Technical Publications Call for Entries

Who is Eligible

You may submit entries if you are a technical communicator or a student of technical communication. You do not have to be a member of the STC. You may enter as an individual or on behalf of a group or subordinate. When you fill out the online entry form, you must confirm that the owner of the work provides permission for entry and public display of the work.

Entry Criteria

Entries must be in English and must contain sufficient technical, scientific, medical, or similar content to qualify as “technical” communication. Entries must have been produced after February 1, 2002. Entries must have been originally prepared for a client, employer, or publisher (except student entries) and must have been accepted for publication (print or electronic). Entries may not have been entered in any previous STC competition unless substantial changes have been made since the prior entry.

Judging

Judges are volunteers with professional expertise in technical communication who are assigned based on their stated areas of expertise. Judges evaluate each entry according to its own merit and how well it meets its stated purpose and fulfills the needs of its audience. They may consider additional criteria (based on the category of entry) that include, but are not limited to, writing, organization, graphics, usability, aesthetics, and the integration of these elements within the overall presentation. A panel of judges evaluates each entry and may designate as many or as few awards as it feels appropriate in each category. Judging will be complete by November 2002.

Judges evaluate each entry based on the stated entry objectives, project limitations, production methods, and other factors. It is important that you clearly and fully state all project information that may be pertinent to the entry when you fill out the entry form.

Awards

Three levels of recognition may be awarded in each category. These awards are, in descending order, Distinguished, Excellence, and Merit. One Best of Show winner will be selected from the Distinguished winners.

Winners of the Distinguished award qualify for entry in the STC’s International Technical Publications Competition. If your entry qualifies, it will be submitted by the Chapter at no additional cost to you.

Fees

The entry fee is $70 per entry ($85 if none of the listed authors are STC members). Entry fees are not refundable. Please make checks payable to: Boston Chapter, STC.

How To Enter

Three copies of each entry are required. Documentation sets will not be accepted; you must submit each item separately. Tear sheets must be bound in some way; unbound, stapled, or single sheets will not be accepted.

To enter online, complete the entry form at http://www.stcboston.org/competitions/entry_registration.shtml. Follow the instructions to complete the online entry form, send your payment, and the three copies of your entry.

Send three copies of your check to:

Send the entry fee to:

Deadline

All entries and entry fees must be postmarked by the deadline shown in Dates and Locations.

Notification of Results

Winners are announced publicly at the Awards Banquet in February. Within six weeks of Consensus Judging, the entry’s contact person will receive award results and judges’ comment sheets. All entries become the property of the Boston Chapter STC.