Website and Electronic Communications Awards
The Construction Writers Association Website Awards were established in 1998 to acknowledge excellence in online journalism. Since then, the CWA Website Awards have expanded to include marketing-oriented websites and other digital media, such as e-newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and streaming video. These media are considered in the Electronic Communication Awards, which were added to the Website Awards in 2006.
Current Winners
The Construction Writers Association congratulates the winners of the 11th annual Website and Electronic Communications Awards, which were presented in October 2008 at the fall midyear meeting, "Smart Move-Gaining An Edge," in Chicago.
2008
Website: ENR, “ENR.com”
Electronic Communications Award: John Deere Construction & Forestry, “Electronic Communication for Deere’s ConExpo Press Conference”
Blog/Podcast: Building Design and Construction, “Webcast Series”
Award Specifications
The competition is open to any construction-related individual, company, association, advertising agency, public relations firm, or publication submitting a completed entry form accompanied by a $125.00 entry fee per entry. The website and electronic communications awards are awarded to the organization. The organization and or the individual(s) submitting the award must be a CWA member in good standing at the time of submitting information.
Awards are limited to construction-related materials. Entries can be journalism-oriented and provide editorial content that meets the information needs of the construction industry. Or, they may be marketing communications-oriented and provide corporate communications, public relations, and advertising for a construction-related entity.
Entries will be divided into three classifications:
- Website Award
- Electronic Communications Award
- Blog or webcast, if applicable
Entries will be divided into categories at the discretion of the judges. Separate awards may be awarded in sub-categories: blog or webcast should a specific entry distinguish itself to the judges. The winner or winners will receive an award plaque and be recognized at the awards dinner, in the CWA newsletter, and on the CWA website. Awards winners will be presented their awards at the Mid-Year Meeting Awards Dinner on October 16, 2008 which will be held at the Hotel Allegro in Chicago, Illinois.
The judges also may elect to award Certificates of Merit to worthy entries. Judges reserve the right to decline selecting a winner if the entries do not meet award standards.
Judges
Judging will be conducted by an impartial panel of peers with acknowledged expertise in business communication, website design and electronic communications, selected by the CWA Website and Electronic Communications Awards Committee. The committee enlists seasoned business-business media professionals to serve as competition judges. The committee serves to screen entries to ensure they meet the prescribed entry rules. No individual is eligible to serve as a judge if he or she has submitted an entry in the CWA Website and Electronic Communications awards program or is affiliated with an individual or organization that has submitted an entry. Decisions of the judges will be final.
Judging Criteria
Websites will be judged on the basis of the following criteria, each carrying equal weight:
- Quality of content
- Overall design
- Use of innovative and accessible technology
- Navigation
- Search functionality
- Interactivity
- Reason to return to site
- Meets stated objectives
Electronic Communications will be judged on the basis of the following criteria, and our judges will consult to determine if any additional criteria may be needed.
- Effective use of technology
- Quality of content
- Design and graphics
- Accessibility (ease of use)
- Meets stated objectives
- Overall impression
Entry Requirements
Entrants must submit to the chairperson of the Website and Electronic Communications Awards a completed entry form either as a hard copy via mail, fax, or as an e-mail attachment. All entries must be received no later than Friday, August 15, 2008. Entries must have been produced between January 1, 2007 and the submission deadline. Entries will not be returned. Entry forms are available in the brochure or on the CWA website at www.constructionwriters.org. An entry fee of $125.00 must be sent separately to CWA Headquarters.
Only electronic submissions are eligible for this category. Please include in the subject line on all electronic entries: CWA 2008 WEBSITE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AWARD. Printed copies of websites, screen shots, or electronic communications sent via mail will not be considered. Entries should include a specific URL for Website Awards consideration. Judges must be able to access all parts of the website or a complete digital copy of the electronic communication being submitted from time of submission through October 1, 2008. A user name and/or password must be included in order to consider any private or password-protected pages.
Electronic communications can be submitted as URLs, PDF files, or digital image, mpeg, wav, or flash files, attached to your submission e-mail. Please confirm receipt of your award entry sent via email. CWA is not responsible for ensuring that materials sent via email are received in readable form by the jury.
The entry fee is $125.00 per entry. Separate forms are required for separate entries from the same organization. Several entry fees from a single organization may be combined into one check or credit card authorization.
All entries must be received no later than Friday, August 15, 2008.
Your entry must be sent to the chairperson of the website and electronic communications awards committee.
Note: Please delete credit card information from the form you send to the chairperson:
Michael Reilly, President
Reilly Communications
By Mail: 546 East Broadway Boston, MA 02127
By Fax: 617 464-1411
By Email: mreilly@reillycommunications.com
Your payment must be sent to the CWA Headquarters:
Deborah J. Hodges, Executive Director
Construction Writers Association
By Mail: P.O. Box 14784 Chicago, IL 60614
By Fax: 773 687-8627
By Email: info@constructionwriters.org
2008 Website/Electronic Communications Award Entry Form
For Additional Information:
Contact the website awards and electronic communications chairperson, Michael Reilly at 617 464-1717 or via email at mreilly@reillycommunications.com or contact the CWA executive director Deborah J. Hodges at 773 687-8726 or via email at info@constructionwriters.org.
CWA will issue press releases announcing all winners. Award recipients may send their own release after the official CWA press releases. The CWA logo is available upon request in writing by contacting Deborah J. Hodges, Executive Director. A copy of the draft release should accompany the request for logo use.