GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SHARJAH GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION AWARD

1. The project must meet the criteria for each subcategory it is being submitted to. 
2. The project must fulfil all requirements specified for the selected category. 
3. Participants who have won in previous editions of the award cannot resubmit the same file.
4. All team members who contributed to the submitted work must be credited.
5. Participants who wish to apply for more than one category must submit a separate application for each category, and the content of each application must be different. 
6. Each institution can participate in a maximum of three categories. The materials submitted must be appropriate for each category, with no overlap in content. 
7. Participants are not permitted to submit more than one entry in the same category. 
8. Participants can submit projects that have previously won awards from other institutions. 
9. All intellectual property used in the submission must have proper rights or licenses. 
10. All applications must be submitted online via the award’s website. No in-person submissions will be accepted. 
11. Sharjah Government Media Bureau shall retain all nominations and entries for media purposes that support its mission and help promote the award. 
12. Submissions must be no older than two years. If the work is older, evidence of updates or revisions must be provided. 
13. If a project does not win an award, it may be resubmitted in future editions with updated content. 
14. Participants shall pledge that their submitted work is original and not copied, adapted, or used without the owner’s permission. 
15. No fees are required to participate in the award’s categories. 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

1. Create a participant account.
2. Submit your application through the following link: Click here
3. Provide a video file that does not exceed 5 minutes.
4. Along with your video, submit a Word document that outlines the general idea of your initiative. This should include the following:
5. Title Page: Includes name of the institution, its logo, the title of the report/case study, and the submission date. 
6. Table of Contents: Lists the main headings, subheadings, and page numbers. 
7. Introduction: Provides a general overview of the submission, explaining its significance and the importance of the topic for the reader. Also, includes the initiative’s main objective. 

Content:

1. Explain the strategies, results, objectives, and action plans based on the main pillars defined for each category. 
2. The submission should not exceed 1,000 words. For Arabic submissions, use Font size 14 and Simplified Arabic. For English submissions, use Font size 14 and Times New Roman. 
3. Include a brief summary (up to 250 words) that outlines the key points of the submission. 
4. Attach any supporting materials (e.g., statistics, data, examples, etc.)

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE AWARD?

Below is the submission guide for institutions and individuals interested in participating in the Sharjah Government Communication Award:

Applicant Information:

1. Name of the institution/individual.
2. Contact details: (Name, job title, phone number, email address). 
3. Address. 
4. Website Link. 

Category Information:

1. Choose the most suitable main category for the communication campaign/initiative/ persona.
2. Choose the most suitable sub-category for the communication campaign/initiative/ persona.

Implementation Details:

1. List the communication channels used (e.g., website, social media, printed materials, TV, or radio).
2. Specify the timeline of the communication campaign/initiative/persona (from planning to implementation).
3. Outline the steps taken to evaluate the effectiveness of the communication campaign/initiative/persona.
4. Share any data or statistics that prove the success of the communication campaign/initiative/persona, such as website traffic, social media engagement, media coverage, and survey results.

Supporting Materials:

1. Provide supporting material such as campaign materials, videos, screenshots, and reports.
2. Provide links to online resources, such as websites, social media accounts, and videos.

Declaration:

1. The applicant declares that all information provided in the application is true and accurate.
2. The applicant agrees to the terms and conditions of the Sharjah Government Communication Award.

Award Benefits:

1. Winners will be honoured at the Sharjah Government Communication Award ceremony.
2. Winners will receive a cash prize. 
3. Winning initiatives or projects will be promoted to highlight their goals, impact, and future potential.
4. Winners will be featured on Sharjah Government Media Bureau’s website and social media platforms.
5. Winners will be invited to participate in special programmes, workshops, and events organized by SGMB. 
6. Winning projects will be documented in an academic book, promoted as part of a strategic media plan, and distributed to universities as a resource for media and communication students. 

HOW TO WIN THE AWARD?

To qualify for the award’s finalist list, nomination files must meet the specific requirements set for each category. The requirements are as follows:

1. Must include an executive summary (250 words).
2. Should be well organised to simplify the evaluation process.
3. Be of an appropriate size for easy download and readability. 
4. Use headings, paragraphs, and visuals (charts, diagrams) to organise information.
5. Add internal links to link related information. 
6. Include supplementary materials, such as infographics, images, and videos that support the content.
7. Add a summary or table of contents to provide an overview of the file.

Specifications for Supplementary Materials: 

It is recommended that the award file includes supplementary attachments, such as supporting documents, videos, and images. While the inclusion of all attachments is not mandatory, they should only be added if they enhance the content and elements of the file. If supplementary attachments are included, they must meet the following specifications:

Supporting Documents

1. Must be of high quality, clear, and easy to read.
2. Provide accurate and correct information, data, and statistics.
3. Must be related to the topic and focus of the award category.

Videos

1. Videos must be of high quality and clear.
2. It may include interviews with relevant parties and a brief presentation of the topics in the award category.
3. Ensure the quality of sound, images, graphics, and other visual materials.
4. 1080p should be used as the standard resolution for video, and 4K for higher quality.
5. 1080p should be used for videos with a bit rate of 8-12 Mbps.
6. MP4 should be used for video file formats with H.264 encoding.
7. Small video files should ideally be between 100-200 MB in size.
8. For sound quality, use AAC encoding.
9. Avoid excessive visual effects.

Images

1. Pictures must be clear and of high quality.
2. It must be relevant to the subject of the award.
3. 72 DPI should be used for displaying images on computer screens and 300 DPI for printing.
4. Preferred image dimensions are 1920x1080 pixels for most monitors.
5. For file format, use JPEG for balanced quality and size and PNG for clear images.
6. Files should be preferably less than 5MB.
7. Optimize images to ensure high quality and small file size by adjusting brightness and contrast.
8. Test images on different devices to maintain their quality and appearance consistently.