Content:
The site must have an original theme about history or cultural heritage that is interesting and useful. We would at least like to see a historical aspect of the main subject of your website (even if it is football, cars or cooking). Websites must have more than ten pages and cannot consist of just links or mainly links (link warehouse). All your content must be on your own site, and not linked to other sites.
As historians, we search for objectivity and exactitude in the description of events. The site will be disqualified for distorting information.
No visible 404 errors (Page Not Found), "Under Construction" or "Coming Soon" areas or empty pages. Access must not require a membership or a password. Not more than one banner ad or automatic pop-up window per page. We will not consider sites with various themes on one page. Usually this much information means scrolling ad infinitum (each theme would be better presented on its own page).
We do not review sites that propagate political ideas, nationalism, fascism or similar information in text, symbolical images, links or even by the means of historical digressions. (If we put a similar site on our winners' page, we would be involved in promoting these ideas.) Our judges have enough knowledge to distinguish between propaganda and exact historical research.
Navigation:
The Site must be well organized and easy to navigate. The site search engine, site map, or index page are desirable. Home pages and / or index pages should be available from any other page.
No dead links. This will be an automatic disqualification. Links to outside sources go bad from time to time... this is understood.
Originality and Creativity:
The site must present something original that makes a visitor want to come back again. Be it graphics, unique information, interactivity,
etc...
Technical:
Valid HTML code or java code. JavaScript errors will not win award for you, especially if reviewer's browser crashed. Your frames must be working properly. Special plug-ins should not be required for further reviewing of pages.
If you use music anywhere within your site, there should be a way to turn it off.
Java:
The use of java-applets is not vital now, but we review sites which use this technology, if yours java-applets are loaded less than for 75 seconds. More than two java-applets on page are excessive.
Flash:
There is no requirement that your site must contain Flash programming. If you use Flash, you should know this technology thoroughly before you place it upon your site.
If Flash is not installed in the visitor's browser, you should offer alternate choices: to go to HTML page or to download a Flash plug-in. It is desirable to have the scale of load time (graphic or numerical), and it should reflect actual statistics of Flash loading.
The graphic images and sound should be optimized enough to ensure good load time. You should use Flash tools so that file.swf has high quality and reasonable file sizes for pleasurable viewing and downloading. You should carefully look over your timeline, stage, and
especially scenes, to ensure the Flash-clip has uniformity.
The color balance should be in harmony with a common design throughout the pages. Again, there should be a way to turn off music, and there should be no broken links...
If the site is designed in Flash, then all the pages need to be created in Flash. There should not be any switching from Flash to HTML when navigating the site unless the site offers a HTML alternative. (Sites with only a Flash splash screen are acceptable.)
Layout and Design:
All graphics should load and be original. The optimization should be executed without loss of image quality. Blinking .gifs and the stars pursuing a cursor are not allowable.
There needs to be good color balance in text, links, backgrounds, images and other graphical decoration. The related pages should have common layout and design.
If you use someone else's work, be it images or content, you must have permission and must give credit to the creator. Your e-mail address or a link to a "Contact" page should be available on every page.
Loading:
Downloading must be reasonable on 56k connection speeds. Sites should be viewable in most current Internet Explorer and Netscape browsers. Screen resolution sizes of 800x600 and 1024x768 should be viewable without a horizontal scroll bar.
Legal:
Your site MUST NOT contain pornography, discrimination, violence, profane language or illegal activities, nor should it be linked to any.
Self Test
Before filling in the fields of the application form, you can try Self
Test for yourself to understand whether you'll earn our award.
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