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 that impacts how it is used, then color copies should be submitted so the judges can evaluate it appropriately.

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

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, interactive forms, etc., it may be appropriate to enter it in the Reference category of the FTCC Online Communication Competition.

Note:  Because there is no longer an International Technical Art Competition, winners of Distinguished or Excellence awards in Chapter and Community art competitions may submit their entries to the International Technical Publications Competition as a Design entry in a corresponding category. For example, an art entry that won an award for Newsletter Design could be submitted to the Periodicals category as a Design entry (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.

What are the Categories for the FTCC Technical Publications Competition?

The FTCC Technical Publications Competition includes the following 6 categories:  Reports, Books, Reference Materials, Periodicals, Articles, and Technical Marketing Support. 

1. REPORTS

Annual Reports

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

Technical Reports

Technical Reports report on scientific or technical efforts, usually aimed at 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. Some 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, multivolume reference materials.

Manuals

The following guidelines apply to all manuals, including 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 find. 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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