Nominations deadline: February 15

Purpose

The purpose of the Publications Award is to recognize excellence in a constituent society’s or other ASCLS-affiliated group’s (e.g., Diversity Advocacy Council or Developing Professionals Forum) publication/newsletter. Awards are given in two categories: (1) the traditional newsletter paper format (which includes a paper newsletter posted on a state society’s website) and (2) the true web-based newsletter with associated links, animations, etc.

Award

Winners receive a certificate at the ASCLS Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony. Awards are given to the top three publications in each of the following categories:

  • Paper-based version
  • True web-based newsletters (Not PDF or copies of the paper format published on the website)
Application

Apply for the Constituent Society Publications Award via the Online Awards Application Form.

Eligibility

All ASCLS constituent societies/affiliated groups are eligible to submit entries with the following provisions:

  • Publication dates of submitted issues must be between the previous February and the current February, inclusively

For print publications:

  • A PDF copy of two (2) paper issues that best represent the publication efforts are to be submitted

For web-based publications:

  • Submit the web site address with an indication of the two (2) issues that best represent the publication efforts.
  • Keep all newsletters for that award year on the website. If this is not possible due to space constraints, please contact ASCLS for directions on submission before newsletter files are replaced.
Judging Criteria

The constituent society’s or ASCLS-affiliated group’s publication judged to be in the top three from the paper-based and from the web-based newsletters will receive an award. Judging of each entry is based on the following:

  • Overall appearance — The publication is inviting for the receiver to read. It “jumps out” for the reader from a collection of publications or from the screen. It is easy to follow, has consistent type styles with quality printing (for printed version).
  • Coverage and content — The articles in the publication should have appeal, relevance, diversity, and balance. It should be relevant to clinical laboratory science; have a balance of national, regional, and local news and actively elicit suggestions, opinions, articles, etc., from readers. The printed publication should clearly and prominently list contact information for the editor, Board of Directors, committee chairs, etc., (mail, phone, email).
  • Creativity and display — The publication design elements should reflect imaginative and original planning. Each page should have a clear center of interest with captions, headlines, photos, and copy effectively filling the allotted space. For the web-based version, it should be easy to get to and easy to view. Posted links must be current and be functional.
  • Photos, arts, and graphics — The photos are of good quality and reflect imaginative and original layout and spacing. Graphics and artwork have technically good quality that enhances the publication.
  • Copy — The copy is informative, interesting, and includes imaginative headlines, news stories, feature articles, quotes, etc. The writing is lively with strong, colorful nouns and verbs (except for scientific articles). Paragraphs of approximately 40 words have the most important facts in the opening words.

All publications will be examined for compliance with the ASCLS standards of publication as provided to all constituent society editorial staff members: editor, president, and immediate past-president.

ASCLS reserves the right to withhold the award for the current year if nominees do not meet requirements.

2023 Recipients

1st Place
Bench Notes, ASCLS-New York

2023 Constituent Society Publication Award Winner ASCLS-New York

2nd Place
The Analyzer, ASCLS-New Jersey

3rd Place
e-LABorate
, ASCLS-Minnesota

2022 Recipients

1st Place
Insights, ASCLS-Illinois

2022 Constituent Society Publication Award Winner ASCLS-Illinois

2nd Place
BenchNotes, ASCLS-New York

3rd Place
Focus
, ASCLS-Idaho

2021 Recipients

1st Place
Colorado Clinical Laboratorian, ASCLS-Colorado

2nd Place
BenchNotes, ASCLS-New York

3rd Place
Newslinks
, ASCLS-Michigan

2021 ASCLS Publications Award

2020 Recipients

1st Place
The Filter Paper, North Carolina Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

2nd Place
Newslinks, ASCLS-Michigan

3rd Place
The Kansas Scope, ASCLS-Kansas

2019 Recipients

1st Place
Montana Laboratory News, ASCLS-Montana

2nd Place
The Analyzer, ASCLS-New Jersey

3rd Place
Insights, ASCLS-Illinois