.

      The Awards Presentation will be held in conjunction with MPAS Annual Gala Dinner sometime in the 1st Quarter of 2010.

      Winners will be conferred with Certificates, Plaques, and Products subjects to final confirmation of Sponsors.

      MPAS Awards 2010 will be open for submission of entries from 18th December to 31st January 2010 giving ample time for publishers to select their titles and categories for participation.

      February 2010 will be scheduled for judging.

      III. Search and Selection Process

      The selection process for the Awards commences with generating entries, initial screening, comments by advisors, and final judging by a panel of industry professionals.

      1. Generating Entries

      Publishing Companies, Advertising Agencies, Corporate Advertisers and publishing professionals are encouraged to submit entries. There is no limit to the number of entries per company or individual unless specified in the criteria.

      2. Initial Screening

      MPAS Secretariat processes the entries, collates supporting materials as submitted and presents these for consideration by the Judging Committee.

      3. Judging Process

      Specially selected industry professionals invited by MPAS formed the independent Judging Committee comprising at least 3 members for every Award category.

      The Judges review the entries and make final recommendations to the MPAS EXCO.

      The Award winners are those who best fit the category criteria in the opinion of the Judges.

      MPAS EXCO Members will refrain from judging or commenting on the category if any of their publications have submitted entries. If there are two entries in the same category that are equally meritorious, an Award may be given to both projects as joint winners.

      4. Judging Panel

      The Judging panel will be representatives from:

      1. Media Development Authority of Singapore
      2. Professors or Lecturers in Media Faculties from Institutions of Higher Learning
      3. Professional Design Schools
      4. Press Club/SOPA
      5. Major Sponsors

      IV. Rules & Regulations

      1. How to Enter

      Entries must be for a project or article published any time between Jan 2009 and Dec 2009.

      It is important to demonstrate in as quantifiable a way as possible the benefits of the project to the intended recipients and stakeholders. Please indicate what were the intended benefits planned, and what were actually achieved.

      The completed entry form with the entry fee must be submitted during the screening stage.

      2. Information to Support the Entries

      For each category that you enter, please send information to support the projects entered. All entries need to be accompanied by supporting data and documentation in not more than 500 – 800 words to indicate the following:

      • • Reason why this particular piece/project is selected
      • • Information pertaining to the different elements of the judging criteria based on the award category (see Judging Criteria)
      • • Why do you think your entry deserves to win this category.

      In addition, submission of CD-ROMS or videos and audiotapes, press coverage and the like are encouraged.

      3. Entry Details

      Opening for submissions: 18 December, 2009
      Deadline of entries: 31 January, 2010

      Please send the supporting materials of your entry(s) to:

      Email: awards2010@mpas.org.sg (please indicate on the subject – “MPAS Awards 2010″)
      Tel: +65 6742-3511
      Fax: +65 6224-3225
      Add: 163 Tras Street Lian Huat Building 10-03 Singapore 079024

      5. Declaration of Entrant

      I declare that I am authorized by the company to submit entries for MPAS Awards 2010. I grant permission to MPAS to use my submitted entry in MPAS websites, display during the exhibition and for promotional, educational or for record purposes. Winning entries become part of MPAS‘s permanent collection. I declare that my entry was published/printed between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2009 and is of original work, apart from normal sub-editorial/production treatment.

      6. Entry Fees

      There is an administrative fee of S$150 per entry for non-MPAS members. The subsequent entries from the same company shall be $100.

      For MPAS members, the administrative fee is levied at S$60. A flat entry of $60 is applicable for every single entry. Multiple entries are permitted but each entry will be subjected to a separate entry fee.

      Please enclose a cheque made payable to “Magazine Publishers’ Association Singapore” together with your entries.

      7. Enquiries & FAQs

      If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact Melvin Wong at +65 6742-3511 or email at secretariat@mpas.org.sg

      Alternatively, you can contact MPAS Executive Director, James See at james@mpas.org.sg

      Please click here for the Awards entry form.

      Please click here to obtain the Awards guidelines.