MAIN | THE DIARIST AWARDS | PROCESS

THE DIARIST AWARDS Award Process The Diarist Awards are given quarterly, or every three months. For simplicity's sake, North American seasonal designations -- Spring, Summer, Winter and Autumn -- may also be used informally, although we are aware these differ by hemisphere. The entire process is overseen (but not controlled or micromanaged) by the advisory group, a fancy name for the members of an open, unmoderated mailing list. It is here that all aspects of the overall awards program are discussed, and where changes to procedures or restrictions are decided. Anyone is welcome to participate in this forum, but a serious interest in running a credible, successful awards program should be a prerequisite. Following the conclusion of the previous quarter, the next finalist selection panel is built. This group is made up of nine "seasoned online journalers" — generally defined as individuals with web diaries who have written for six months or have 48 total entries accumulated — two non-voting "advisors" from the previous award panel, and one alternate panelist (who does not participate or vote unless a voting panel member withdraws). To volunteer to serve on the panel, please fill out this form. Members of the finalist selection panel will generally be chosen first-come, first-served, but with an eye toward creating panel diversity in any number of categories, including sex, age, community visibility and location, among others. Those volunteers who are not selected will usually be invited to participate in the next award cycle. The first task of the panel is to fill several specific roles, and become familiar with each other, the work to come, and several important guidelines. These are all outlined in the panel guide. Each member of the panel is expected to take on a specific and substantial secretarial task, in addition to ultimately visiting and spending some time touring each eligible nominated site. This is no small undertaking, as there may be well over two hundred nominees submitted. After the panelists are in place, the open nominations phase (two weeks) begins. The restrictions on site or entry eligibility are: Nominated entries must have been written during the award period (or, for example, October 1 to December 31, 2002 for Fourth-Quarter 2002). Nominees for "Best New Journal" must have started no earlier than the start of the preceding award cycle (or July 1, 2002 for Fourth-Quarter 2002). Diarists are eligible to win any given award only once in a 12-month period. You may consult the list of recent winners. Entries must be written or posted during the specified award period (except Outstanding Entry, which covers older pieces). Finalist Selection Panel members are ineligible for all awards during the quarter in which they serve. Those submitting nominations must include a valid URL for their own web journal (which will be subject to random spot checks by the panel). No self-nominations are accepted. Duplicate or organized mass nominations may be disqualified. After all the nominations are collected and reviewed for eligibility, nominees are notified and given 3-5 days to comment. Then the finalist selection phase begins. Nominees (and their comments if applicable) are distributed to the finalist selection panel to be narrowed down to three finalists per category. Finalists are decided by via a private but unmoderated mailing list. Once the finalists are decided and announced, the open voting phase (two weeks) begins. The criteria for voting are essentially the same as for making nominations. If for any reason an ineligible diarist or entry is erroneously named as a finalist, (1.) public notice is made, (2.) the finalist receives special recognition for excellence, (3.) the finalist is removed from the category (but not excluded from future awards) and replaced with the next eligible nominee, (4.) and invalidated votes are discarded, with voters receiving a specific invitation to revote. The winners are announced three months after the end of the award period. Thus, Fourth Quarter 2002 awards, which cover entries written between October and December, are announced at the beginning of March. All questions, comments, and suggestions relating to these awards should be sent via e-mail, directed to the public advisory group or posted in the awards message forum.