How to create your entry
Step 1
- Determine the communication programs and tools you will enter and choose the appropriate division and category (picking the right category is important for success)
- Make sure your entry abides by the IABC Code of Ethics
- Here is a customizable justification letter in case you need approval and funding for your award entry
Step 2
- Prepare the work plan (executive summary of your project)
- Division 1: Communication Management, Division 2: Communication Research and Division 3: Communication Training & Education, download this work plan
- It can be no more than four pages using a font size no smaller than 10-point and margins no less than 0.5 inch (1.27 cm)
- There are six required sections
- In addition, please include the following information at the top of the work plan:
- Entrant’s name – please provide one name only
- Organization name
- Division and category
- Title of entry
- Time period of project
- Team members, if any
- Entry summary – (100 words maximum)
- If you are entering the same program or elements of the program in multiple categories, be sure to tailor your work plan so it fits each category.
- For entries in Division 4: Communication Skills, download the questions you will be required to answer using an online form during submission
- You do not need to complete a detailed work plan for the this division
- Instead, you will need to complete a brief entry form on the awards entry website and submit it along with your work sample.
- Each question has limited character counts for responses. The work sample should represent the full scope of your work.
- Division 1: Communication Management, Division 2: Communication Research and Division 3: Communication Training & Education, download this work plan
- Please make sure you state the correct category and division on your work plan and online entry form
Step 3
- Prepare your work sample (supporting materials that show how you planned and implemented your communication program)
- It can include external links to video and audio files, Word documents, PDFs and website links.
- Your work sample should represent the full scope of your work – evaluators are looking for real examples of the work you did. Please note that evaluators have limited time to review your submission.
Step 4
- Upload your entry to Awards Force and submit payment
- You can upload your company logo and one client logo, if applicable (up to three logos maximum)
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY
Important Guidelines for Work Samples & Uploads
- All work samples must be submitted in low resolution and should be in commonly used programs (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, JPEG, QuickTime, Windows Media or PDF)
- Hard copy work samples will not be accepted
- You can submit up to 10 work samples, inclusive of URLs. The maximum file size allowed is 10 MB for each upload
- Each work sample must be clearly labelled. Judges must be able to quickly locate each sample when reviewing an entry
- Submit all work samples such as photos, videos, etc., in low resolution.
- Links to video/audio files are preferable to file uploads
- For intranets or “limited, secured access” sites, provide instructions on how to register for the site, along with an account name and/or password
- You will also be asked to submit a brief summary of your project, images, links to videos and social media handles to help us recognize your award-winning work at the awards celebration and on social media
Need Help?
For assistance submitting your 2021 IABC/Toronto OVATION Award entries, please contact toronto-info@iabc.to.
Submissions for the 2021 IABC/Toronto OVATION Awards will be accepted beginning December 18, 2020. The schedule of deadlines for this year's awards program is: All deadlines are 11:59 PM EDT. All eligible work must be implemented, published or broadcast between January 2018 and the day of submission. If a long-term strategy was developed prior to January 2018 and has not previously been entered, it is eligible for entry. If you entered your work in 2019 or 2020 and did not win an award, you may revise and re-enter your project. Entries that have won in previous years may not be resubmitted. Entrant Type Early Bird Deadline On-Time Final Member* $135 $170 $205 Non-Profit Member** $115 $115 $115 Non-Member $165 $200 $235 Entry fees in Canadian dollars (CAD). Tax Included. All deadlines are at 11:59 PM EDT. *Member must be a key contributor to the project submitted. You will be asked to provide your name and Member ID for validation. **Member must be employed by a not-for-profit, non-profit or charitable organization (excludes government agencies, public sector organizations and industry associations). Agencies or consultants entering a project implemented for a not -for-profit, non- profit or charitable organization client do not qualify for this reduced rate. Payment is the final step in the submission process. Entries must be paid in full before the deadline to be eligible for evaluation via credit card in the online system. Cheque or cash payment are not accepted. To access discounted rates for professional and student members, you need to provide your membership number. Join IABC to access discounted rates, and other membership benefits, such as: The 2021 IABC/Toronto OVATION Awards are divided into four divisions and more than 25 categories, and are open to both professionals and students. You may submit your entry in more than one category. Make sure that it meets the requirements of each category. The Communication Management division covers projects, programs and campaigns that are guided by a communication strategy. Entries to this division can be submitted by any type of organization, from governments to retail companies to services such as utilities and health care. Entrants must demonstrate how their project applied a full range of planning and management skills, including research, analysis, strategy, tactical implementation and evaluation. Entries may include a wide range of communication materials. A single tactical execution element that formed part of a communication program may also be entered in the Communication Skills division. Note: there are three sub-categories from which to choose: Entries in this division recognize the importance of research and measurement as a foundation for strategic communication work and a competency that is integral to success throughout the career of a communication professional. A clear understanding of why the research was needed demonstrates its strategic value to an organization. This division recognizes the mentorship and education role of consultants and communicators in developing and delivering workshops, classes, seminars or training that educates an audience about any aspect of the communication profession. This division includes all communication disciplines and professional competencies. Entries in this division must demonstrate: The communication skills division includes marketing and communication elements that showcase technical skills such as editing, writing, design and multimedia production. Entries in this division are generally tactical in nature. Entrants must demonstrate strategic alignment, the creative process and measurable results tied to objectives. This category includes writing in both print and electronic formats, includes online writing and blogs: You must upload your entry and pay the registration fee before the deadlines noted: Entrant Type Early Bird Deadline On-Time Final Member* $135 $170 $205 Non-Profit Member* $115 $115 $115 Non-Member $165 $200 $235 Entry fees in Canadian dollars (CAD). Tax Included. All deadlines are at 11:59 PM EDT. *Member must be a key contributor to the project submitted. You will be asked to provide your name and Member ID for validation. **Member must be employed by a not-for-profit, non-profit or charitable organization (excludes government agencies, public sector organizations and industry associations). Agencies or consultants entering a project implemented for a not -for-profit, non- profit or charitable organization client do not qualify for this reduced rate. Payment is the final step in the submission process. Entries must be paid in full before the deadline to be eligible for evaluation via credit card in the online system. Cheque or cash are not accepted. Entries may be disqualified if: YES. While entering online, you can choose the option to keep your entry private due to proprietary interests. YES. If you do not provide budget information, you will be penalized in the marking process. Ensure you check the confidentiality box on the online site when submitting your entry. If you cannot provide exact budgets due to proprietary reasons, please provide an approximate budget. There is no guarantee of winning an OVATION Award. Each entry is judged against the specific category criteria. YES. If you get these details wrong, you will be disqualified. All submissions will be deleted by June 28, 2021 by IABC/Toronto. Only those with permission are able to access the secure online management system. Submissions (work plans and work samples) will only be accepted through the online system. In your testimonial, you may insert ellipses (...) to acknowledge that the quote is not in full. Email testimonials are acceptable provided they are properly articulated and include the sender’s name, the date, etc. An electronic signature is acceptable. YES. Details on purchasing additional awards will be sent to winners as part of the Winner’s Package in April 2020. Unfortunately, we can only accept online payments at the time of submission in the online award system. If you have created an entry and have not paid or submitted it, you can navigate to Entrant and update your membership information. The new rate will be reflected when you pay. Please note, a valid member ID is required for validation. If you have already paid and/or submitted your entry, please contact the IABC/Toronto office for information. Submission deadlines
Time Frame
Entry Fees
January 22, 2021
Deadline
February 12, 2021
Deadline
February 26, 2021
Payment
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New for 2021!
Division 1: Communication Management
Category 1: Internal Communication
Category 2: Employee Engagement
Category 3: Human Resources and Benefits Communication
Category 4: Change Communication
Category 5: Safety Communication
Category 6: Leadership Communication
Category 7: Marketing, Advertising & Brand Communication
Category 8: Customer Relations
Category 9: Media Relations
IMPORTANT: Please state 9a, 9b, or 9c on the work plan and on the online entry form.Category 10: Community Relations
Category 11: Government Relations & Public Affairs
Category 12: Government Communication Programs
Category 13: Financial Communication & Investor Relations
Category 14: Issues Management and Crisis Communication
Category 14B: COVID-19 Response & Recovery Management and Communication
Category 15: Corporate Social Responsibility
Category 16: Non-Profit Campaigns
Category 17: Diversity & Inclusion
Note: there are three sub-categories from which to choose:
IMPORTANT: Please state 17a, 17b, or 17c on the work plan and on the online entry form.Category 17D: Marketing Communication
Category 17E: Social Media Programs
Division 2: Communication Research
Category 18: Communication Research
Division 3: Communication Training and Education
Category 19: Communication Training and Education
Training or educational programs delivered to an internal or external audience that help to improve their communication competencies
Division 4: Communication Skills
Category 20: Special and Experiential Events
Category 21: Digital Communication/Communication for the Web
Category 22: Audio/Visual
Category 23: Social Media
Category 24: Publications
Category 25: Writing
Helping you draft an award-winning entry
Division 1: Communication Management Resources
Division 2: Communication Research Resources
Division 3: Communication Training and Education Resources
Division 4: Communication Skills Resources
Rules
January 22, 2021
Deadline
February 12, 2021
Deadline
February 26, 2021
Frequently asked Questions
What will disqualify entries?
We do not want our work plan made public. Is there any way to keep this information private?
Do we have to disclose information regarding the budget?
If I have won in another IABC award program for the same submission, does it mean I will win automatically?
Do the judges really pay attention to details such as the permitted margin size and the length of the work Plan?
What happens to the entries after the competition is completed?
Can I submit my entry in a binder or on a CD/DVD?
I have several testimonial letters, but they mention the name of another awards program. Do I need to get authors to slightly “reword” these letters to mention OVATION Awards?
Must testimonial letters be signed?
Are winners able to purchase additional statues and plaques for team members?
How do I pay offline? I would like to pay by cheque.
I have become an IABC/Toronto member since I created my entry. Can I change my membership status to take advantage of the IABC member rate?
Questions?
Contact toronto-info@iabc.to.
IABC’s Global Seven-point Scale of Excellence
IABC award entries are scored using a seven-point global scale of excellence as a guide. All scores start at four (4), which represents a fully competent approach to communication planning and execution. Work is scored up or down, depending on the content. Scores of seven (7) and one (1) are very rare.
7 | Outstanding: An extraordinary or insightful approach or result |
6 | Significantly better than average: Demonstrates an innovative, strategic approach; takes all elements into account and delivers significant results |
5 | Better than average: Demonstrates a strategic approach and aligns the communication solution with the business need to deliver meaningful results |
4 | Average: Competent approach or results, professionally sound and appropriate |
3 | Somewhat less than satisfactory: Several key elements that are critical to the strategy or execution are missing, incorrect or under-represented |
2 | An inadequate approach or result: A significant number of critical elements are missing |
1 | Poor: Work that is wrong or inappropriate |