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Effie SA Judging Calendar
Judging Applications Deadline: 15 May
Judges’ Training Workshop: 30 June
Round 1 Online Judging: 01 June – 15 July
Round 1 Judges Discussion : 16 July
Round 2 Judging: 27 July – 12 August
Round 2 Judges Discussion : 13 August
Grand Effie Judging: 10 September
Judging Process:
Effie entries are judged by some of the brightest and most experienced business leaders. We draw on their experience to not only judge the work of their peers but to highlight learning for the industry overall. Entries are judged in two phases:
Round One Judges individually review cases across a range of categories. Cases that score high enough become finalists and move on to Round 2 Judging.
Final Round Judges review all finalists within a category and discuss each case before finalizing scores.
In both rounds, judges evaluate the written case and creative executions. Scoring is done anonymously and confidentially. Judges provide feedback on each case for the Insight Guide.
Grand Effie Judging
The Grand Effie represents the single best case entered in a given year. There will likely be something ‘breakthrough’ about it with the express purpose and proven capability of delivering outstanding effectiveness.
As the Grand Jury is so senior and they express their collective opinion, the winning case represents both the most effective case of the year and a message that will be sent to the industry about learnings for the way forward. Only a select number of the highest-scoring gold winning cases are considered contenders for the Grand Effie award.
Confidentiality
Judging are led by Effie moderators. All judges are required to sign confidentiality agreements before judging begins. Judges cannot remove materials from the judging session and are specifically matched with cases that do not prove a conflict of interest. For example, a judge with an automotive background would not review automotive cases. For this reason, it is critical that entrants provide market and category context in their entries. Give judges a clear understanding of the category situation and explain what your KPIs mean in the context of your category.
Scoring Criteria
Judges are asked to evaluate a case’s effectiveness using the following scoring system:
Challenge, Context & Objectives……23.3%
Insights & Strategy………………….23.3%
Bringing the Strategy & Idea to Life…………………..23.3%
Results……………………………………………..30%
The judges’ scores determine which entries will be finalists and which finalists are awarded a gold, silver, or bronze Effie trophy. The finalist level and each winning level – gold, silver, bronze – have minimum scores required in order to be eligible for finalist status or for an award. Effie trophies are awarded in each category at the discretion of the judges.