mbroberg
IAP Activities Manager, Emeritus
Please read this post before voting
IAP contest winners are currently chosen by one of several methods. The chair-person of each contest is the person who decides the method in which contest winners are determined. There are currently three ways IAP contest winners are selected.
One way is by a popular vote (poll). It is fairly straight forward. The judging criteria are posted, the membership at large votes and the winner(s) are selected based upon number of votes received. Whether the winner is selected in one round of voting or several rounds of voting is immaterial. The important thing is that the members determine the winner. Proponents of this method say this is a fair and transparent way to select the winners of contests. Opponents say the entries are not judged consistently by the judging criteria and the winner is ultimately selected by "Wow Factor"
Another way winners of IAP contests have been selected is by a panel of judges. The judges are often anonymous but it is not really necessary that they be anonymous. Proponents of this method say that this is fairer because all of the entries are judged on the same set of criteria. The "Wow Factor doesn't influence the judges like it would the membership at large unless, of course, "Wow Factor was one of the criteria that the judges are supposed to look for. Opponents of this method want more transparency in the selection process. They want to have a voice in selecting a winner. They want to be involved. They believe that this community is made up of pen makers of all experience levels and they are very capable of selecting a winner based upon defined judging criteria.
Lastly, there is a hybrid of Judges and open polls. The judges select a number of 'Finalists" from all the entries and the membership determines the winner(s) by open voting. The pros and cons of both the other methods come into play.
It has been argued that the Photo Contest MUST be judged by a panel of judges who know what to look for when determining whether or not the photo is composed properly. There is a fear that if the Photo Contest were to be judged by open voting then it would be a "pretty picture of a pen contest", not a true photo contest where all the technical elements that make up a professional quality photo are taken into consideration. Therefore, a couple of the responses are offered twice; once to include the photo contest and once to exclude the photo contest. Please read the responses carefully so you will vote the way you intend to.
This poll will remain open indefinitely. Future IAP activities will be influenced by the results.
IAP contest winners are currently chosen by one of several methods. The chair-person of each contest is the person who decides the method in which contest winners are determined. There are currently three ways IAP contest winners are selected.
One way is by a popular vote (poll). It is fairly straight forward. The judging criteria are posted, the membership at large votes and the winner(s) are selected based upon number of votes received. Whether the winner is selected in one round of voting or several rounds of voting is immaterial. The important thing is that the members determine the winner. Proponents of this method say this is a fair and transparent way to select the winners of contests. Opponents say the entries are not judged consistently by the judging criteria and the winner is ultimately selected by "Wow Factor"
Another way winners of IAP contests have been selected is by a panel of judges. The judges are often anonymous but it is not really necessary that they be anonymous. Proponents of this method say that this is fairer because all of the entries are judged on the same set of criteria. The "Wow Factor doesn't influence the judges like it would the membership at large unless, of course, "Wow Factor was one of the criteria that the judges are supposed to look for. Opponents of this method want more transparency in the selection process. They want to have a voice in selecting a winner. They want to be involved. They believe that this community is made up of pen makers of all experience levels and they are very capable of selecting a winner based upon defined judging criteria.
Lastly, there is a hybrid of Judges and open polls. The judges select a number of 'Finalists" from all the entries and the membership determines the winner(s) by open voting. The pros and cons of both the other methods come into play.
It has been argued that the Photo Contest MUST be judged by a panel of judges who know what to look for when determining whether or not the photo is composed properly. There is a fear that if the Photo Contest were to be judged by open voting then it would be a "pretty picture of a pen contest", not a true photo contest where all the technical elements that make up a professional quality photo are taken into consideration. Therefore, a couple of the responses are offered twice; once to include the photo contest and once to exclude the photo contest. Please read the responses carefully so you will vote the way you intend to.
This poll will remain open indefinitely. Future IAP activities will be influenced by the results.