It was described as an "ironic tribute to public speakers who have perpetuated language that is grossly deceptive, evasive, euphemistic, confusing, or self-centered", i.e. those who have engaged in doublespeak.
[1][2] Nominees needed to be from the US, though in 1975 the award was given to Yasser Arafat.
[1] In 2022, it was announced the award would be superseded by an annual list of multiple examples of such language from a public spokesperson or group, to be called The Year in Doublespeak.
[3] Its opposite is the Orwell Award for authors, editors, or producers of a print or non-print work that "contributes to honesty and clarity in public language".
[1] The recipients of the award have included:[4] In 2022, the NCTE discontinued the award, and planned to replace it with an annual list of multiple examples, to be titled The Year in Doublespeak.