The economy is down, we reasoned. And 2001 was a year many PR pros would rather forget. So our goals for this year's Platinum PR Awards were realistic. The optimists among us
hoped we would break last year's record by "a few" entries.
But no one anticipated a whopping 166 percent jump in entries! Packages poured in from all over the world: the United States, the U.K., Canada, China, Australia, Denmark,
Singapore and even Croatia. PR NEWS staffers were buried behind piles of entries waiting to be processed. We enlisted the help of dozens of expert judges to sift through hundreds
of entries.
But the numbers don't tell the whole story. The caliber of this year's entries was unmatched as well. Many outside judges confessed they were unable to narrow their choices,
and our internal judging sparked heated debate as team members championed their favorites. From touching tributes to the victims of Sept. 11 to savvy launch strategies to media
relations tactics that won accolades from the press, the Platinum PR Awards entries impressed and inspired.
In this issue, we reveal the finalists in each category. Winners and honorable mentions will be announced on Sept. 25 at an exclusive reception in New York, and honored in a
special issue of PR NEWS on Oct. 7.
Thanks to all who entered for sharing their extraordinary work and to our judges for their valuable time and expert advice. Best of luck to all the finalists; we'll see you on
Sept. 25!
Annual Report
Port of San Diego
"A Port with No Borders" Annual Report
SC Johnson
"SC Johnson Public Report"
Tellabs
"2001 Annual Report"
Application of Research and Measurement
Golin/Harris International (Asia)
"Bank Mandiri Global Communications Plan"
Ruder Finn
"Infonet I? Creates a Global Market Leader"
Cause-Related Marketing Campaign
Golin/Harris International
"Lowe's Great Safety Adventure"
National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids
"Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids"
Patrice Tanaka & Co.
"Liz Claiborne 2001 Women's Work Program"
Community Relations
Continuum Health Partners
"A Partnership in Fostering Men's Health"
Dome Communications
"Sears Holiday Care-A-Van Program"
Prudential Financial Inc.
"Global Volunteer Day"
Crisis Management
APCO Worldwide
"Media-Most, Freedom of the Press in Russia"
Verizon
"September 11 Crisis Communications Plan"
Employee Relations
PNC Financial Services Group
"PNC Chairman's Challenge"
New York City Department of Housing and Preservation
"9/11 Campaign"
Event Marketing
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
"eMotion Pictures"
Hill and Knowlton
"Bikers Go Hog Wild Over New Wahl Trim 'N' Vac"
The National Association for Music Education
"A Kids' Party on Capitol Hill"
External Publication
Northwestern Mutual
"Community Report 2001"
Patrice Tanaka & Co.
"Liz Claiborne 2001 Women's Work Program"
Virtua Health
"Virtua HealthSavvy"
Financial/Investor Relations
Prudential
"Taking Prudential Public: Prudential's Demutualization"
Vollmer Public Relations
"Travelocity.com Investor Relations Program"
Weber Shandwick Singapore
"Communicating the Takeover Offer for Keppel Capital Holdings Ltd."
Global PR Campaign
APCO Worldwide
"Xiameter Brand Launch"
Dittus Communications
"Piracy Sweeps Week"
Internal Publication
IBM
"The IBM Americas Model"
Lexmark International
"Getting Lexmark's PS&SD in the Loop"
Wellpoint
"Wellpoint Employee Newsletter"
Marketing Communications
Dome Communications
"VOX Vodka: 'Shakin' Up Events Coast to Coast'"
Environics Communications
"The Dunlop 'Tired of Your Name' Challenge"
General Mills & Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc.
"'Big G' Brands Turn Pez Heads"
Media Event
Haberman & Associates
"Volvo's 75th Anniversary"
MasterCard International
"March to the Arch"
Phase Two Strategies
"SRI International: 55 years of 'Crazy, Amazing Stuff'"
Richard French & Associates
"Rodeo's Rising Stock"
Media Relations
Manning, Selvage & Lee
"IBM Brings Technology to Life"
Public Communications Inc.
"Shedd Aquarium's 'Oceanarium Turns 10'"
Warschawski Public Relations
Shabbat Across America
Weber Shandwick Worldwide
"Avaya's Triple Crown Campaign: Launching a New Company into The Four-Horse Race"
Multicultural Campaign
Durazo Communications
"Chicano"
Rbb Public Relations
"M&Ms Go Hispanic"
Richard French & Associates
"Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association"
PR Innovator of the Year
Doug Dome, President and CEO
Dome Communications
Sandra Gordon, Director of Public Education and Media Relations
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Product Launch
Buck & Pulleyn
"PureVision 30-Day Contact Lens Launch"
Chandler Chicco Agency
"Listerine Cool Mint Clean Up Your Mouth"
Expertcity, Inc.
"GoToMyPC"
PSA Campaign
Illinois Energy Association
"Safe Electricity"
National Association for Music Education
"Why Music?"
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
"Covering Kids"
Public Affairs
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
"Covering the Uninsured"
Weber Shandwick Worldwide
"Peace of Mind with Prescription Advantage"
Web Campaign
Chandler Chicco Agency
"Holiday Illness Got You Down?"
The Hoffman Agency
"HPServerNews.com Interactive Press Kit"
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
"Covering the Uninsured"
We hope to see all our finalists on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m. aboard the Spirit of the Hudson yacht in New York. PR NEWS will announce winners and honorable mentions
during the reception. Please return the RSVP card in your invitation by Sept. 5, or contact Amy Urban at [email protected] for more
information. Special thanks to our partners, Medialink, PR Newswire, DWJ and LexisNexis.