The James Beard Foundation Book Committee will allow the entry of electronic books for the first time due to growth within the culinary industry as well as the increased sales. The committee recognizes that the e-book is now an incredibly viable format for important food writing and should be considered in the awards.
“Electronic publishing is developing rapidly and it's bound to attract creative, thoughtful writers and publishers,” said Matt Sartwell, Head of the Book Committee. “We want to hear from them in the same way that we've been hearing from the best authors of printed books over the last three decades.”
Starting with the 2013 awards, e-books will be considered in the same categories as print books in order to emphasize the fact that they are being recognized for the quality of the content and overall positive reader’s experience.
Electronic books will be accepted in any format which can be viewed using freely available software which operates in all commonly used operating systems. Entries which require the purchase of a specific brand of viewing device will not be accepted. Additionally, a work may only be submitted in one format.
In addition, the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards have changed the restaurant design category, which will now recognize the two different scales of restaurant design and character.
“The Restaurant Design Award acknowledges the growing importance of good design in all types of dining establishments,” said Brooke Hodge, New York Times Design Writer and Chair of the James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant Design Committee. “These two new awards will allow us to recognize and reward a broader range of design talent.”
Furthermore, the committee has decided to unify design submissions, which will now be considered extensively in two categories: Restaurants of 76 seats and over; and restaurants of 75 seats and under. Architecture, interior design, graphic design, and all other design aspects of a restaurant will now be considered comprehensively in each submission for restaurant design.
The deadlines for entries are as follows:
• Book Awards – Dec. 17, 2012
• Restaurant and Chefs Awards – Dec. 31, 2012
• Journalism – Jan. 9, 2013
• Design – Jan. 9, 2013
• Broadcast Media – Jan.9, 2013
The Awards are open to any industry professional who meets the criteria. Nominees will be announced on March 18, 2013 in Charleston, South Carolina. James Beard Foundation membership is not required for participation in the nomination process or to win an Award. The James Beard Foundation Books, Broadcast, and Journalism Awards will be held on May 3, 2013 in New York City. The James Beard Foundation Awards Gala will be presented on May 6, 2013 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, New York City.
Visit www.jamesbeard.org/awards.