Indiana STC gives Insight awards to companies that employ technical communicators in extraordinary and effective ways. The first Insight award was given to Thompson multimedia, Inc.—a division of Thomson, Inc.—in 2001. The 2002 Insight award was awarded to Advanced Microelectronics, Inc.

The criterion for receiving the Insight award is innovation in the technical communication position, job, or role. That is, the award is designated for an organization that uses a technical communicator (or a group of technical communicators) in a manner that is innovative relative to the usual ways in which the organization, geographical area, and/or industry uses technical writers. The more innovative the position, the greater the organization’s “Insight” into the broad applicability of technical communicators’ skills.

The organization with the most innovative position wins the first-place Insight award. Runner-up awards also go to as many nominated companies as the judges think are deserving.

Indiana STC is in the process of planning the next Insight award.

Additional resources

• The Insight Award - Outlines the award, its origins, and provides guidance on what constitutes an innovative use of a technical communicator
• Starting Your Own Insight Award - Provides guidance to STC members who want to start an Insight award program in their chapter
• Recognizing Creative Ways Employers Use Technical Communicators (PDF) - Summarizes the Insight Award (2002 STC Annual Conference Proceedings) and discusses judge selection, the need for the award, and the availability of documentation for use by others