Construction Writers Association Announces Website and Electronic Communications Awards Program

August, 2007

(Buffalo Grove, IL) The Construction Writers Association Website Awards were established in 1998 to acknowledge excellence in this recent form of journalistic enterprise. Later, CWA began accepting marketing-oriented websites for judging as well. A surge in the use of digital media is expanding the web and electronic genre. There are e-newsletters, e-zines, blogs, wikis, podcasts, webcasts and more. So in 2006, CWA broadened its Website Award competition to include Electronic Communications Awards.

The CWA competition is open to construction-related individuals or organizations - and to construction-related websites or electronic communications. The deadline for entries is August 24, 2007. Judges must be able to access all parts of the website or a complete copy of the electronic communication being submitted between August 15 and October 1, 2007. The fee is $100 per entry. Awards will be presented at an awards dinner on Thursday, October 11, 2007, during CWA's midyear meeting in Chicago, IL. The presentation will be made by this year's awards chairman, Beth Margulies of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

Websites will be judged on the basis of the following criteria, each carrying equal weight:

Quality of content
Use of innovative and accessible technology
Interactivity
Overall design
Navigation
Search functionality
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. Since this is the second year for this award, flexibility in criteria is required to manage a fair competition.

Effective use of technology
Quality of content
Design and graphics
Accessibility (ease of use)
Meets stated objectives
Overall impression

Judging will be conducted by an impartial panel of peers with acknowledged expertise in business communication, website design and electronic communications. No individual is eligible to serve as a judge if he or she has submitted an entry in this awards program or is affiliated with an individual or organization that has submitted an entry. At the discretion of the judges, entries may be divided into additional categories; for example, the judges may create separate awards for e-newsletters or blogs. Whenever possible, winning entries will be linked to the CWA website.

Complete details and entry forms may be obtained by contacting the Construction Writers Association office (847-398-7756; office@constructionwriters.org) or may be downloaded from the CWA website at www.constructionwriters.org.

Construction Writers Association is a non-profit, non-partisan, international organization for journalists, publicists, photographers, and marketing communications professionals serving the information needs of the construction industry. By providing opportunities for networking, education, recognition, and fellowship, CWA helps foster a strong community—and improve the quality of construction writing. CWA's website is www.constructionwriters.org.

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Deborah J. Hodges
Executive Director
P.O. Box 14784
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Telephone 773 687-8726
Fax 773 687-8627
info@constructionwriters.org