Volunteer to Judge

This year’s Touchstone technical communication competition needs experienced technical communicators to serve as judges. Although we seek experienced technical communicators, we are always happy to mentor new judges.

To volunteer to judge, download the judging application form (a Microsoft Word file), fill it out, and email the completed form to this address with the subject STC Competition Judge.

There are also downloads for judges to use.

This year’s calendar provides the dates of meetings that judges must attend.

If the balance between judges and entries is as in prior years, you will volunteer as much as forty hours of work over an approximately six-week period, working with one or two judging partners to evaluate six to eight entries.

Judging entails both collaboration and individual effort. Your team generates consensus award recommendations, but each judge provides a separate written evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of each entry.

Why volunteer to judge? Judging is good for your career. You work with other experienced technical communicators on a worthy project, and you have a chance to study some of the best work in your field. It’s also fun.

One judge, in a random drawing, will win up to $250 toward next year’s STC membership dues.

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