Technical Communications Competition 2003-2004

by Lori Shantz, Competition Manager

Have you or your company produced technical communications that you think are worthy of awards? Would you like your work to be recognized by your peers? Would you like to have your work critiqued to find out what areas need improvement? These are all reasons why you might want to participate in one or both of these Society for Technical Communication (STC) competitions:

Online Communication Competition (with categories like help systems, demonstrations, and technical marketing)
Technical Publications Competition (with categories like software guides, quick reference guides, and annual reports.)

Who is eligible?

Anyone is eligible to submit entries. You do not have to be a member of the STC. You may enter your own work or the work of a colleague or subordinate.

What can be entered?

Entries must:

Contain sufficient technical, scientific, medical, or similar content to qualify as technical communication.
Have been produced or substantially revised on or after September 1, 2001.
Have been originally prepared and accepted for publication by a client, employer, or publisher.

How are the competitions structured?

The STC's competitions recognize and encourage excellence in online communication and technical publications.

When you submit your work, it will be entered in the local/regional competition, which is the first level of competition. A local competition is held by a single chapter, while a regional competition is held by two or more chapters, usually in the same STC region.

The international online communication competition (IOCC), and the international technical publications competition (ITPC)—are the second and final level of competition. Local/regional entries that receive a Best of Show or Distinguished Technical Communication award are automatically submitted to the appropriate international competition.

What awards are given?

Entries are eligible to win one of these awards:

Best of Show (one for Online Competition and one for Technical Publications Competition)
Distinguished Technical Communication (DTC)
Excellence
Merit

Local/regional entries that are awarded a Best of Show or DTC award are automatically entered in the STC's international competitions.

Deadlines, Fees, and Where to Submit

All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. October 8, 2003.

Visit http://www.stc-soc.org/competitions.php. for entry forms (including all categories of competition), fee structure, and how to submit.

Judges

Chapter competitions cannot happen without local judges to evaluate the entries. If you are interested in helping to judge this year’s entries, please go to our Website to find information about the qualifications that you need, the judging process, and how you can sign up. We need your help to make the 2003-2004 competition a success!

Questions or More Detail

For additional entry rules, category descriptions, and entry forms, please visit
http://www.stc-soc.org/competitions.php.

If you have any questions about submitting an entry, or being a judge, please contact Lori Shantz at competition@stc-soc.org.