Nominations for the 7th Annual Sun Microsystems IT Journalism Awards are now open with a $1,000 first prize again on offer for the winners of the Gold Lizzie for Best Journalist and Best Title. This year's awards, which are sponsored by Sun Microsystems, Watterson Marketing Communications and CEBIT Australia have had a significant revamp, based on feedback received from last year's awards. We have re-instituted finalists for all individual categories with up to six finalists to be announced for each category approximately a month prior to the awards. However, finalists will not be named for title awards.


Due to those changes, we have two deadlines this year. In order to ensure we have time to complete judging and name finalists well-ahead of the awards, we ask that all entries for individuals be submitted by Friday, February 13th. These are awards 14 to 20. Deadline for title awards (awards 5 to 13) close on Wednesday, February 25th. Please note, as was the case last year, category judges will review every nomination in their category.


To submit an entry for the 7th Annual Sun Microsystems IT Journalism Awards please go to this URL http://www.thelizzies.com/entry-form - and fill out the online form.


If you are required to submit hard-copies please send them to: 104/8 Century Cct, Baulkham Hills, 2153 Attention: Patricia Istiphan
Please note, details of the Inaugural Best PR practitioner award will be announced next week.


Categories this year have been split into publishing, editorial and journalist awards to enable fairer comparisons. Publishing awards will judge the use of a particular medium to deliver content, Editorial awards will judge a title's coverage of particular technology beats, while journalist awards will recognise the work of individuals based on either the beat or the writing format. Criteria has also been simplified and the judging process has been overhauled to allow judges to confer following the submission on their scores to account for vagaries in the scoring system. Please see The Lizzies website for more information on how to enter and the judging process. All journalists that enter the awards will receive a free ticket to the event. Tickets for non-entrants go on-sale in mid-February.

Categories for the 7th Annual Sun Microsystems IT Journalism Awards Gold Lizzies

1. Best Technology Title (no submissions)
2. Best Technology Journalist (no submissions) News Awards
3. Best News Journalist
4. Best News Title Publishing Awards for Titles
5. Best Business Magazine (3 mags)
6. Best Consumer Magazine (3 mags)
7. Best Website (website URL)
8. Best Podcast (2 programs)
9. Best Video Production (2 programs) Criteria: commercial, production, editorial Editorial Awards for Titles
10. Best Gaming Coverage (5 or 6 articles)
11. Best Industry Coverage (5 or 6 articles)
12. Best Business Technology Coverage (5 or 6 articles)
13. Best Personal Technology Coverage (5 or 6 articles) Criteria: subject matter, subject insight/expertise, writing quality Journalist Awards for Individuals
14. Best New Journalist (3 articles/5000 words)
15. Best Gaming Journalist (3 articles/5000 words)
16. Best Business Technology Journalist (3 articles/5000 words)
17. Best Technology Industry Journalist (3 articles/5000 words)
18. Best Consumer Technology Journalist (3 articles/5000 words)
19. Best Columnist (3 articles/5000 words)
20. Best Reviewer (3 articles/5000 words)
21. Best Technical Journalist (3 articles/5000 words) Criteria: subject matter, subject insight/expertise, writing quality PR Award
22. Best PR practitioner Journalist's choice award. Details to be announced shortly