Seeking workable ideas for a staff "rewards & recognition" program

[Mitch Betts]

I'm looking for recommendations for how to structure a "rewards & recognition" program for the whole staff. We'd been giving $200 AmEx certificates to news reporters for extraordinary efforts each month, but we need something broader to cover the whole staff (including features, online community, blogging, copy desk, etc.). For one thing, it's not fair to be recognizing just one part of the organization.

Suggestions? What do you do to recognize super-contributions? What works? What's meaningful?

(Um, we also have to do it on an ever-shrinking budget.)

[Maurreen Skowran]

What The News & Observer started a couple of years ago has a few categories that overlap jobs and departments. These include:
* Good eye -- for visuals or finding good stories
* Good ear -- for wordsmithing
* Extra effort

There is also a separate editors prize for craft. For any of these, any one can nominate. Except for the editor's prize, winners are chosen by a rotating committee of judges.

[Mitch Betts]

By the way, Maurreen, I just want to say a belated "Thanks" for your suggestion here. Though it was the only response, it was also the best. :-) And I used this as inspiration for our new rewards & recognition program.

[Maurreen Skowran]

Mitch, glad I could be of help.
Have a good holiday.