WAN-Ifra has extended the deadline for entries in its 2011 XMA Cross Media Awards to July 15.
Publishers are invited to submit their latest paid-for apps to a panel of media professionals in the awards, which will showcase the best smartphone/tablet apps from newspaper and magazine publishers.
The sixth annual awards, presented by WAN-Ifra, focus on creative examples of cross-media publishing. Only paid-for apps qualify for this year's awards: In addition to presenting compelling content and useful services, the winners must demonstrate well-conceived business models.
The panel of judges includes Mario Garcia, CEO of Garcia Media Group; Chris Courtney, a designer at apptivate.me and a member of the Society of News Design; Matt McAlister, director of digital strategy at Guardian Media Group; Rodger Fidler, director for digital publishing at the Reynolds Journalism Institute; Matthias Kretschmer, CEO of the online consultancy Xalmiento; Meinolf Ellers, managing director of dpa-infocom, the German News Agency's multimedia subsidiary; Mariam M. Mathew, COO of Manorama Online in India; and Stig Nordqvist, executive director for emerging digital platforms and business development at WAN-Ifra.
Apps can be news-related or services-based, or combine the two elements. The judges will consider design, content, multimedia integration, navigation, results and the business model.
"Smartphone and tablet apps represent a unique chance to win back readers and increase loyalty," says chief executive Christoph Riess. "Apps also present an opportunity to teach a new generation that content has real value – so people should pay for it."
The ten best entries will be honoured at the XMA Cross Media Awards Ceremony, to be held on October 10 at IfraExpo in Vienna. There will be a dedicated area in the exhibition hall that showcases all winning apps.
Details at http://www.wan-ifra.org/xma