The following general rules govern the AGLOW Awards-In-Craft competition, consisting of individual contests for newspaper writing, magazine writing, book writing, photography, broadcast media, electronic media, public speaking, publishing and websites. 

The AIC Chair, upon evaluation/discussion from Judging Coordinators has discretionary authority to reject or disqualify any entry not meeting requirements established by these rules or AGLOW’s Code of Ethics.

Only members in good standing may enter the competition.

All contest submissions must be received by Monday, July 1, 2024. Late entries will automatically be disqualified. 

Except for the Book and Public Speaking each contest division is divided into specific categories (i.e. newspaper/fishing, magazine/travel, etc.). Entries are limited to two (2) per category in all divisions. 

Entries must have been published or aired between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.

Each submission must include a fully completed Entry Form. Incomplete or unsigned (if in a category requiring the mailing of entries) forms are grounds for disqualification. Photocopies of the Entry Form are permitted. 

Most entries will now be submitted electronically via email. Some divisions or categories still may require an actual book or document to be mailed. Individual division judges do have the flexibility to work with the AIC chairman and vary from the rules if they deem it necessary to facilitate an entry or modify the process. If entrants want their materials returned, they must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage. AGLOW, and any of its agents, will use reasonable and prudent care in handling all submissions, but will not assume responsibility for any loss or damage beyond their control. 

No individual entry in a digital format (whether PDF, JPG, etc.) may exceed 6 MB in file size. Please format and size accordingly.

To submit via email:

1. The email for submissions is aglowaic@gmail.com.
2. One entry per email.
3. Please list category of entry in email subject line.

All entries that require mailing must be submitted in one package. Please include a “Contents Letter” listing all entries submitted and separate entries in each category, individually, within the package or email. 

All decisions of judges are final. 

All categories are judged prior to the Annual Conference. Winners are announced during the Awards-In-Craft Ceremony at the Annual Conference.

• The winning entry in each category receives a certificate and/or plaque and a cash prize of (at a minimum, depending on sponsorship) of $150.
• The second-place award winner receives a certificate and (a minimum) $100.
• Third place receives a certificate and the heartfelt thanks and congratulations of fellow members. 

Categories without sponsors will award only plaques or certificates. If insufficient entries are received in any particular division/category, at the Chair’s discretion, such category may not be judged, and no awards may be presented. Similarly, the Chair has the right to award just a first or just a second-place award in any category where there are limited entries.

Entrants agree that AGLOW has a one-time right to publish any winning article or photograph – or publish links to winning electronic or broadcast media – in Horizons. This authorization may be revoked if the owner of the winning entry sends a signed letter denying this right within 15 days of receipt of the award to the Horizons Editor. 

Individual works may be entered in one category or division only. For example, members may not submit a television episode in both the Hunting and Open categories of the Broadcast Media/TV Division. Similarly, members may not submit the same written work in the Magazine and Electronic Media Divisions. Entries submitted in more than one division or category will result in disqualification of that work in all divisions or categories entered.

Writing and photography submissions are accepted only from the person who authored the piece. One may not submit an entry on behalf of any other person, nor may someone submit a piece written about them by another person. The exceptions are in the TV division of the Broadcast Media competition. Since television episodes are rarely written, hosted, produced and edited by a single person, either a host, writer or an editor for a particular production piece may submit that piece for this specific competition. This is also true for the Publishing category. The publisher, editor-in-chief  editor, or staff editor can submit the publication for this category.

The following rules are specific to the Magazine Division Awards-In-Craft competition. All general Awards-in-Craft competition rules must be followed.

Each submission must consist of one digital copy (PDF preferred) of each article entered. The PDF along with the entry form will be emailed. In lieu of an uploaded PDF, an entrant can submit a URL that links specifically to the article in the online version of the magazine. There is no longer a requirement to mail an original and photocopy to the judges. Members may submit entries in each of the categories. This is a cash award division.

Magazine Division competition categories include: 

Fishing: Subject matter primarily about fishing, fishing issues, fishing tackle or other equipment and fishing-specific travel destinations. 

Hunting: Subject matter primarily about hunting game species, hunting issues, hunting gear or equipment and hunting-specific travel destinations.

Boating, Travel, & Camping: Subject matter primarily about outdoor recreation/activities associated with boating, travel, recreational vehicle use or camping.

Open: Outdoor topics not fitting any previous category. Examples could include but not be limited to non-game wildlife, shooting sports, conservation, humor, etc…

For the purposes of this competition, a magazine is deemed to be a printed or electronic publication (that specifies itself as a magazine) that is published no more than once per month. Tabloids published weekly or bi-weekly are considered newspapers.

Email entries with Entry Form to aglowaic@gmail.com

The following rules are specific to the Newspaper Division Awards-In-Craft competition. All general Awards-in-Craft competition rules must be followed. 

Each submission must consist of one website link or digital copy (PDF preferred) of each article entered. In lieu of an uploaded PDF, an entrant can submit a URL that links specifically to the article in the online/digital version of the newspaper. Members may submit entries in each of the categories. This is a cash award division.

Newspaper Division competition categories include: 

Fishing: Subject matter primarily about fishing, fishing issues, fishing tackle or other equipment and fishing-specific travel destinations. 

Hunting: Subject matter primarily about hunting game species, hunting issues, hunting gear or equipment and hunting-specific travel destinations.

Boating, Travel, & Camping: Subject matter primarily about outdoor recreation/activities associated boating, travel, recreational vehicle use or camping.

Open: Outdoor topics not fitting any previous category. Examples could include but not be limited to non-game wildlife, shooting sports, conservation, humor, etc…

For the purposes of this competition, a newspaper is considered to be any tabloid or publication printed on newsprint style paper and published with a daily, weekly or bi-weekly frequency. Monthly tabloids shall be considered magazines. 

Email entries with entry form to aglowaic@gmail.com.

The following rules are for the AGLOW Awards-In-Craft Photography competition. All general Awards-in-Craft competition rules must be followed.

Photos may have been taken anytime but must have been first published or available for view in a commercial entity during the contest year (see General Rules for time period). This includes photos published in newspapers, magazines, catalogs, brochures, or commercial/business websites. Photos posted solely on social media do not qualify for entry. The photo must be a first-time entry into an AGLOW Awards-In-Craft competition. 

Entries shall be submitted digitally as a jpg file, at least 1MB and no larger than 6MB in file size, via email to the Judging Coordinator. This is a cash award division.

The Photography Division includes individual competitions in the following categories: 

Hunting – Anything to do with hunting, including but not limited to hero shots, action photos, hunting equipment. 

Fishing – Anything to do with fishing, including but not limited to hero shots, action photos, fishing equipment. 

Outdoor Recreation – Anything to do with outdoor-oriented recreation (other than hunting or fishing) including boating, camping, RVs, shooting sports, hiking, skiing, climbing, paddling, etc. 

Outdoor Scenic – Scenic images of flora or fauna, close-ups, panoramas, etc.. Image may include people, although the people should be part of the scene and not the subject of the photo. 

Allowable photo enhancement is limited to standard shooting and/or darkroom techniques, such as: color correction, contrast control, and image cropping. Digitally produced photos should not be substantially manipulated using any of the now-standard HDR and similar filters/enhancements available on most smartphones and consumer-grade cameras. The electronic image is limited to correction techniques as described for film. 

All entries must be the member’s original work. If an image origin is challenged, the member may be required to prove it is original work. Note: Use of someone else’s work is subject to disciplinary action by the AGLOW Board of Directors. 

Winners grant AGLOW a one-time right to print and publish any winning image in Horizons, and/or the annual AGLOW Directory unless the member objects in writing within 15 days of receiving the award to the Horizon’s editor. Unless the copyright owner of a photograph specifically objects in writing, AGLOW has further right to reproduce winning images for noncommercial display purposes, including display at venues selected by the contest sponsor(s), subject to the approval of the AGLOW Board of Directors. 

Email entries with entry form to aglowaic@gmail.com.

Named after legendary AGLOW photographer Pete Czura, this award is presented for excellence in photography. Entries are selected from the first-place winners in the regular AGLOW Awards-in-Craft photo competition. No additional entries or procedures are required by entrants. Winners receive a plaque. 

The following are specific rules for AGLOW’s Awards-In-Craft Broadcast Media competition. All general Awards-in-Craft competition rules must be followed. 

All submittals shall be via email and contain a completed entry form and a specific public URL link (YouTube, Vimeo, a Channel, website, etc.) to the full episode or article being submitted for judging. The URL shall not require the judging coordinator or any of his or her judging panel to open an account or subscribe to any kind of service to view or listen to the episode(s) being submitted. This is a cash award division.

The Broadcast/Electronic Media Division includes individual competitions in the following categories: 

TV/Video Webcast or Vlog – Fishing

TV/Video Webcast or Vlog – Hunting

TV/Video Webcast or Vlog – Open

Radio/Podcast – Fishing
Radio/Podcast – Hunting
Radio/Podcast – Open 

Electronic Blog – Fishing

Electronic Blog – Hunting

Electronic Blog – Open

Entries in this division must have aired for the first time during the contest year (see General Rules). If an AGLOW member or one of the judges challenges the specified airing date or alleges improper post-editing of entry as it originally aired, the member submitting the entry may be required to submit verification of air-date and contents from an outside, authoritative source such as a station manager or network executive.

Radio/Podcast and TV/Video Webcast or Vlog entries may be edited to remove commercial interruptions but otherwise must be submitted as aired. 

For the purposes of this competition, a Radio show or Podcast is defined as a single, produced piece of spoken communication either aired on commercial airwaves or made available for download listening on a website during the contest period (see General Rules). 

A Blog Post is considered a single article published on a website, blog, or other electronic, commercial publication that does not readily fit into the newspaper of magazine definition. It must have been published within the timeframe specified in the General Rules. Entries are limited to two (2) submissions per category. A Blog Post entry may not also be entered in the Newspaper or Magazine Divisions.

For the purposes of this competition, a Television Show, Video Webcast or Vlog is defined as a single, produced video communication aired over conventional airwaves, cable or digital channels, or made available for download or viewing on a website during the contest period (see General Rules). 

All entries to the Broadcast/Electronic Media Division must be first-time entries to an AGLOW Awards-In-Craft Competition. Previously submitted entries will be disqualified. All entries in this division must be written, produced/hosted by the entrant making the submittal.

Entries in the Television/Video Webcast or VLOG Categories should be submitted via an uploaded URL link with entry form to aglowaic@gmail.com.

Entries in the Radio/Podcast Categories should be submitted via an uploaded URL link with entry form to aglowaic@gmail.com.

Entries in the Electronic Blog Categories should be submitted via an uploaded URL link with entry form to aglowaic@gmail.com.

he following rules are for the AGLOW Awards-In-Craft Book Competition. All general Awards-in-Craft competition rules must be followed.

For purposes of this competition, a book is a printed, bound, hard or soft-cover literary work consisting of 20,000 words or 100 pages, or more, with a single, central theme. Recognizing that many books today are available in either print editions or digital downloads, it may also be an “E-book,” generally a non-printed literary work made available for online purchase or download to the public. The same length and central theme requirements apply.  Books are eligible for competition as long as the author was an AGLOW member when the book was made available for purchase or download and has been a member in good standing since then. Entries are limited to two (2) book entries per member. 

Entrants may enter any book they authored or co-authored dealing with any outdoor subject matter such as, but not limited to, hunting, fishing, camping, travel, environmental issues, conservation, extreme sports, etc. (multi-author anthologies do not qualify.) This is a cash award division.

Entrants are encouraged to donate a copy of their books to the annual AGLOW auction. If you wish to donate the entry or entries, please indicate your preference in a cover note and please autograph the book(s).

Entries are to be mailed to AIC chairman: 8727 Poppy Hills, Boerne, TX 78015

This award is presented for excellence in work done in print, broadcast or electronic media. Entries for this competition are selected from the first-place winners of the Magazine, Newspaper, Broadcast Media, Electronic Media, and Book Divisions. No additional entries or procedures are required by entrants. Winner receives a plaque. 

The following rules are for the AGLOW Awards-In-Craft Public Speaking Competition. All general Awards-in-Craft competition rules must be followed.

This award is presented for excellence in communicating orally before an “in-person” audience the outdoors experience. It is an “open” competition with First through Third Place awarded. The audience can be of any type, such as civic and community groups, schools, or business-to-business. Presentations can be designed purely for information and entertainment purposes or be instructional, such as seminars at outdoors-related events and similar venues. 

Judges must be able to see the entered presentation as they will use a variety of criteria to evaluate. A video (no longer than 30 minutes) showing either the actual, full presentation or edited excerpts, if the actual presentation is longer than 30 minutes, must be included as part of the entry. A narrative of fewer than 250 words explaining the purpose of the presentation, the date of the presentation, and the size and scope of the audience must also be included. This is a cash award division.

Entries may be made by submitting a URL linking to the requested video and an entry form to aglowaic@gmail.com.

This particular competition is designed specifically for AGLOW’s Corporate Members. It is open to any public relations program of a Corporate Member that is designed to inform the public. The projects may include press kits, computer releases, individual releases, brochures, photo catalogs or any type of writer services. Advertising campaigns are not eligible.

Entries shall include all pertinent material and any necessary explanations or instructions. 

Entries may be made by submitting a URL linking to the site, along with entry form, to aglowaic@gmail.com.