IV. Publishing

Judging for Classes 18-24 and 26: Appropriate reading level for intended audience 5%; Well organized and logically presented 5%; Well balanced and factual 5%; Title, subtitles and headers arouse interest and guide the reader 5%; Text catches and holds reader interest 5%; Well edited 5%; Clear and concise writing 5%; Fulfills stated purpose 30%; Overall appearance 5%; Cover design 5%; Copy/illustration balance 5%; Design principle use 5%; Typography 5%; Graphic techniques 5%; Drawings/photographs 5%.

Judging for Class 25: Appropriate reading level 20%; Organization and logical flow 20%; Grammar and punctuation 20%; Titles, heads and subheads 10%; Preserved and improved intent 10%; Fulfills purpose 20%. 

Class 18 — Direct mail. Submit one or a set of up to three titles of educational or promotional publications that were mailed directly to a target audience. Entries can be self-mailers or designed for mailing in envelopes. Be sure entries include any envelopes (or other delivery vehicles) for materials that are not self-mailers. Entries will be evaluated for editorial quality, format, graphics, photography and reproduction.

Class 19 — Newsletters. Submit at least three issues of a newsletter directed to a specific audience (in-house or external). Newsletters may be educational, informational or promotional; typeset or typewritten; and photocopied or offset printed. Entries will be evaluated for content, editorial quality, format, graphics, photography and reproduction.

Class 20 — Magazines and periodicals. Submit at least two issues of a monthly, bimonthly, quarterly or semiannual magazine or periodical. They should be those prepared in a popular style for broad audiences. All must have a date and volume number indicated. Entries will be evaluated for content, editorial quality, format, graphics, photography, design and reproduction.

Class 21a — One- to three-color popular publications.

Class 21b — Four-color popular publications.

Submit one copy of a single publication or a set of up to three titles written in a popular style for a broad or specific audience. Subjects may include agriculture, natural resources, family and consumer sciences, family living, research, youth and related subject matter. Entry may be a bound, stapled, stitched or folded publication. These classes do not include magazines and periodicals as described in Class 20. If any page contains a four-color photo, illustration and/or graphic element, submit the entry in the four-color class. Entries will be evaluated for editorial quality, format, graphics, photography, design and reproduction.

Class 22 — Technical publications. Submit one copy of a publication prepared as a research report, special publication, scholarly journal, brochure or other printed material focusing on research. The audience may be scientists in agricultural or related research, professional workers in education and industry, or others interested in technical subjects. Entries will be evaluated for editorial quality, format, graphics, photography and reproduction.

Class 23 — Special reports. Submit one copy of a published report produced annually or only once. Entries may include agency reports or experiment station and extension service reports that summarize activities or work within one or more specific subject areas. Entries will be evaluated for editorial quality, format, graphics, photography, design and reproduction.

Class 24 — Promotional publications. Submit one copy of a publication, typically a brochure, flyer or pamphlet, created for promotional purposes. The publication should be designed to encourage public acceptance or to foster positive reaction. Entries will be evaluated for editorial quality, format, graphics, photography, design and reproduction.

Class 25 — Editing. Entries may be book manuscripts or publications in which the entrant's contribution is substantive editing. If the entry is a publication, submit a copy of the original manuscript, a copy of the edited manuscript (does not necessarily need to show editing marks) and a printed copy of the publication. If the entry is a book, submit photocopies of the original manuscript and the edited manuscript for the table of contents, first chapter and a chapter of your choice, and a copy of the finished book. Entries will be evaluated on how well the editing helps the publication fulfill its stated purpose and improves the presentation of its message to the intended audience.

Class 25a - Educational Packages. Entries should include a suite of print materials and related items that support a single educational program. Entries should contain multiple components (curriculum guides, games, posters) and may represent more than one medium (print, CD, DVD, Web site, etc.). Entries should describe the objectives, target audience, and editorial development and design of materials appropriate for this audience.

Information about use of resources, cost, and delivery methods should be included. Entries should also include evaluation results (simple and informal results are fine) showing the effectiveness of the educational materials. Entries will be judged on editorial development, publishing, and production values. Judging criteria and maximum points are as follows: content/editorial development, 30 points; effectiveness of design, 30 points; production/execution, 20 points; and overall results/impacts of package, 20 points.

Class 26 — Electronic publications. An electronic publication differs from a Web site, database or other electronic data in that, regardless of length, it could be or has been published under a single title as a fact sheet, circular, bulletin, newsletter, book, handbook, etc. It is not necessary for an electronic publication to have a paper equivalent, but the electronic document must be produced for onscreen delivery with obvious attention to the format, layout, text and font for enhanced usability/readability. Electronic publications will be evaluated on overall ease of use, design, editorial quality, content delivery, appropriate use of electronic techniques and appeal to the intended audience. A publication may be resubmitted in succeeding years if a description is included indicating how the publication has changed from the previous version. An electronic publication may combine text from numerous print documents to become an independent onscreen publication, or it may be a publication converted from a paper-only document with adaptations for electronic delivery. Submit the entry in the same form in which it is presented to the intended audience: URL, CD, DVD, etc. Printed documentation may be submitted along with the electronic entry.