Last Updated: 20-Feb-2008

Nomination process

Awards Timeline

• The Adjudication Panel recognises all projects between 1 October 2006 and 31 September 2007
• The Call for Nominations/Entries opens on 1 June 2007
• The closing date for entries is 31 October 2007
• The Adjudication Panel will workshop all the entries received in November. Finalists will be notified by mid-November
• The awards gala event takes place in December annually.

Participation and Criteria

• Communicators from all spheres of government are eligible for the awards, excluding officials from Government Communications (GCIS).
• The awards are open to government communicators, irrespective of rank.

Entries /Nominations

• Forms will be available on the GCIS website www.gcis.gov.za from June.
• Nomination forms, posters and brochures will be distributed to government departments and will be available in GCIS offices.

Guidelines for Entries

• Name
• Contact details
• Category being entered into
• Biographical sketch of individual or background information on the group nominated
• Electronic colour photograph of individual or group (critical for multi-media production)
• A motivation on why the programme/project is exceptional. This should include a media plan and a communication strategy or a document outlining the objectives; plan; purpose and target audience. Additional supportive material is critical for proper adjudication and should include summaries and examples of the products used in the execution of the communication strategy or media plan. These can include:
  • Audio visual material
  • Posters (no bigger than an A4)
  • Pamphlets
  • News clips
  • Statements or releases
  • Extracts from newspapers
  • Reference and feedback from external stakeholders
  • Other
• The closing date for nominations is 31 October 2007
• All entries must be posted or delivered to GCIS:
  • GCIS, Private Bag X745, Pretoria, 0001
  • GCIS, Midtown Building, Corner of Prinsloo and Vermeulen Streets, Pretoria.

Rules

• The process shall be open and transparent
• Entry forms that do not meet the requirements will be disqualified
• The decision of the Adjudication Panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into
• Each entrant assumes full responsibility in respect of the entry and quality of support material and discharges the Adjudication Panel from any responsibility in respect of third parties
• Members of the Awards project team and Adjudication Panel are not eligible for the awards or for nomination
• Where judges believe that an entry has been entered into the incorrect category, they have the right to change to a suitable category
• If the winner of the Government Communicators of the Year Award is an individual and leaves government within six months of receiving the award, he/she will appoint a person from his/her department to make use of the training attachment if there is one.
• Any submitted material cannot be claimed back after the competition, unless prior arrangements have been made.

Categories

Categories include:

• National Bua Award
• Provincial Bua Award
• Local Bua Award
• National Ubungcweti Award
• Provincial Ubungcweti Award
• Local Ubungcweti Award.

Bua Award

Bua means ‘to speak’ in Setswana. This category caters for Ministerial Liaison Officers (MLOs) and departmental spokespersons on individual or group level.

Entries /Nominations will be judged on:

• Reaching the objectives and target audience set out in the media plan
• Consistency of messages
• Efficient and professional media services
• Promoting the Batho Pele concept
• Originality, innovation, creativity and factual information
• Relevance to the communication environment

Ubungcweti Award

Ubungcweti is the IsiZulu word for ‘Excellence’. The award recognises excellence in content, writing, editing, layout and design in campaigns and projects.

Entries /Nominations will be judged on:

• Reaching the objectives and target audience as set out in the communication strategy and media plan
• Originality, innovation and creativity Layout and design complying with strategic plans, objectives and budget
• Realisation of team effort
• Promotion of multilingualism
• Complying with Editorial Style Guide for Government Communicators
• Relevance to communication environment
• Development Communication

Government Communicator of the Year Award

This is the main award and one winner is selected from all entries received. The individual/group shall have shown outstanding quality and excellence in the execution of duties.

Prizes

Prizes in previous ceremonies included tools of trade such as laptops, digital cameras, cell phones, fax machines, printers and airline tickets.

• Category winners receive a trophy and a certificate of recognition
• Runners-up receive a certificate of recognition.

Government Communicator of the Year

• Floating trophy for six months after which it has to be returned to GCIS
• Keepsake trophy
• Certificate of Recognition
• Training attachment for individual winners /team-building for group winners.

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