MISSOURIAN TO SPONSOR PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

KINSA. What is it?

It isn't a holiday. It's not a new-fangled food. Neither is it a fashion statement.

KINSA stands for Kodak International Newspaper Snapshot Award, and the Southeast Missourian will be the only newspaper in Missouri to participate in the contest this year.

The contest is strictly amateur. But any photograph taken since Jan. 1, 1995, is eligible.

The Southeast Missourian will begin accepting entries June 22. An entry form appears in today's newspaper.

All residents of the Missouri counties of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, New Madrid, Perry, Stoddard and Madison, and the Illinois counties of Alexander, Pulaski and Union are eligible to enter.

Gold sponsors of the local contest are Wal-Mart Supercenter and Southeast Missouri Hospital. Wal-Mart will also be an official entry center along with offices of the Southeast Missourian in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Chaffee and Marble Hill.

Joyce Hunter of the Southeast Missourian is coordinating the KINSA contest.

"Because of the support of our sponsors like Wal-Mart and Southeast Hospital, we are able to make this international contest available to residents of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois," said Hunter. "We have a few sponsorships available, and invite area busineses to join us to provide this opportunity."

The local contest will run six weeks, and judges will pick four semi-finalists each week. Weekly winners will be published in color in the newspaper. At the contest's close, eight finalists will be chosen and sent on to Kodak's International judging.

The finalists will win Kodak gift certificates (valued up to $50), a professional framed and matted enlargement of their print, prizes from local merchants and a chance to win up to $10,000 in the international competition.

"Just think, any one of the thousands of photographs that are casually taken and developed by our neighbors, families and friends could end up earning international recognition," said Hunter.

In fact, Kodak will award $52,500 to 257 photo winners. In addition, KINSA winners will be displayed at the National Geographic Society's Explorers Hall in Washington, D.C., Kodak's Journey into Imagination pavilion at EPCOT Center in Walt Disney World or in New York City's Times Square.

Many of the local photographs will appear in a keepsake KINSA tabloid to be published in the newspaper Aug. 24. All photographs will be displayed at a local photography exhibition this fall. At that time, winners will receive special recognition. A People's Choice award will also receive a one night's stay in St. Louis.

There's no entry fee and no limit to the number of entries an individual may submit during the contest period. But all entries must use Kodak film and paper. Color or black-and-white prints are eligible.

All entrants will also be eligible to win subscriptions to the Southeast Missourian, comic-strip umbrellas and a variety of prizes from local merchants. The prizes will be randomly drawn.

Although KINSA is new to the Southeast Missourian, the contest boasts a 62-year tradition. More than 200 newspapers in the United States, Canada, Latin America and around the world participate.

Hunter hopes for great numbers of entries.

"Taking snapshots is a common experience shared by people of all races, nations and religions," she said. "Snapshots allow us to stop time and hold a memory throughout our life and share it with the generations to come. This coupled with the affordability of taking pictures is really an experience that binds us all together."

For more information on KINSA, contact Hunter at 573-334-7115 or 1-800-444-4812.

An official copy of the KINSA rules appear in today's Southeast Missourian and will be posted at official entry centers.