Call for Entries

Is your current work our awardee this year?

• • Did you or your company produce great technical instruction, information, user support, or promotional content for the web, multiple platforms, and mobile devices?

  • Did you produce innovative content using AI, chatbots, apps, and websites that turbocharge support and instruction?

  • Was the content substantially revised within 24 months prior to September 1 of the current year? Help us recognize the best among us.

Why should you enter?

• • You have work you’re especially proud of, enter it so your fellow communicators can admire and recognize it.

• You have work that you’re not quite happy with, enter it to receive the advice and counsel of our experienced judges.

Who can enter?

The competition is open to anyone (student or professional) who produces technical communication, training, or content for the web and other devices. Membership in the Society for Technical Communication (STC) is not a requirement, and you don't have to belong to the STC Atlanta, New England, New York, Rochester, South Central Texas, and Washington, DC-Baltimore chapters. You may enter work as a team, an individual, or on behalf of a colleague.

What can be entered?

Best practices combined with the basic principles of technical communication must be the basis of your entry's purpose and content. The entry must focus on supporting users, informing, promoting, or teaching about technology, devices, or technical applications as described below.

Enter your best work in the following categories:

• • Instructional Materials train users on skills and knowledge using solutions like eLearning, mobile learning, workbooks, wikis, social media, facilitator guides, instructional animations, videos, student guides, tutorials, and webinars.

  • User Support Materials provide information for the user in performing specific tasks for independent use including performance support, online help, mobile help, job aids, quick start or reference guides, reference documents, user guides, and websites.

  • Promotional Materials market or promote a technical product, company, individual, or event that aims to persuade the audience to some action, using integrated figures and text. Examples may include websites, brochures, catalogs, flyers, and posters, keeping in mind that the subject matter must be of a technical nature.

  • Informational Materials inform the user about a technical product without a specific call to action. Examples may include annual reports, articles, books, error messages, magazines, newsletters, periodicals, posters, research papers, and websites.

Entries are subject to the rules that are defined in the STC Alliance Competition General Information and Rules and must

• • contain sufficient technical, scientific, medical, or similar content to qualify as technical communication,

  • have been produced or substantially revised within the past two years, and

  • have been originally prepared for and accepted for publication by a client, employer, or publisher.

Go Electronic!

(This is a call to action and we need to sharpen the content.) STC strongly encourages all entrants to submit the online version of their content or send URLs because:

• Uploading online entries is faster and cheaper for entrants

• There is less risk of damage to entries if sent online

• Distribution of entries to Judges can be done more quickly and at lower costs

There is a shipping charge for all physical entries of $15.00 per entry. For “big and heavy” print materials, we reserve the right to charge a shipping fee of $25.00 per entry.

What can I expect?

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Review last year's winners

In the words of past awardees... (Let's add more testimonials.)

General Questions

ASK Chapter Representatives: Carolyn Klinger (WDC), Phoebe Forio (404.210.2053 - Atlanta); TJ Cardenas and Scott McCoy (551.427.7420 - New York); Lara Tellis - (South Central Texas); Mike Nelson (New England) and STC Alliance Competition Chair: Malu Schloss 917-312-1567. (Remove - Too many options make it very confusing.)

Entries Managers: Malu Schloss, 917.312.1567

Interested in Judging? Call for Judges. Fill out the electronic Judging Information Form.

Training for Judges: Annette Reilly and Phoebe Forio, Trainers (Move - belongs with the call for judges.)

University Liaison: Mike Nelson (Consider 'Student Entries' and let's discuss with Council)

Publicity Manager: open (Remove - belongs somewhere else.)

Awards Manager: open (Remove - belongs somewhere else.)

Interested in seeing past winners: Review last year's winners (Moved to What can I Expect?)

Technical: Brian Flaherty (webmaster) and Nitza Hauser (Technical advisor) (Remove - belongs somewhere else.)

TechComm Roadshow: Carolyn Klinger and Malu Schloss (Remove - belongs somewhere else.)

Overall Liaison with STC International: TJ Cardenas and Carolyn Klinger (Remove - belongs somewhere else.)

Sponsorship Opportunities: We welcome sponsors for this competition! Sponsorship opportunities include the TechComm Roadshow, events, shipping, and advertising for awards celebrations in specific communities. To do so, contact any of the chapter representatives. (Remove - belongs somewhere else.)