2006/2007 Technical Communication Competition

by Ruth Haworth, 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 the following 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, 2004.
• Have been originally prepared and accepted for publication by a client, employer, or publisher.

How are the competitions structured and awards given?

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 Southwestern Ontario regional competition, which is the first level of competition. Entries can win one award—Distinguished Technical Communication (DTC), Excellence, or Merit.

The International Online Communication Competition (IOCC), and the International Technical Publications Competition (ITPC)—are the second and final level of competition. Regional entries that receive a Distinguished Technical Communication award are automatically submitted to the appropriate international competition.

At the international level, a different set of judges reviews the entries and issues awards. At this level, entries can win another award—Distinguished Technical Communication (DTC), Excellence, or Merit. Those who win a DTC at the international level for their competition (IOCC or ITPC) may be awarded the Best of Show award, because one is awarded in each of the competitions.

Deadlines, Fees, and Where to Submit

All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. November 3, 2006.

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

Call for 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 contact Ruth at competition@stc-soc.org or complete the I Want to Judge! form.

Questions?

For additional entry rules, category descriptions, entry forms, and I Want to Judge! form, please visit http://www.stc-soc.org/competitions.php.

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

About Ruth Haworth

Ruth Haworth has worked in Canada, England and Africa as a technical writer, journalist, research analyst and administrator. After 25 years away, she returned to her hometown of Waterloo in 1999. She currently enjoys working at Sybase iAnywhere Solutions as a Senior Staff Information Developer and living in a 100-year old primary school in Waterloo.