NEWSPAPER'S RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS GETS INTERNATIONAL AWARD

LOS ANGELES -- The Southeast Missourian's Random Acts of Kindness observance received international recognition Monday.

The Missourian earned a first-place award at the 62nd annual Editor & Publisher/International Newspaper Marketing Association Awards at the Regal Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

This year's worldwide competition drew 1,500 entries from newspapers in 25 countries in 11 languages. That marked the greatest number of entries in the competition's 62-year history.

The Southeast Missourian won first place for Public Relations Programs and Events (under 50,000 circulation) for its 1996 Random Acts of Kindness observance. Larger newspapers that won in the category were from Davenport, Iowa, Indianapolis, Ind., and Guatemala.

The awards are considered the most prestigious in the newspaper profession, signifying the very best promotional and marketing ideas. The Southeast Missourian was the only Missouri newspaper to win an award in any circulation category.

Managing Editor Joni Adams, coordinator of Random Acts of Kindness Week, accepted the award on the newspaper's behalf.

"The awards competition was truly international, and that's what made the honor so meaningful," said Adams. "Other winners under 50,000 circulation were from the Czech Republic, Australia, Japan, Honduras, Canada, Costa Rica and cities across the United States. Most of the winners came to Los Angeles to pick up their awards. The program was translated into German, French and Spanish."

The winning entries were unveiled Monday at an awards luncheon in the same hotel as several Academy Awards presentations in the 1930s. The entries will remain on display until today.

The first-round of judging by local publishing and marketing executives took place in Houston, said this week's edition of Editor & Publisher magazine. Finalists were then judged by Los Angeles-area advertising, marketing and public relations executives at Times Mirror Co.'s Harry Chandler Auditorium.

"We didn't sponsor Random Acts of Kindness Week to win awards," said Adams. "We feel the observance is a great way to build community and good feelings throughout the area. But it is nice that our efforts have spurred interest in other areas of the country and world. A gentleman came in our office last week from Vermont. He's staying with his daughter here, and he wants to bring the Random Acts of Kindness celebration back to his town. Kindness is contagious. There's no doubt about it."

All award winners are recognized in this week's edition of Editor & Publisher, one of the largest weekly publications for the newspaper industry. The award winners will also be highlighted in a "Best in Print" publication to be released later in the year by the International Newspaper Marketing Association.

The Random Acts of Kindness observance represented a team effort at the newspaper. Adams praised Teresa Connell, who designed the stickers, brochures, bookmarks, ads and all the other promotional items. Peggy Scott and other members of the Missourian staff were instrumental in bringing the concept of the week to fruition, she said.

"This is not something we did to make money," said Adams. "The newspaper absorbed all the costs for this community service project. That's really a credit to our publisher, Wally Lage, and owner, Gary Rust."

Efforts are gearing up for this year's Random Acts of Kindness Week, which begins Sunday and runs through May 17. It isn't too late to sign up, said Adams. Registration is as easy as calling the newspaper at 335-6611 or 1800-879-1210. Names of all participants will be published on the front page of the newspaper.

Free stickers, bookmarks, idea sheets, brochures, posters and more are available free of charge at the newspaper office, 301 Broadway.