6 September 2013 – Media release

Awards entry a simple exercise

Entry to the Plain English Awards is a simple exercise – it just needs to be done by 5pm on Friday 20 September.

“Organisations shouldn’t keep their plain English efforts a secret,” says Gregory Fortuin, Writemark Plain English Awards Trust Chair.

“The awards are a celebration of plain style, of clear and concise writing. They are an opportunity to demonstrate an organisation’s commitment to produce clear messages to readers, clients and customers.”

Mr Fortuin says there is still plenty of time for entries in the widened Turnaround category, for ‘before and after’ versions of documents and websites from any organisation.

“Or the Best Sentence Transformation might be more your style. Take a few minutes and enter a rewrite of a tricky sentence from your workplace,” he says.

Plain English is good for business, efficiency and the bottom line. But most of all it will make a difference to all New Zealanders if more organisations are committed to a clear and simple style.

Mr Fortuin gives the example of the Commerce Commission, which won a booby prize in the Brainstrain category in 2010.

“They took up the challenge to improve their communications, made a major turn-around and were a finalist in the Best Organisation category the following year. That’s why these Awards are so worthwhile. They really do make a difference by turning the spotlight on how well organisations are communicating with the people they need to reach.”

The public also has the ability to praise a clear, concise document or website or dob in a bad one, in the People’s Choice category.

For more information and to enter the Plain English Awards visit www.plainenglishawards.org.nz

ENDS

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