The Contributor recently earned two editorial awards at the International Network of Street Newspapers’ annual conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
Each year, INSP awards the best editorial entries from more than 100 street newspapers from all over the world. This year’s were judged by Angus Dixon, Head of Department of Creative Industries at Glasgow Caledonian University, who hosted the Summit; Colin Leslie, Head of External Relations at Scottish Veterans Residences; Jem Collins, Founder and Director at Journo Resources; and Dr Owen Clayton, Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Lincoln.
“The awards just show how great street papers are all over the world — the standard and variety of the work has been exceptional. From artful humorous collage to hard-hitting social commentary and moving first person testimony, it’s all there. It’s just a shame we can’t reward everyone,” said Dixon in an INSP story.
The Contributor won in the Best Vendor Article or Contribution category as well as the Best Article/Journalism. Vendor Lisa Abell won for her The Paperdoll Rebellion – A Hidden Story zine she made with The Contributor’s Unzine Project. Best Vendor Contribution judges looked for authentic vendor voice, lived experience, personal perspective, dignity, agency and empowerment. In addition to her work on the Unzine Project, Abell regularly writes for the paper under the name FreePressGMA and works on the organization’s Unseen Nashville Tours as a tour guide and lived-experience expert. She also leads a vendor poetry class and is a part of the vendor leadership committee.
“I was thrilled to find out that I won an international award,” Abell said. “It was a little bit unbelievable at first, but then when I saw a picture, I was moved that a Glasgow artist had made a custom stained glass piece to honor my work. To be honored is just unbelievable — I really appreciate all my customers and everyone in the contributor community for providing these opportunities for me and for everybody.”
Abell’s winning piece came from the anger she felt when she saw a cover of Newsweek from 1990 that looked like propaganda, the whole white family with a boy and a girl, the children shall lead them sort of thing. Contributor staff member Melissa Willis helps vendors execute their artistic vision, and Abell credits her for helping her work shine.
“If it weren’t for Melissa Willis, I don’t think that the writing would have shown as brightly as it does, because her images really met the bar when it comes to expressing everything I wanted to express in the story, including humor and irony and all the rest of it,” said Abell.
Abell sells her zines and the newspaper on the weekends at the corner of Riverside and McGavock in East Nashville.
“I will have copies of Paper Doll Rebellion at all times from now on,” Abell said. “This has been so cool to see the zine get some much face time and now it’s a possibility that it will get more. Nashville should be proud that they won an international award.”
The Contributor won for Best Article for a cover story and 40-year history of Old Tent City written by Lindsey Krinks along with several accompanying short pieces by people who experienced living or working on the grounds. The package also included images from Contributor co-founder Tasha A.F. Lemley.
The judges focused on storytelling, research and journalistic integrity, narrative depth, structure, language and tone in their decision making for the Best Article winner.
“Being an INSP award judge was an honour and hugely humbling. There is so much talent in the global street paper community! I loved viewing all the different submissions. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was picking a winner, because it feels unfair to all the other amazing entrants!” said Clayton from University of Lincoln.
Contributor Executive Director Will Connelly said that having The Contributor recognized by INSP and other peers from more than 18 countries has been a humbling experience.
“These awards belong to the writers, vendors, and editors who make The Contributor what it is today and what it has been for almost 20 years,” Connelly said. “We are indebted especially to the people who trust us with their stories and create something honest, courageous and beautiful issue after issue. We are proud to bring these awards home to Nashville and grateful to be part of a global street paper community that believes journalism can create both connection and opportunity.”