2024 GardenComm Awards
2024 Laurel Media Awards - CLOSED
GardenComm, is the only national online media awards program for the gardening communications industry. Held annually for more than 20 years, the GardenComm Media Awards have recognized the top professional horticultural communicators in the areas of writing, photography, speaking, digital media, broadcast media, publishing, and trade. This year's program features 39 categories (View here). All works primarily focused on horticulture and gardening topics are eligible. All individuals, producers, and publishers may enter. GardenComm membership is not required, but GardenComm membership does qualify entrants for discounted entry fees.
For more than 20 years, GardenComm has conducted our annual awards program. Originally the Quill & Trowel Awards, the program expanded into the current GardenComm Media Awards, now called the Laurels. Throughout its evolution, the GardenComm awards program has maintained its primary goal of providing public recognition for excellence in gardening-related communications across all media.
SUBMISSIONS
Award entries should be submitted in electronic form, except for:
- All BOOK and CALENDAR entries, will need to send two copies via Media Mail.
- GardenComm will provide 2 addresses to be provided to those applicants where to send their copies.
- If you are entering the same book or calendar in multiple categories, please do not send more than two copies.
ELIGIBILITY
Only works first published and copyrighted between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 are eligible for entry in the 2024 Media Awards. These dates also apply to the Speakers category. The official copyright date will determine eligibility and must clearly state “© 2023” on the material submitted.
You do not need to be a GardenComm member to enter. Any writer, editor, publisher, producer, company, etc. may enter. Entry fees will vary based upon the membership status of the award recipient only. GardenComm reserves the right to determine an entry ineligible if it is inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the organization. Entrants who submit a work in the wrong category will be asked to move it to the correct one.
FEES & DEADLINES
Entries received between December 7, 2023 and January 31, 2024 are eligible for a special early-bird discount of $25 off the standard entry fee per entry, and all entries must be received no later than March 31, 2024. Late entries will not be accepted. Fees begin at $50 per entry for GardenComm Members. See Award Fees for a complete listing of fees and deadlines.
JUDGING
A jury of professionals, selected for their experience, expertise and genre perspective, will be assembled to evaluate all entries. [Judges may NOT judge categories in which they enter, or any entry made by anyone else that included the name and/or work of the judge. Judges are free to submit entries to categories where they are not judging. ]
- Top entries from the first round of judging will be eligible for Silver Awards.
- The second round of judging, to determine Gold Awards, will include only Silver Award-winning entries.
- Judges will not provide feedback on individual entries.
AWARDS
Awards will be given at the following levels: Silver Awards of Achievement and Gold Awards for Best Talent or Best Product, representing the best of each artistic category and the best of each product. Silver Awards will be announced September 2024. Winning entries will be presented at the Annual Awards & Honors Ceremony, during the GardenComm Annual Conference.
QUESTIONS?
Contact GardenComm at info@gardencomm.org.
NEW 2024 People's Choice Horti Awards - CLOSED
While the prestigious GardenComm Laurel Awards entries are judged solely by GardenComm members, the organization has added a new award this year, that is chosen by the public. The People’s Choice Horti Award is designed to help spread awareness about great plant and garden books, podcasts, photography, digital posts/content and garden products.
For the first year of The GardenComm People’s Choice Award we are calling for entries in 7 categories:
- Books
- Digital Content
- Garden Products (Hard Goods Only)
- Podcasts
- Photography
- Social Feeds
- Video
Unlike the Laurel awards, the entries for this award don’t have to have been published in 2023. Any publication date is welcomed.
After the entry deadline, March 31, 2024, when all entries are compiled, there will be an online ballot where people can vote for their favorite in all categories, one vote per email address. Those who have entered may publicize that link and encourage their friends, family and general public to vote. This is an opportunity for all garden/plant communicators to increase awareness about their work, no matter when it was created. Previous media award winners are also welcome to submit their works for this new award.
Authors, Photographers, Creators and Green Industry Manufacturers (hard goods) can enter as many times as they wish, but there will be a separate fee for each entry. You’ll be asked so supply a link to the work or product you’re entering, be it to a website/blog, social feed, YouTube channel, or a site where your book or product is listed for sale.
FEES & DEADLINES
Entries received between December 7, 2023 and March 31, 2024. Late entries will not be accepted. Fees are $40 per entry for GardenComm Members, $60 per entry for non-members. There are no discounts for multiple entries, and there are no limits on the number of entries.