Scrutineering Process

The Scrutineering Process

In 2014, a scrutineering process was introduced to help eliminate disqualifications through basic errors. The scrutineering process was conducted by The Conference Company and carried out after all entry deadlines have passed. The Conference Company will review all entries to check ONLY the following:

• Correct entry form used - Entries not entered on the official Comms Council entry form, or if they are handwritten or incomplete in any way. Please note every category has a separate (different) entry form.  
• Word limit - The word limit will be STRICTLY ENFORCED. Any entry that exceeds 1,200 words will be returned. The only exception is to Categories Q & U where entries that exceed 1,500 will be returned. Agencies are required to insert the word count on the entry form. Please note you should only count those words in the white answer boxes of the entry form. DO NOT count the total words on the entry form. Table/graph captions should not be included in the word count provided they are less than 10 words, eg: "Figure 1. Market share for Shampoo category." 

• Agency blind - Any entry that cites agency names or logos in any entry form (or support/campaign material) will be returned. Please note this includes agency logos on media schedules.

• Creative material - No creative material/pictorial elements can be submitted in the body of the written entry. No more than two (2) A4 pages of campaign images can be provided as part of each entry's support material. Powerpoint will not be accepted. Graphs/charts are acceptable in the body of the entry (see Other points to note below).

Should The Conference Company find any entries that do not meet the entry requirements above, that entry will be returned marked as not complying with the entry requirements. The entrant has the option to make good their entry (as per the recommendations made by The Conference Company) and re-submit their entry upon payment of an additional fixed scrutineering payment of $250+ GST per entry that is re-submitted. A deadline will be given to each entrant by The Conference Company, by which time all outstanding issues must be resolved. There is no limit on the times the entry can be re-submitted, but the final version must be submitted within the deadline with all issues resolved otherwise it will risk being disqualified at judging.

Note that the scrutineering process looks only at the "hygiene factors" above. Complying with scrutineering requirements is not a guarantee that an entry will not be disqualified on other grounds.

An entry that does not pass scrutineering and is not successfully resubmitted will forfeit the original entry fee.