THE HMAA LAUREL AWARD CATEGORIES 2009
               AND GENERAL NOTES

1. HMA Paper Laurel
Outstanding achievement in communicating through print media (magazine/newspaper).
Must be inspirational and communicate with its particular audience.

2. HMA Book Laurel (3 Awards - Technical, Environmental, General)
Original book by an Australian or New Zealand writer published between 1 August 2007 and 30 August 2009 in one of the following categories:
2.1 Technical – a book displaying a high degree of factual, detailed information on a specific or range of topics
2.2 Environmental – a book focused on environmental issues identifying the problems and proposing solutions.
2.3 General – a book written for general garden appeal that is interesting, informative and entertaining

3. HMA Image Laurel
Outstanding achievement in communicating through visual means
(photography/illustration/camera work), judged on a single image or series of images or segments.
Must have horticultural significance and be visually appealing.

4. HMA Information Technology (IT) Laurel
Outstanding achievement in communicating through a website or CD Rom.
Should be user friendly, innovative and original, have accurate information, visual appeal and be of value to its users.

5. HMA Radio Laurel (2 Awards- Metropolitan & Regional)
Outstanding achievement in communicating through a radio programme, segment or series.
Should include a wide range of horticultural matters; be fun, innovative, topical, informative, creative and an overall inspirational broadcast.

6. HMA Television Laurel (3 Awards – Technical, Environmental, General)
Outstanding achievement in communicating through a television programme, segment or series in a wide range of horticultural matters. An entry can only be nominated under one of the following categories;
6.1 Technical – a high degree of factual, detailed information on a specific topic or range of topics
6.2 Environmental – a focus on environmental issues that identifying the problems and proposed solutions.
6.3 General – has good garden appeal that is interesting, informative and entertaining.

7. HMA Gold Laurel - Hall of Fame Award
Longstanding contribution for communicating and encouraging “a love of gardening” to the general public – the Gold Laurel could be awarded to a writer, broadcaster, photographer, publisher, educator, artist or organiser etc. This is a very special award and requires a separate written nomination which is to be forwarded through your state HMA.

GENERAL NOTES FOR APPLICANTS 2009

To assist in preparing your entry, here is a general criteria that you may wish to consider when presenting your application :

Identify your audience - local, regional, national or international. Level of expertise will vary also (student/home gardener/qualified horticulturalist etc.). Each entry should be considered in the context of its target audience.

Does your entry have a clear aim to educate, inspire, entertain, challenge, intrigue, inform, empower (or a combination of the aforementioned) the target audience?

How successfully does your entry meet its aim(s)?

Is your entry factually accurate in the context of its target audience? (eg. recommendations/facts may differ for a local audience with specific conditions, and a wider audience)

How different/ exceptional/original/innovative is your entry? Does the entry present an old topic in a fresh way?

Does your entry reach or create a new or unusual audience?

How does your entry inspire/enthuse/entertain or confront/challenge/intrigue its target audience?

Identify the key components of how your entry holds the attention of its target audience throughout its entirety?

Is the entry of exceptional depth, breadth or scope? Is it topical?

Is your entry of exceptional technical quality in the relevant medium/media (language, structure, layout, composition, production etc.)?

 

REGULATIONS AND RULES OF ENTRY 2009

All entries must be original, and must be new works
published or produced by an Australian or New Zealand
creator between August 1, 2007 and August 31 2009

A single gardening or horticultural article is defined as a story, column,
or feature written by an individual and published within a newspaper, magazine or serial publication.

A gardening or horticultural magazine is defined as any periodical publication that covers the subject of gardening and/or horticulture in the majority of the editorial content.

A gardening or horticultural book is defined as any hard or soft cover publication that covers the subject of gardening and/or horticulture in the majority of the editorial content in one of the following 3 categories – ENVIRONMENTAL, TECHNICAL, GENERAL.
A book can be entered in a single category only, no multiple category entries allowed.

A gardening or horticultural photograph (landscape or plant portrait) is defined as a photograph, black and white or in colour using gardens or horticultural subjects as the central theme of the composition.

A gardening or horticultural internet website is defined as any publicly
accessible site found on the World Wide Web (www) where the central theme covers the subject(s) of gardening or horticulture.

A gardening or horticultural CD Rom is defined as any computer based (IBM or Macintosh) compact disk drive program that covers the subjects of gardening and/or horticulture as the central theme.

A radio program, segment or series is defined as any gardening or horticultural
programme made specifically for radio in either METROPOLITAN OR REGIONAL areas. Entry to be submitted with a tape (VHS or DVD) and not more than 100 words of explanatory text. Metropolitan area is defined as programme broadcast from a capital city.

A television program, segment or series is defined as any gardening
or horticultural programme made specifically for, or inclusion in, television programmes that may cover wider subjects such as general lifestyle, current affairs, general news etc. in any of the following categories – Environmental, Technical, General. A television program, segment or series can be nominated in a single category only. No multiple applications allowed.

Closing Date:
The closing date for entries is COB Monday 31st August 2009.
Entries received after the closing date will not be accepted.

JUDGING PROCEDURES

A panel comprising of industry professionals relevant to/experienced in each Award category of the Awards will assess all the valid entries and nominate Award winners in each of the categories. If, in the opinion of the Judging Panel there is no entry in a designated category, that meets the standard of
excellence required, or if there are insufficient entries, the Panel may at their discretion declare no award winner for that category.

The judges’ decisions will be final and no discussion will be entered into.

For further information:

Contact: Kim Syrus
Ph: (+61) 0417 814 232
Fax: (+61) 08 8558 6095
Email: admin@corporateroses.com.au

ENTRY FORM 2009

Click here to download an entry form and other information.

The closing date for entries is COB Monday 31st August 2009.
Entries received after the closing date will not be accepted.

PRESENTATION DETAILS 2009

Horticulture Media Australia, in conjunction with the Horticulture Media Association South Australia Inc.,presents the fifth HMA Laurels for excellence to the top communicators in horticulture 2009.
HMA SA invites you to participate in these prestigious professional Awards.

Australian Horticultural Media Awards Dinner + Pre-Event Activities:
To be held in Adelaide, South Australia on Thursday 29 October 2009.
 The Pre-Event programme commences at 1pm in the Botanic Gardens, Adelaide incorporating both a special HMA Rose Judging along with a guided tour of the wonderful Bicentennial Conservatory. At 5.30pm, a Civic Reception in the Adelaide Town Hall for HMA Laurel attendees. Our HMA Laurels Award Dinner follows at 7.00pm for 7.30pmat the Adelaide Pavilion, Veale Gardens. A great mix of events and a great opportunity to meet, socialise and support your peers.
The Awards will be announced and presented at the Australian Horticultural Media Awards Dinner at 7.00pm for 7.30pm on Thursday 29 October 2009 at the Adelaide Pavilion, Veale Gardens, South Terrace Adelaide, South Australia. Don’t miss out on your place at the dinner. Tickets will be strictly limited.
Prepaid bookings for the dinner are essential and can be made on the Laurel Entry Form.
Simply fill out the form with your payment details and forward your payment to:
Australian Horticultural Media Awards, PO Box 536, Unley Business Centre, Unley SA 5061 by 31 August 2009. Tickets will be issued on receipt of payment.

Australian Horticultural Media Awards Pre-Event
Commencing 1pm Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Thursday 29 October 2009
HMA SA has organised a number of excellent events to be held prior to the Awards Dinner and all members are invited. Adelaide is Australia’s Rose Capital and home to the National Rose Trial Garden. Attendees will be shown how roses are judged and then given the opportunity to judge for themselves
with a special prize given later in the day. A guided tour of the wonderful Bicentennial Conservatory will also be offered. With a short break to allow everyone to spruce up, Adelaide’s Lord Mayor invites you to a Civic Reception in the Town Hall for the announcements of the 2009 Rose Awards plus the special HMA rose awards. Afterwards, we jump on a tram and head to the 2009 HMA Laurels Dinner. Notification of your attendance at the ‘Pre-Event’ is important for Civic Reception catering (see Entry Form)