GRI is committed to ensuring that the winners of the GRI Readers' Choice Awards are a true reflection of the views of the readers who have taken the time to submit their selections. The following provides an overview of how winners for each award will be determined.

Eligibility for the reports database

• Only one report per organization will be accepted into the reports database, although subsidiaries with their own reports are also eligible to participate.
• GRI and non-GRI Reports will be accepted in the reports database.
• The aim is to include organizations' most recent report. Reports are eligible for the database if they meet the following criteria:
• Reports must be publicly available online
• Reports published in 2009 will be included in the reports database.
• In addition, reports which were published in 2008 will be included if the organization's report has not already been included in the 2009 selection.
• Further reports may be proposed for addition to the reports database via an email request to awards@globalreporting.org up to 31st December 2009. GRI reserves the right to accept or reject any such proposal.

Composition of the shortlist
The shortlist will comprise:

• The top 5% of reports from the first phase by number of selections.
• The top 3 organizations per award category by number of selections (if not already included).
• Only valid selections will be considered (see Validity Requirements)
• All selections have equal weight.

The Awards

• The report with the most valid selections in an award category is the winner of that stakeholder award.
• Threshold: a report must be selected by at least 15 different readers to be eligible for an award.
• Where several reports tie, they will be joint winners.

There will be a total of six award categories:

• The Engage Award
• The Civil Society Award
• The Value Chain Award
• The Investor Award
• The Readers' Choice Award – Best Overall
• The Most Effective Report Award.

http://awards.globalreporting.org/awards.do