OPEN FOR ENTRY: THE GUILD OF MOTORING WRITERS AWARDS 2018

OPEN FOR ENTRY: 

THE GUILD OF MOTORING WRITERS AWARDS 2018

• Prize fund totals nearly £14,000
• Two prestigious Awards open to non-Guild members
• Entries close 30 September 2018

New sponsors and increased prize money are among the highlights of the 2018 Guild of Motoring Writers’ Annual Awards. Entries are now open on the Guild website at http://www.gomw.co.uk/enter

There are a total of 14 journalistic awards, covering writing, photography and editing, which are open to Guild members. The prize fund totals £13,750.

Two categories, the Renault UK Journalist of the Year and the Mercedes-Benz Montagu Motoring Book of the Year, are also open to non-Guild journalists.

Several awards have revised criteria to make them more relevant to modern automotive journalism, and to encourage the type of entries judges are particularly looking for.

Peter James Insurance has joined the list of award sponsors, taking over the Editor of the Year category from DS Automobiles. Prize money has been increased both in the IAM RoadSmart Road Safety and Market Engineering Technology categories.

In each award category, a shortlist of three finalists will be selected and announced prior to the presentation evening. All three finalists will receive a complimentary ticket (worth £90) to the Guild’s Annual Dinner and Awards event. This year, it’s held on Thursday 29 November at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London.

All finalists will be featured in a special event programme available on the night, prior to the winner of each award being announced.

Each winner will receive a cheque and a crystal glass trophy. Their presentation photograph will appear in the Guild’s 2019 Yearbook – the Who’s Who in the Motor Industry. They will also appear on the Guild display at the BRDC Clubhouse at Silverstone.

Runners up will receive Highly Commended certificates.

Depending on the category entered, material (published or broadcast in the 12 months up to 30 September 2018), can be supplied as pdfs, jpeg scans or URL links to websites.

Entry material must be readily accessible from the date of entry until 31 December 2018. Entries should not be sent as time-restricted WeTransfer, Dropbox links or similar.

Books only are eligible to be entered into the Mercedes-Benz Award for the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy.

The closing date for entries is Sunday 30 September 2018

For full details on all the award categories, prize money and an entry form, go to: http://www.gomw.co.uk/enter

Candidates are advised to read the online instructions carefully before entering. Any questions about the entry procedure, contact Honorary Secretary, Chris Adamson email: honsec@gomw.co.uk

GUILD AWARD CATEGORIES 2018 – Short Listing

• AA Campaigning Journalist of the Year (prize £1,000)
• BCA Feature Writer of the Year (£1,000)
• GKN Driveline Consumer Journalist of the Year (£1,000)
• IAM RoadSmart Award (£1,000)
• Market Engineering Automotive Technology Award (£1,000)
• Mercedes-Benz Award for the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy (£1,100 / £250 / £150)
• Newspress Young Writer of the Year (£1,000)
• Peter James Insurance Editor of the Year (£1,000)
• Peugeot Motorsport Cup (£1,000)
• Photographer of the Year – General (£500)
• Photographer of the Year – Motorsport (£500)
• Prova PR Business Writer of the Year (£1,000)
• Renault UK Journalist of the Year (£1,100 / £250 / £150)
• RM Sothebys Classic Writer of the Year (£1,000)

AWARD CATEGORIES 2018 – Full Citations

AA Campaigning Journalist Award

£1,000

Open to Guild members only

This award recognises excellence in the reporting of campaigning issues that affect road-users or related campaigns within the author’s remit. The scope of the award is wide and entries can be written in a campaigning manner (i.e the journalist or publication calling for a particular course of action) or reflecting the campaigning calls of others.

The entry must express views on, or aim to change opinion about, matters of importance to readers. This could include issues such as road and motorway conditions or design; safety of road users whether in vehicles, on cycles or pedestrians; cycling; the environment including pollution and new technology; infrastructure and maintenance; car parking; motoring costs including fuel; young drivers; legislation.

The judges will be looking for a strong editorial campaigning position with, where appropriate, a clear call to action, for example to police, highways authorities, government, TFL, Europe or indeed road-users themselves.

British Car Auctions Feature Writer of the Year

£1,000

Open to Guild members only

For the best general feature (not regular column) dealing with any aspect of the motoring scene by a Guild member. The judges are looking for a feature that takes a fresh or novel approach to a topic and one which demonstrates well researched material that is both entertaining and informative.

GKN Driveline Consumer Journalist of the Year

£1,000

Open to Guild members only

For the most outstanding example of consumer journalism by a Guild member. The judges will be looking for an article or series of articles that is/are both innovative and entertaining.

IAM RoadSmart Award – making better drivers and riders

£750

Open to Guild members only

For a Guild member who has produced a piece of writing that has provoked, challenged or encouraged real change among authorities or car makers, and which shows depth of passion and commitment for the safety of road users whether inside or outside a vehicle. Your piece can be related to vehicles, awareness campaigns or even structural changes to road conditions.

Market Engineering Award for Automotive Technology Journalism

£1,000

Open to Guild members only

For a Guild member whose writing demonstrates excellence for technical audiences. The judges are looking for an ability to write features that are valued by specialists in the subject yet which are also interesting and accessible to non-specialists.

Mercedes-Benz Award for the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy

1st: £1,100 and two years’ free Guild membership

2nd: £250 and one year’s free Guild membership

3rd: £150 and one year’s free Guild membership

Open to Guild and non-Guild journalists

This award is presented to the person judged to have made the greatest contribution to recording, in the English language, the history of motoring or motorcycling in book form. There will be prizes for first, second and third place.

Newspress Young Writer of the Year

£1,000

Open to Guild members only

For a Guild member aged under 30 (at the time of entries closing), who has consistently demonstrated a combination of thorough research and written-word excellence in newspapers, magazines, online or broadcast media. This would include a broad cross-section of writers incorporating columnists, news reporters, feature writers as well as scriptwriters.

Peter James Insurance Editor of the Year

£1,000

Open to Guild members only

For the Guild member editor who demonstrates they have balanced the demands of publishers and readers while nurturing journalistic talent and successfully making the critical decisions that turn a good publication into a great one.

The judges are looking for strong leadership, innovations in the approach to editing and a keen understanding of the target audience and their requirements as well as supporting the development of their staff.

Peugeot Motorsport Award

£1,000

Open to Guild members only

The award recognises an outstanding achievement by a Guild member in the world of motorsport either writing about or competing in motorsport at any level.

Photography Award

£500 in General and Motorsport categories

Open to Guild members only

A category each for motorsport and general motoring Guild photographers. The judges are looking for an innovative or instinctive angle on photographing vehicles or motorsport action in all its diverse outlets. The winner will be selected for his or her range of photographic techniques across the full selection of their entered work.

Prova PR Business Writer of the Year

£1,000

Open to Guild members only

This award recognises excellence among Guild members who work in business media, both print and online. Judges will be looking for clarity of writing and well researched articles that help readers understand the complexities of the business side of the UK auto industry from a retail, fleet or manufacturing perspective.

Renault UK / The Guild of Motoring Writers Journalist of the Year

1: £1,100 and two years’ free Guild membership

2: £250 and one year’s free Guild membership

3: £150 and one year’s free Guild membership

Open to Guild and non-Guild journalists

The award is presented to the entrant judged to have made the most outstanding journalistic effort in a wide variety of mediums (newspapers, magazines, online, radio or television but not books). The judges place particular emphasis on initiative and endeavour.

RM Sothebys Classic Writer of the Year

£1,000

Open to Guild members only

Presented to the Guild member offering the best example of an article or feature (but not books) reporting on the world of classic vehicles. Entries should demonstrate an extensive knowledge of the subject and an interest in promoting the cause of classic motoring, whether it is cars, motorcycles or commercial vehicles. The judges will be looking for material which shows a genuine enthusiasm for the subject.