Technical Communication Competition

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Deadline: 7 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, 18 November 2011

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Call for Entries

Have you or your company produced technical communication products that you think are worthy of awards? Would you like your work to be recognized by your peers? This call for entries is your invitation to participate in the Washington, DC - Metro Baltimore (WDC-MB) chapter's Summit Competition.

Who is Eligible to Enter?

Anyone is eligible to submit entries. You do not have to be a member of STC. You can be a student or a professional. You may enter work as an individual or on behalf of a colleague or member of your department.

What Can Be Entered?

Entries are accepted providing all restrictions are met. The restrictions are listed in the Entry rules.

How Are the Competitions Structured?

STC's competitions recognize and encourage excellence in online communication and technical publications. STC offers two levels of competition. The STC WDC-MB Summit Competition for Technical Communication is the first level of competition. The Society (international) competition is the final level of competition.

What Awards Are Given?

Three levels of recognition are awarded in each competition category. These awards, in descending order, are

Distinguished Technical Communication (DTC)
Excellence
Merit

These awards do not represent first, second, or third places, but instead are levels of accomplishment with reference to a standard in each category.

One Best of Show (BOS) award is presented for the entire competition. Winners of the DTC and Excellence award qualify for automatic submission to STC's international competition. The WDC-MB chapter pays the $50 (Students), $125 (STC members), $200 (non-STC members) international entry fee for each entry submitted to the international competitions.

Note: International winners at all levels are eligible to display an official STC emblem identifying the entry as an international competition winner. Washington, DC winners may display the appropriate STC WDC-MB Summit Competition Award Ribbons.

Who Gets Credit for an Entry?

Entries created by employees on company time are considered the property of the employing firm or agency. The employer decides who receives credit for these entries. If the employer or another person submits an entry without crediting some of the contributors, those contributors have no ground for dispute with STC. However, with the permission of the copyright holder, the omitted contributors may enter the same piece with credit to themselves. If either entry wins an award, both entries will receive the same award.

How Will I Be Notified?

All entries are acknowledged. All entrants will receive the judge's evaluations. Note: While we strive to provide three judge's evaluations to all entrants, we cannot guarantee that each entry will receive three evaluations.

Winners in the local competitions will be notified by e-mail in February. Award certificates will be presented at the chapter's Competition Awards Celebration on to be announced 2012. Winners who cannot attend the Awards Celebration will receive their certificates by mail.

Winners in the international competitions will be notified before the Society's 59th Annual Conference Technical Communication Summit to be held 20-23 May 2012, in Rosemont – Chicago, Illinois. There, all winning entries will be displayed, the Best of Show awards will be presented, and all winners will be honored.

Will My Entry Be Returned?

Your entry will not be returned to you unless you make special arrangements with the competition manager and provide adequate and prepaid packaging when you submit your entry. If your entry wins a DTC or Excellence award, it will not be returned unless you notify the local competition manager that you do not want your entry to compete in the STC International Summit Awards competition. No entries are returned from the international competition.

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