Awards Program Analysis and Questions

 

A Look at this Year's Awards

This year we had 156 total entries in 17 categories. Categories were as follows. Numbers in parentheses are the total number of entries received for the category, followed by the number of awards given.

 
  • Series of photos (8, 4)
  • Feature photo (8, 5)
  • Action photo (11, 4)
  • Magazine feature (20, 6)
  • Newspaper feature (21, 5)
  • News report (17, 4)
  • Column (11, 4))
  • Freelance journalism (24, 4)
  • Travel book (3, 3)
  • Guide book (6, 4)
  • Radio show (6, 4)
  • Radio report (1, 1)
  • TV show (1, 1)
  • Long video (1, 1)
  • Website (2, 2)
  • Humor (6, 4)
  • Conservation (10, 5)

We gave a total of eighteen 8x10 plaques ($39.95 ea.), sixteen 7x9 plaques ($29.95 ea.), twenty-five 6x8 plaques ($25.95 ea.), and five 9x12 plaques ($45.95 ea.) Total expenditure including shipping and tax was $2,300. That includes plaques for Writer of the Year, the President's Award, Californian of the Year, and two Past President Awards.

 

Limiting the awards given in each of the 17 categories to first, second, and third, would have cut the total number of awards from 61 to 44.

 

The top three award winners won 10 awards, seven awards and six awards, respectively.

 

The average number of entries per participating member was 4.1.

 

A flat $5-per-entry fee would have generated $780.

 

In five different categories, the same member took home more than one award.

 

 

Questions for Consideration

1. Are there categories you think should be added that weren't included in this year's awards? If so, what are they?

2. Are there categories you'd like to see eliminated or combined with others? Specify.

3. How many awards do you think should be given in each category? What should they be called (First, Second, and Third; First and Honorable Mention, etc.)?

4. Should the number of awards given in a category depend on the number of entries? Should there, for example, be three awards in a category even if there are only three entries? Should the number of awards not exceed one third of the number of entries, assuming at least three entries?

5. Should we give plaques, certificates, or some combination of the two? Any better suggestions?

6. Do you think an entry fee should be charged? If so, how much?

7. Do you think the total number of entries per member should be limited? If so, what should the limit be?

8. Do you think the total number of entries per member per category should be limited? If so, what should the limit be?

9. Should members be able to win more than one award in a single category?