Judges

An independent panel of judges will be appointed by SAASTA and the Saturday Star to judge the 2006 competition. You can also read the Judges Report for 2005 below, which has soime useful tips for a successful entry.

The information to be found in the entries, in general, was of a high standard.

However, in popular media - the platform on which scientists need to communicate their findings to the public - a successful feature cannot rely on information only. This is but one "ingredient", albeit an important one.

The most important criterion for success is the way it is "packaged". Indeed, you can have earth shattering information at your finger tips - yet, if you cannot communicate this information in a way that your target market will comprehend, it will mean nothing.

There is a simple test to ascertain whether you have established this connectivity. It involves only one very simple question to be answered:
will the reader be the wiser after reading your narrative?

This means you need to be able to tell your story - to communicate your information - in a way that is educative, informative and entertaining to your reader (the traditional three functions of the media).

The entries all had one thing in common: they were bursting with interesting, fascinating and stimulating "stuff".

The problem came in the way it was packaged.

Some showed promise, but could not live up to it.

So, if the prerequisite is "packaging" for mass media consumption, how do you do it?

In a nutshell:
Writing for consumption by the mass media is something completely different to writing for a scientific journal. This genre of "narrative writing" involves a different "gear" in which to tell the story - a different tone, register, style. Not inferior, not below standard, but a completely different way of "telling your story". In essence, both genres, or paradigms, involve telling a story, but journalistic style has other demands to scientific writing style.

You need to "visualise" your audience: who are they, and at which level are you going to "pitch" your story? Maybe you need a more formal, or a more informal style? Once you have established whom your story is aimed at, keep that reader in mind, and "think" your story as you tell it. Imagine your reader sitting in front of you, and you telling the story. Right on target for that specific market.

Also keep in mind that structure is important. You should use this skill as a reading aid to build into your story for your reader, to make it an easy, entertaining read. Paragraphs are important - that way you build enough "breathing space" into your story. So is punctuation. This is as important as your information, because they act as tools with which to tell your story. The same applies to the lengths of sentences - you create different atmospheres by applying these skills to your writing.

Apart from structure, also give attention to grammar and spelling. If in doubt, don't rely on spell check. Although convenient at times, it is nothing but a death trap for writers. Use a real dictionary, whether in book or e-form.

Also give attention to editing. Writing is only 50 % of every project. The other half is editing your copy. Polish your copy till you feel it has the right rhythm, structure, etc.

Be aware of clichéd writing. Tell your stories in your own words, with your constructions; don't use tired, sometimes lifeless phrases that are, as far as copy goes, really just oxygen stealers.

Also be aware of the maybe unconscious perpetuating of stereotypes (e.g. something just "known by man"?). Make it, amongst others, gender-friendly.

The heading is regarded as a "contract" with your reader. It needs to be concise, yet creative. It must contain the "seeds" from which your story/narrative will grow. You need to deliver on your contract/promise. To write the perfect heading (or at least attempt to), is part of the fun of writing articles for the popular media.

In journalism the WED-principle is mentioned quite often: writing, editing and design.

These three factors must literally "wed", come together, form one unity, to not only make it inviting for the reader, but to capture the reader into the story. After you have succeeded in turning your exciting information into exciting copy, it has to be presented in a way that captures your reader. Thus, it is also important that you start thinking visually. How can your story best be presented to get as many eyeballs glued to the pages or the screen as possible? (Or ears to the radio, of course.)

And lastly, try to capture the X-factor into your copy. Or the wow-factor.

Tell your story in such a way that people sit back and say: "Wow, I didn't know that!"

Enjoy the journey!