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[GWL]: Judging The Awards

Lon raises a legitimate issue; the standards used by judges for the GWAA
awards.  I was a judge maybe ten years ago and it was a very demanding and
difficult task.  At that time the judges were selected because they in their
own right had achieved some success in the category they were assigned; I
was doing videos and television.  I had quite a few entries to evaluate.
After I chose my winners, I had several other judges take a look at the
choices and determine if I had overlooked anything. I can't remember if
there were any adjustments made, but we had that option.  We were as
thorough as we could be within the time frame but in the end our decisions
were professional judgments that of course are subjective as can be.  We all
participated in the big awards and many of us reviewed other categories to
get as much balance into the process as was feasible.  I don't know how the
judges are chosen now; maybe the same way; does anyone on the list know?  I
know I would not like to have a numbering or scoring system imposed on my
judgment.
The number of entries in each category probably has a lot to do with the
quality of the results.  The more entries in a category, the more likely you
will have one or two entries clearly better in all respects than the rest of
the entries; all of which may be very good professional products.  I am
wondering if the number of entries each year have been going up with the
increase of the membership; I suspect not.  I think a lot of members are
disenchanted with GWAA awards, and it's going to take a new approach to kick
the value of the process up to where it should be.
In the end I believe the judges have to be allowed to remain subjective, but
I would like to be sure that however they are selected, the judges represent
the highest standards in their own performance or production.  I know there
have been some judges who are experts in a craft - photog, writer, etc. -
but not necessarily in garden writing.  There I think they are making a
mistake.  All judges should know the garden writing business well, in my
view.
I know that when I came back from being a judge I had a whole lot more
respect for how much better many of my colleagues were writing than I was.
I think my own standards for myself went up after the experience.
Suzi and her crew probably should look into how the judges are chosen and
find a way to make the membership comfortable with the quality of that
group.  I think it is critical to get the number of entries up in each
category.  Then with the increased promotion and the increased competition,
those awards are going to become professionally important to the winners.  I
think we have to be willing to apply and lose a few times.  Winning needs to
mean something more than just paying ones dues.  One should have to create
superior product measured against other very good professional product to
deserve a top award.
Jeff Ball

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