A. Calendar: for the monthly calendar of social and official events. The calendar should be easy to find in the newsletter, and should present events in a manner that both old and new members find inviting and welcoming. Descriptions should allow the reader to easily determine the nature of each event and should include all relevant information, such as date, time, place, directions, dress, cost, guest policy, and contact information. Language should assure even the most hesitant members that they will be welcome at any listed event.
B. Forum: for the monthly Letters column and/or Forum. This award recognises a neighbourly and open exchange of opinions and ideas presented in a clear and interesting manner, free of hostility and rancour. Since a platform for an open, informative debate fosters one of the constitutional purposes of Mensa, "to provide a stimulating intellectual and social environment for its members," the focus of this category is on material expressing opinions of individual members and the freedom the editor allows for its exchange.
C. Reporting: for the regular reporting of local and national Mensa news and politics. Reporting should be fair, open, and free of bias, clearly distinguishing fact from opinion, and should inform the membership before, during, and after events which define the local group and British Mensa as social and political bodies.
D. Member Recognition: for the regular identification of local group members in reports of activities and events and in all other reasonable contexts. This award encourages the recognition in the newsletter, in any number of ways, of as many members as can and should be acknowledged, including, but not limited to, such items as thanks or accolades when appropriate, new member profiles and welcomes, birthday and Mensa anniversary listings, mention of personal or professional achievements, and participation in Mensa events. This award recognizes the newsletter most likely to lead each reader to believe this is his or her newsletter, published by his or her local group.
E. Overall Service: for highest achievement in the above sub-categories.
A. Puzzles and Games: for consistent offering of a diverse and satisfying assortment of games, puzzles, or problems requiring solutions, especially those which are original, unusual, or uniquely presented. When required, solutions should ultimately be provided. If readers are asked to present solutions, solvers should be identified.
B. Humour: for the regular presentation of columns, stories, essays, spoofs, satires, cartoons, or other items of intentionally and successfully humorous nature.
C. Fiction: for the newsletter that regularly presents a variety of interesting, well-written fiction, identifiable or identified as such.
D. Theme Issue(s): for the complete and thorough manner in which an identifiable theme is carried out through an issue or over a series of issues. A thematically cohesive issue will include a number of related articles, essays, letters, graphics, and/or other relevant items which have been submitted by several contributors, and will explore the selected topic in reasonable depth and breadth.
E. Poetry: for the newsletter that regularly presents excellent serious andlor humorous poetry.
F. Overall Entertainment: for highest achievement in the above sub-categories.
A. Details: for a consistently cleanly-produced newsletter, free of typographical errors, and incorporating good grammar and syntax, correct spelling and punctuation, appropriate credits and permissions for reprinted and/or copyrighted material, proper use of the Mensa logo, identification of authors and contributors, and other indications of care taken by the editorial and/or production staffs.
B. Layout: for a visually appealing layout that presents the content of the newsletter effectively without confusing or distracting the reader, and without calling attention to itself. Items should flow visually and logically from one column or page to another. Graphic elements, including type, illustrations, rules, boxes, shadings, and colour should be used to enhance the pages, rather than to demonstrate possibilities or to clutter an otherwise readable page. Type sizes and styles should be well chosen and used effectively.
C. Artwork: for the regular inclusion of artwork, original or "clip art," hand drawn or computer generated. This award is for the editor's selection and presentation of art to enhance specific text items and/or the overall appearance of the newsletter. Artwork accompanying an article should be used effectively to illustrate or support its content or tone. Artists, and when appropriate, media, should be identified.
D. Photography: for the use of original photography, well-reproduced in the newsletter. For each photograph, the photographer and the subject, and other relevant information, such as the date and place of a local group event, should be identified. People in photos should be named. Cover photographs should be visually compelling to capture the reader's interest and photos as works of art should be aesthetically appropriate.
E. Overall Presentation: for the highest achievement in the above sub-categories.
A. Puzzles and Games: for one or more original puzzles, games, or problems requiring a solution.
B. Humour: for one or more textual and/or graphic works of an intentionally and successfully humorous nature.
C. Fiction: for one or more well written works of fiction, judged on originality (is it a new idea? A new twist? An original execution?), appeal (Would you reread it? Recommend it to others?), and structure (Are the author's ideas expressed well? Is the piece developed logically? Does the language flow appropriately for the work?).
D. Poetry: for one or more original works of any form of serious or humorous poetry.
E. Artwork: for one or more original works of art in any medium or media.
F. Photography: for one or more original photographs used in the newsletter either to supplement text or as standalone works of art.
G. Essay: for one or more original essays that express a fresh point of view in a rational, compelling, and informative manner.
H. Continuing Item: for a regularly appearing textual and/or graphic item which maintains a high standard of informative and/or entertaining writing and/or visual appeal and sustains substantially the same format in at least two of the three submitted issues. Any type of article may be considered for this award.
I. Editorial: for a consistently interesting, informative, entertaining, appropriate, and well-written column written by the newsletter's editor.
J. Regional Groups Officer‘s: for a consistently interesting, informative,
entertaining, appropriate, and well-written column written by the local
RGO, and appearing in three submitted issues.