Understanding Awards for Children’s Books and Media The How and Why of Who and What Wins Francisca Goldsmith, for Publisher Spotlight 10/15
Be an informed award consumer What organization sponsors the award? How are award judges selected? What specific rules are applied to identify qualified award candidates? What’s available among all qualified award candidates? What influences the judges as a group and as this particular group?
Why is this award supported by its sponsor? Who are any cosponsors and what role(s) do they play? What is the purpose of this award in terms of sponsoring organization’s public recognition? Award Sponsorship Organization purpose Award focus related to organization mission
How does the sponsoring organization determine each season’s judging panel for this award? Elections? Appointments? Multiple year service? How are award judges selected? Expertise Related professional qualifications
Are eligibility rules available for you to read to understand? Is the makeup of the judging panel consistent with the expectations the rules give them responsibility for interpreting? Rules Determining eligibility of works Operating practices defined for judging panel
Are the number of candidates fitting the award criteria scope in the double, triple, or potentially higher number of digits? Do the rules describe how judges are supposed to attain insight across the spectrum of eligibles? Is there an award criterion linking selection to a contemporary event beyond the judges’ capacity to alter? Availability of Competitors The size of the eligible field Resonance between criteria and public environment
Group Dynamics Working methods of this specific judge panel Personal and interpersonal influences