How to choose the best judges for your awards program

The heart of every awards program is the evaluation of submissions and the celebration of the final result. And confidence in the evaluation process is heavily determined by the judges. This makes it imperative for award managers to choose the right judges for their awards program.

The benefits of choosing the perfect awards judges

Choosing the right judges for your awards program is important because

• Respected judges lend credibility to your awards program.
• Experienced judges can help support a sound, fair and objective assessment of entries. Their evaluations are based on established criteria as opposed to bias.
• Judges with varied experiences and perspectives can lead to diverse assessments of the submissions, a deeper recognition of creativity and a well-rounded evaluation process.
• Their industry expertise and experience ensure that entries are assessed according to the best industry standards.
• Their contributions and feedback support the continuous improvement of the awards program and provide real value to program entrants beyond any possible prizes or recognition.

4 Tips for selecting the perfect judges for your awards program

1. Look to your community

The first step towards attracting the right judges for your awards program is to look to your industry and community to find potential judges.

Check out relevant industry organisations, associations and societies for professionals who can serve as judges. Consider reaching out to thought leaders who contribute to industry publications and conferences.

Judges from past seasons of your awards program or those of other organisations in your industry are notable options. You can also engage winners from past seasons of your awards program to see if they’d be interested in judging.

2. Ensure industry expertise

The 1989 Grammy Awards came under scathing criticism when the progressive band Jethro Tull won the best hard rock/metal category over the favoured Metallica. The awkward decision was blamed on the judges not being versed in that genre of music; many, including the Jethro Tull frontman, believed that the music of the winning band didn’t even belong in the category!

Moral of the story?

When choosing judges for your awards program, be sure that the potential judges are qualified and possess well-rounded knowledge of the industry. Look for candidates with judging experience in similar programs.

State your required qualifications for judging, and don’t be afraid to request comprehensive information about their qualifications when they apply.

3. Conduct character checks

To pick the right judges for your awards program, due diligence is often required. It’s a good idea to confirm the authenticity of potential judges. This research process can also shed light on their reputation as well as their capacity to function as judges.

The role of a judge calls for integrity and uprightness; you want your judges to have a stellar reputation. So, it’s worthwhile to check if the potential judges have any legal or ethical issues surrounding them.

4. Prioritise diversity

In 2015, the #OscarsSoWhite started trending to condemn the Academy Awards for, among other reasons, its lack of diversity in the judging panel.

A diverse panel of judges enhances the impact and success of the awards program in the industry and community where it operates. It mirrors the broader community, encourages inclusive participation, ensures a fair evaluation process, enhances public trust in the program and fosters diversity of thought.

To keep diversity at the forefront when picking judges,

• Avoid discriminatory selection criteria
• Identify underrepresented groups in the relevant industry and seek experts in such groups to serve as judges
• Implement a diversity target in your judging panel. The quota could be based on factors like race, gender, ethnicity or geographic location.

In the end, judges are the guardians of your awards program, upholding the framework and ensuring that each entrant gets their due consideration. The right judges guarantee a positive image for your awards program, sound and fair assessment, continuous improvement and a  valuable experience for other judges.