The Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) is excited to announce the launch of the SSP EPIC Awards, a premier awards program designed to celebrate outstanding achievements in scholarly publishing, information technology, and communications. Open to both SSP members and non-members, the EPIC Awards spotlight excellence across various categories, including publications, marketing, media, tools and products, and impactful social initiatives, highlighting the dedication and innovation driving the scholarly publishing industry forward.
The EPIC Awards were established to honor organizations—and the teams that power them— making significant strides in advancing scholarly communication through creativity, dedication, and technological innovation. By acknowledging high-caliber work, this program sets a benchmark for excellence, inspiring others within the industry to push the boundaries of what is possible.
Award categories encompass a range of vital areas in scholarly publishing, including:
- Tools and Products: Celebrating technological innovations across the publishing lifecycle, such as submission and hosting platforms and author and integrity tools.
- Publications: Honoring exceptional journals, books, magazines, reports, and short-form content formats.
- Marketing: Recognizing outstanding branding, social media engagement, and other promotional efforts.
- Media: Showcasing original multimedia projects that promote or disseminate scholarly content, such as videos, podcasts, data visualization, and digital humanities projects.
- Initiatives: Highlighting impactful programs advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility, educational initiatives, and student publication continuity efforts.
Each submission will be meticulously evaluated by a panel of seasoned professionals within the scholarly community, who will select the top two entries in each category. Winning submissions reflect the finest in scholarly publishing, representing cutting-edge contributions and transformative initiatives shaping the field. Additionally, the EPIC Awards include special recognition for student-led publications, emphasizing the importance of emerging voices in the industry.
“Scholarly publishing is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field. The EPIC Awards are a celebration of those who push the envelope, innovate, and commit to excellence,” said SSP Executive Director Melanie Dolechek. “We are excited to bring this unique platform to the community, offering a well-deserved spotlight for the organizations and individuals who truly define our industry.”
The submission period is from December 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025. Interested parties can find full details and entry guidelines on the SSP website, including material requirements, submission criteria, and judging standards. Judges from across the industry are invited to participate, bringing diverse perspectives to ensure a rigorous and thoughtful evaluation process. Interested parties can apply to be a judge on December 1.
For more information on categories and submission requirements or to become a judge, visit https://www.sspnet.org/about-us/awards/epic-awards.
