Technical Publications Competition

The FTCC Technical Publications Competition accepts publications typically published in hardcopy or designed to be printed by the user. Each entry requires four (4) printed and bound copies of the publication. The binding should be simple but sturdy, such as a three-ring binder or report folder. If the publication includes color impacting its use, color copies should be submitted so the judges can evaluate it appropriately.

If the publication is rather large and cumbersome, you may submit electronic copies in addition to the printed copies, but only if doing so will enable judges to more easily navigate through the publication. Keep in mind that printed media is what ultimately is judged; electronic versions do not play into judges’ assessments.

Please note:

If an entry is an Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file that is primarily intended to be viewed online or has interactive features, such as linked tutorials, supporting Web sites or interactive forms, it may be more appropriate to enter it in the Reference category of the FTCC Online Communication Competition.

Because there is no longer an International Technical Art Competition, winners of a Distinguished Techical Communication award in a local or regional competition may submit their entries to the International Technical Publications Competition in an appropriate category as a Design entry. For example, an art entry winning an award for Newsletter Design could be submitted as a Design entry in the Periodicals category (as opposed to a Writing entry). Similarly, a poster submitted to a local art competition in the Promotional and Informational Materials Design category might fit the Publications Technical Marketing Support category.

Categories for the FTCC Technical Publications Competition

The FTCC Technical Publications Competition has six categories:

1. Reports

Annual Reports

Annual Reports are publications summarizing the activities or financial position of corporations, government agencies or nonprofit community organizations. Annual Reports includes reports complying with government agency regulations, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as reports of unregulated, nonprofit organizations.

Technical Reports

Technical Reports describe scientific or technical efforts and are usually directed toward the professional community or a contracting agency.

2. Books

The Books category includes bound, printed matter usually sold to the public through a bookseller. For this competition, a book is defined as a lengthy document covering one technical subject that is intended for sale to the public.

3. Reference Materials

Training Materials

Training materials include student guides, tutorials, workbooks and instructor guides, or sets of these pieces. Other considerations are:

  • Good use of motivational techniques (cartoon characters, themes, human interest stories, color and so forth).
  • Layout or content that readily pulls readers in and keeps them interested in using the materials.
  • Student participation, such as exercises.
  • Mechanisms for learners to check their knowledge, such as quizzes and tests.

Documentation Sets

Documentation sets are intended to be used as a unit and are typically packaged together. Examples include, but are not limited to, software documentation sets and multivolume reference materials.

Manuals

Manuals include software guides, hardware/software combination guides, computer hardware guides and non-computer equipment guides.

Quick Reference Guides

Quick reference guides provide ready reference to features and functions about a product or service. The emphasis is on presenting essential information concisely and in a way that it is quick and easy to locate. They often contain graphic devices and other job aids to help fulfill their purpose.

Organizational Materials

The company often dictates the tone and content of organizational manuals. Organizational manuals include, but are not limited to:

  • Employee manuals
  • Policy and procedure manuals
  • Style guides

Good organizational manuals:

  • Present information essential for the successful conduct of the organization’s business to specific groups of employees.
  • Reflect the reader’s needs.
  • Present information from a fresh perspective and in a manner optimized for the reader.
  • Do not employ an offensive tone or language.

4. Periodicals

Magazines

A magazine appears as a serial publication that is covered and bound. It has features and regular columns in an established format that people recognize. Advertising may or may not be included. It is controlled by an identifiable publisher or owner and served by an editorial staff. Magazines can contain news and information about an organization, technology, industry, or scientific field. They can serve either an internal, external, special interest, or general public audience.

Newsletters

Newsletters are regularly scheduled publications with brief writings and a flexible format. They generally have lower budgets and fewer pages than magazines, and may or may not have photographs and illustrations. Newsletters are generally about a company’s employees or products, and they may be intended for an internal or external audience. Their primary purpose is to deliver information that, at the same time, will interest the reader and promote the interests of the sponsor.

Scholarly/Professional Journals

A scholarly/professional journal appears as a serial publication that is covered and bound. It has features and regular columns in an established format that people recognize. Advertising may or may not be included. It is controlled by an identifiable publisher and served by an editorial staff. Writing style may tend to be relatively formal, and design creativity may be limited, in keeping with standards defined by expectations of the profession. Journals are usually targeted for a limited and specialized audience and typically contain information about research and developments in a particular discipline or profession.

5. Articles

Scholarly/Professional Articles

A submission to this category is a single article appearing in an academic or professional journal or a scholarly book as an original contribution of knowledge. Authors of these articles have no control over their documents after they are submitted. For this reason, production, design, and typography aspects are not included for evaluation in this category. For all aspects that are included, evaluate the article only for those elements you believe the author could control.

Trade/News Articles

A submission to this category is a single article appearing in a trade journal or general interest periodical that is not an original contribution of knowledge. Authors of these articles have no control over their documents after they are submitted. For this reason, production, design, and typography aspects are not included for evaluation in this category. For all aspects that are included, evaluate the article only for those elements you believe the author could control.

6. Technical/Marketing Support

Informational Materials

Informational materials are designed to attract potential buyers while providing information about a technical or scientific subject, product, service, or organization. The materials must persuade the audience favorably toward the subject or sponsor. Visual design, including production is very important. So, too, is editing, because errors are very obvious.

Promotional Materials

Promotional materials market a technical product, service, or organization. This category includes advertisements, flyers, brochures, catalogs, and other presales literature. The materials must persuade the audience to some action, using integrated text and figures. Visual design, including production is very important. So, too, is editing, because errors are very obvious.

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