2024 TAWA Excellence In Craft Competition

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

ENTRY RULES

Recognition and encouragement of excellence in automotive journalism are the goals of the Texas Auto Writers Association’s annual Excellence in Craft Competition.

CALL FOR ENTRIES Eligible entries for the 2024 competition include automotive-related content that has been published or has an on-air date from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. All entries must be in English.

ENTRY DEADLINE *JULY 15, 2024* for entries with a publication or on-air date from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. 

The competition is open to TAWA members in good standing. An eligibility exception applies to the Texas Truck Invitational Writing categories, in which non-TAWA members are invited to participate. Entries must be in English. 

EICC fees: 

Journalist members pay a flat fee of $15.00 per entry; non-member Texas Truck Invitational entrants pay $25.00 per entry.

TEXAS TRUCK INVITATIONAL

This competition invites TAWA members, along with non-members worldwide, to enter their works in exclusive truck-writing categories. A range of truck-related writing topics are eligible for entry, which cover light- and medium-duty passenger and commercial trucks/pickups – Classes 1-6 (up to 26,000 pounds GVWR) -- vans, chassis cabs, SUVs and CUVs.

Articles on the aforementioned topics are judged in two segments: features and reviews.

Along with traditional first-, second- and third-place awards, an overall award winner will be chosen from first-place winners of both segments. The top awardee will receive a prize valued at $200.

NEW for 2024: Entries in the TAWA events coverage category will be considered for TAWA Journalist of the Year Award and a prize valued at $200. 

CATEGORIES

1. WRITING

** PLEASE NOTE NEW CATEGORIES **

EICC/TAWA MEMBERS ONLY: All automotive-related works

A.  Features

- An article written in storytelling style in a print/online publication. 

B.  Reviews

- An article written as a review of a specific vehicle in a print/online publication. 

TEXAS TRUCK INVITATIONAL: Truck-related articles only. Non-members are invited to enter. Truck-related writing topics eligible for entry include light- and medium-duty passenger and commercial trucks/pickups – Classes 1-6 (up to 26,000 pounds GVWR) -- vans, chassis cabs, SUVs and CUVs.

A. Features 

- An article written in storytelling style in a print/online publication. 

B. Reviews

- An article written as a review of a specific vehicle in a print/online publication. 

NOTE: Writing categories are judged solely on writing excellence, and associated photography and graphics are not part of the judging criteria.

2. RADIO/PODCAST

Single episode or broadcast.

3. VIDEO

YouTube or broadcast TV presentation.

4. PHOTOGRAPHY

A.  Static photo: single published photo on any online or published media (includes any online site or social media channel). 

B. Action photo: single published photo on any online or published media (includes any online site or social media channel).

5. SOCIAL MEDIA

Three (3) examples of social content about the same vehicle (may be on different channels).

6. TAWA EVENT COVERAGE [NEW!]

Includes articles or video related to the TAWA Auto Roundup or Texas Truck Rodeo.
**Entries will be considered for TAWA Journalist of the Year Award*

ENTRY GUIDELINES

All entries must be published works. Up to four entries may be submitted in a single category. Entrants can submit their works in as many categories as they like. The same piece of work cannot be entered in separate categories, with the exception of a truck-related article, which can be entered in both TAWA-members-only and Texas Truck Invitational Writing categories.

Entrants will compete for first-, second- and third-place awards. An overall award winner will be chosen among the first-place Texas Truck Invitational category winners. Judges may select high-quality entries that didn’t place for Special Recognition awards.

In cases where more than one person (i.e. co-written article, radio show discussion, team page design effort) contributes to a winning entry, only one award will be presented.

An entrant is limited to one award per category. TAWA members entering duplicate truck-related articles in both the TAWA members-only and Texas Truck Invitational Writing categories are eligible to win an award in both categories. Late entries and those without entry fees or completed entry forms will not be judged.

JUDGING

All judges are accomplished professionals in their fields. Judges for the Texas Truck Invitational are noted writers and editors with decades of experience, who work or have worked for major national automotive publications. 

Entries will be judged on eight criteria. The scale is 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest score. The maximum score is 80.

ENTRY FEES

TAWA members . . . $15.00 per entry

Non-members – Texas Truck Invitational . . . $25.00 per entry

Entrants will be invoiced after submission.

See EICC PAYMENT INFORMATION section for detailed payment information.

ENTRY FORM

** EACH ENTRY REQUIRES A SEPARATE FORM **

Select the ENTRY FORM box to access the entry form. The ENTRY FORM must be submitted with each entry, and be filled out completely. If an entry is entered in the wrong category, the EICC Chairman or judges can reassign the entry to the appropriate category.

Space at the bottom of the form may be used for notes/entry explanations to the judges. Keep the note no longer than 100 words.

ENTRY PREPARATION / JUDGING CRITERIA

FEATURES AND REVIEWS

Entries require the specific URL address in which the entry appears. This must be a permanent link to the page, without the need to register, join or pay to view the entry. Articles that are behind a paywall or require special access will be accepted if judges are provided login credentials. If articles other than the entry appear at the same web address, a note must be included on the entry form that clearly directs the judge to the entry. Please test the link before submitting the entry.

The entry must show the author’s byline, publication date and name of publication.

In special cases, such as when providing a permanent link is not possible or an entry will be purged from a website before judging, a screenshot of the entry in original, in complete published form is acceptable. The screen grab must be a readable 100-percent-magnification example of the original article. Multiple pages may be submitted as necessary or a high-resolution single copy of the full original article is acceptable.

JUDGING CRITERIA

RADIO AND PODCAST ENTRIES

Entries must be submitted as aired, unedited and be no longer than 10 minutes. Judging for longer-running entries will stop at 10 minutes. A letter from the station manager or program managers attesting to the on-air date may be required for radio entries.

Judging is based on the creative approach, technical knowledge, and overall impression. An entry requires the specific URL address in which it may be reviewed. This must be a permanent link to the page, without the need to register, join or pay to view the entry. Articles that are behind a paywall or require special access will be accepted if judges are provided login credentials.  Please test the link before sending. If other materials appear in the same web address, a note must be included on the entry form that clearly directs the judge to the entry.

JUDGING CRITERIA

VIDEO ENTRIES

Video entries require the specific URL address in which the entry appears. This must be a permanent link to the page, without the need to register, join or pay to view the entry. Videos that are behind a paywall or require special access will be accepted if judges are provided login credentials.  Please test the link before sending. If other materials appear in the same web address, a note must be included on or attached to the entry form that clearly directs the judge to the entry. Entries posted on social media websites such as Facebook will be accepted.

Entries must be submitted as aired/published and be no longer than 10 minutes. Judging for longer-running entries will stop at 10 minutes. The entry must show the presentation’s title, publication date and name of publication or presenter.

JUDGING CRITERIA

PHOTOGRAPHY ENTRIES

Color and black-and-white photos are accepted. The photo subject must be automotive related (no landscape-only photos of where a vehicle may travel). Entries posted on social media websites such as Facebook and Instagram will be accepted.

Print entries must include a digital file of the printed page on which the photo appears. The page’s specific URL address must be included on the entry form. The printed piece must show the photo credit line, publication date and publication name.

JUDGING CRITERIA

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN ENTRIES

Entries for the Social Media Campaign category include

All three (3) entries' URL address is required on the entry form, and must be a permanent link to the page, without the need to register, join or pay to view the entry.

Please test the link before sending. A screenshot of the original work at 100 percent magnification is acceptable.

JUDGING CRITERIA

TAWA EVENT COVERAGE ENTRIES

Entries for the TAWA Event Coverage category include videos, radio, podcast, or writing specifically related to the TAWA Auto Roundup or Texas Truck Rodeo.

The URL address is required on the entry form, and must be a permanent link to the page, without the need to register, join or pay to view the entry. Please test the link before sending. A screenshot of the original work at 100 percent magnification is acceptable.

JUDGING CRITERIA