FAQ

What Are the IABC/BC Bronze Quill Awards?

The IABC/BC Bronze Quill Awards recognize excellence in communications across a broad spectrum of disciplines. There are multiple award categories that cover everything from internal and external communications, to social media and graphic design. Unlike the Oscars, there isn’t one winner per category. If an entrant’s submission meets the requirements, the entrant receives an award.

An award-winning entry is one that demonstrates:

  • A strategic thought process, with clearly defined goals and objectives and an understanding of the audience;
  • Measurable results against those objectives;
  • A value-added contribution to the client or organization.

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Why Should I Enter?

There are a number of benefits to receiving a Bronze Quill Award:

  • Enhance your credibility. Winning a peer-reviewed award is an honour that will make your resume shine.
  • Hone your craft. The judges provide feedback to all applicants, whether they receive an award or not. This feedback will help you refine your skills and shape your career.
  • Strengthen your network. The Awards Gala provides an opportunity to meet and learn from other communicators, providing you with a unique networking opportunity that may help advance your career.

Winners Receive:

  • A personalized IABC/BC Bronze Quill Award trophy;
  • One complimentary ticket to the Awards Gala held in June;
  • Mention in a national media release.

You can also use the Bronze Quill Awards as a stepping-stone for further recognition, such as the Gold Quill or Silver Leaf competitions, or as preparation for your ABC Accreditation.
The Gold Quill Awards Program is IABC’s international competition for communicators. The Silver Leaf Awards Program is Canada’s national competition for communicators.

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Who Can Submit a Bronze Quill Award Entry?

Anyone producing business communication work as part of a strategic plan may enter. You do not have to be an IABC member to enter. Entries must be original material. If the entry involves work for a client, entrants must show proof of client permission at time of entry.

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What Projects Are Eligible for the Bronze Quill Awards?

Submissions must include original work. Work must have been produced and/or measured between April 2011 and 2013 to date. If you began a project prior to April 2011 but some element of it carried over past April (e.g. measurement of its success occurred after April 2011), it’s eligible. Projects previously submitted for the Bronze Quill Awards are not eligible.

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How Do I Enter the IABC/BC Bronze Quill Awards?

Read the Call for Entries in its entirety.  Be sure to follow the guidelines provided.  Once the Work Plan and Work Samples are completed, submit your entry(s) to the IABC/BC office either via mail or courier, or by hand.

Please note that our criteria are closely modeled after the IABC Gold and Silver Quill Award programs (you will see references to language used in the Gold Quill competition in the sections following.) This means you will be able to reuse most of the same Work Plan and Work Sample you created for those entries, if applicable.

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Who Judges My Entry?

Judging panels are comprised of IABC members, each of whom must have met one or more of the following criteria:  10 years of industry experience, hold an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) designation, or be a prior IABC Quill Award winner.  Judges are unbiased professionals who are experienced in various communication capacities. Judges’ decisions are final.

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How Are Entries Scored?

Entries in Division 1: Communication Management must demonstrate the full range of strategic communication management, including planning, management, measurement and evaluation, which accounts for 50 percent of the total score. The other 50 percent is based on the quality of the Work Sample that supports, or proves, the success of the communications plan.

Entries submitted in Division 2:  Communication Skills must demonstrate quality of the tactical component of a strategic communication project.  The Communication Skills division includes communication products (publications, advertising, websites, newsletters, etc.) that showcase technical skills, such as editing, writing and design. Entries must demonstrate creativity, measurable results and strategic alignment with their organization’s business goals. The Work Plan accounts for 40 percent of the total score, and the Work Sample accounts for the remaining 60 percent of the score.

Division 3: Communication Creative entries include projects that showcase creative talent and design that also perform communication functions. Redesign projects are also included in this division. Entrants must demonstrate innovation, creativity, strategic alignment with an organization’s business goals and effective visual communication. Work Plans count for 25 percent of the overall score, with Work Samples accounting for the remaining 75 percent.

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What Criteria Are Used to Evaluate Each Entry?

Entries are judged quantitatively using the parameters outlined in each category description. Unbiased professionals with experience in various communication capacities, will judge the Work Sample quality and the competency demonstrated by the entry (objective, strategy and measurement).

Elements of award-winning entries include:

  • Clear objectives that support business/organizational goals and demonstrate a clear understanding of target audiences;
  • Creative and effective communication strategies and activities that bring value and benefits to an organization; and
  • Measurement of the outcome of the communication program against the stated objectives/goals.

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What is the Difference Between an Award of Merit and Award of Excellence?

Scoring is based on a scale from 0 to 7. All entries with a final score of 5.25 to 5.74 receive a Bronze Quill Award of Merit. Entries scoring 5.75 and above receive a Bronze Quill Award of Excellence, representing the highest level of communication excellence. There is no award for entries with a score below 5.25.

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What if I Am Disqualified?

Any entry that does not adhere to the rules as specified in the Call for Entries will be disqualified. Notification will be made, but entry fees will not be refunded.

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Can I Get My Entry Back?

Entry materials will not be returned. Be sure to keep a copy of everything you have submitted.

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Will I Get Feedback About My Entry?

All entrants receive valuable feedback on their submission, regardless of whether or not they win an award.

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When are Submissions Due?

The early-bird deadline is noon on Friday, May 3, 2013.
The final deadline is noon on Friday, May 10, 2013.

They must be submitted to the following address:

IABC/BC Bronze Quill Awards
Office Suites
#400 – 601 W. Broadway
Vancouver, BC
V5Z 4C2

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How Much Does It Cost to Submit an Entry?

Entry Fees & Deadlines

Early Bird: Received by
noon, May 3, 2013		 Regular: Received by
noon, May 10, 2013
IABC Member: 1st entry $85 + $4.25 GST = $89.25 $100 + $5.00 GST = $105.00
Additional Entries $75 + $3.75 GST = $78.75 $90 + $4.50 GST = $94.50
Non-Member: 1st entry $110 + $5.50 GST = $115.50 $125 + $6.25 GST = $131.25
Additional Entries $100 + $5.00 GST = $105.00 $115 + $5.75 GST = $120.75

If you submit one or more entries by the early bird deadline and then submit a further entry or entries by the final deadline, the subsequent entries are subject to the Regular Additional Entry fee (i.e. $94.50 for members and $120.75 for non-members per entry).


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When is the 2013 Bronze Quill Gala Event?

The 2013 Bronze Quill Gala event will be held in June; watch the IABC website and chapter communications for the exact date, to be confirmed soon.

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Who Can I Contact for More information?

Contact Bronze Quill Co-Chair Nancy Painter, ABC, at 604.760.8741 or painters@telus.net.

 

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What Is IABC?

The International Association of Business Communicators is a professional network of about 15,000 business communication professionals in over 80 countries. IABC provides members with opportunities for professional development and sets a standard of excellence in business communications. Visit the Membership Benefits page for more information about the benefits of belonging to IABC.

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