Best Plain English Document — Public Sector 2011
Judges' comments
Winner: Cancer Society of New Zealand — Bowel Cancer and Bowel Function
The outstanding strength of this booklet was the language. The writer spoke to the reader and managed to balance directness with humanity, and simplicity with usefulness.
The booklet’s structure was logical, the layout appealing and it made good use of diagrams and quotes from people who were prepared to share their own experiences of being treated for bowel cancer.
Writing this booklet must have been a particularly challenging assignment — dealing with frightening and intimate information. It was the best of several excellent entries from the Cancer Society. Patients and their families would be grateful for the Cancer Society’s communication skills.
Finalist: NZ Transport Agency — Keeping Moving
This entry was nothing like the way government agencies used to write — more like a helpful adviser talking to us than a bureaucrat listing the facts.
We liked the layout and graphics and particularly the way the writer addressed the reader wherever that was appropriate. It was engaging.
Keeping Moving was one of several entries from NZTA. We liked them all for much the same reasons.
Finalist: Ministry of Social Development — Foster Care Kit with handbook
Reading this handbook was like having an interesting and useful conversation with someone who wanted to support us. We admired the warm and engaging style. The booklet talked to us directly. It used informal language and the active voice. We liked MSD’s other entries, too.