PR News will celebrate the winners and honorable mentions of its 2016 Agency Elite Awards at its annual Platinum PR/Agency Elite Awards luncheon at New York’s Marriott Marquis on Oct. 19, 2016. The Agency Elite Awards benchmark excellence in PR agencies’ key practice areas, from advocacy, crisis communications and social media to measurement, media relations and reputation management.
The 2016 Agency Elite Award finalists are listed below. The winners will be announced at the Oct. 19 luncheon in New York, as will the winners of PR News' 2016 Platinum PR Awards.
The 2016 Platinum PR/Agency Elite Awards luncheon will be co-hosted by comedian Aparna Nancherla, profiled in the New York Times recently on the eve of her tour supporting her new album on Tig Notary’s Bentzen Ball Records label and in anticipation of her upcoming Comedy Central special. Nancherla has also appeared on "Inside Amy Schumer,” “Love," "Last Comic Standing” and “I Love the 2000’s.”
Sharing co-hosting duties will be "Orange Is the New Black" cast member Catherine Curtin; she also has a role in the HBO's much-buzzed-about upcoming series "Insecure."
The luncheon will be sponsored by Business Wire and Aflac.
2016 PR News Agency Elite Award Finalists
Advocacy
- Irwin Gail Consumer Communications - Badger & Winters #WomenNotObjects
- JPA Health Communications - Concussion Prevention: Digital Outreach
- LDWWgroup - The Big 12 Conference: Changing the Game, So Legislators Don’t Have To
- Momentum Communications Group - Empowering Nonprofit Voices
Agency Awe Professional
- Kathy Bloomgarden, Ruder Finn
- Beth Monaghan, InkHouse
- Christian Rodgers, Pascale Communications
- Telly Wong, IW Group
Agency Team of the Year
- Ballantines PR
- IW Group
- Klick Communications
- Murphy O'Brien Public Relations
Best Training/Education Program
- Hotwire PR - Hotwire DNA
- Infinite Global - Attorneys vs. Accountants: Content Success Study
- INK Public Relations - INK University
- Newlink Academy
- WE Communications - Centralized Internship Program
Branding
- Eastwick Communications - Meet Swivelfly
- RF Binder - Changing Public Perception of Algae: A Groundswell Marketing Campaign from the Thrive Brand
Business to Business
- Antenna Group - Miraah
- Bhava Communications - CrowdFlower Campaign: “The Data Behind Today’s Data Scientists”
- Bhava Communications - Hedvig: Going Back to Basics - Launching from Stealth in an Overcrowded Industry
- INK Public Relations - INK for Datapipe
- NCR Small Business with Arketi Group - NCR Silver Generates Small Business Media Buzz
- SHIFT Communications - Creating a Security Rainmaker
Cause/CSR
- Cone Communications - Delivering Impacts Across Business, Brand and Society
- Ingram Micro, Inc. - Elementary School IT Makeover
- Lippe Taylor - Cetaphil Celebrates Camp Wonder 15th Anniversary
- Weber Shandwick & Mars, Inc./M&M'S - M&M'S Red Nose Day #MakeMLaugh Campaign
Community Relations
- Sage Communications - Leadership Greater Washington Fully Integrated Communications Campaign
- SKDKnickerbocker - Katrina 10: Resilient New Orleans
Community Relations/Volunteer Programs
- Community Unit School District 308 - PRIDE Recognition Program
- Coyne PR - Good to Go
- Strategic Public Relations Group - Care • Connect • Contribute by SPRG
Consumer Marketing
- 5W Public Relations - jane iredale Blogger Initiative
- MWWPR - Consumer Marketing Practice
- R&R Partners Public Relations - Vegas Season
Content Marketing
- Atomic 212 Group - Lucy the Robot
- Digital Brand Expressions - SEMPO
- W2 Communications - ThreatConnect Project Camera Shy
- Weber Shandwick & Mars, Inc. - M&M'S 1 Million Tastes of Crispy Giveaway: #NashHasCrispy
Crisis Management
- LDWWgroup - Ensuring the Safety of Yemeni Hostages
Digital/Social Media
- Bel Brands USA/The Laughing Cow - The Laughing Cow Love Your Local Events
- MWWPR - Accelerating Change with Innovative Social Strategies
- R&R Partners Public Relations - Vegas Season
- Weber Shandwick & Mars, Inc. - M&M'S Red Nose Day #MakeMLaugh Campaign
- Weber Shandwick & National Pork Board - Grill Crashers
Financial Communications
- LDWWgroup - GameStop EARNING Extra Lives
- Olmstead Williams Communications - Oberthur Technologies: Driving chip cards into American wallets
- Vested - The Business of Star Wars: A Citadel Conversation
Integrated Communications
- APCO Worldwide - Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE)
- LDWWgroup - Integrated “Big Game” Campaign Creates New Demand for Cruising by Drawing Consumers “Back to the Sea”
- The Mosaic Company - The Great Yield Mystery
- R&R Partners Public Relations - Vegas Season
- Sharp Communications & Benjamin Moore - Announce Benjamin Moore's 2016 Color of the Year
Internal Communications
- Newlink - OneNewl1nk
- U.S. Postal Service - Western Word
Marketing Communications
- Atomic 212 Group - Lucy the Robot
- The Hawaiian Electric Companies - A Sustainable Solar Future for Hawaii
- Makovsky - Soraa Product Guide
- RF Binder - Changing Public Perception of Algae: A Groundswell Marketing Campaign from the Thrive Brand
- Stein IAS and Trelleborg Marine Systems - Measurable Marketing Quality
Marketing to Women
- 5W Public Relations - OneStopPlus Rebrands to FULLBEAUTY Brands, Revolutionizes Plus-Size Style
- GOLD PR - Invisalign "Unbrace Teen Confidence"
- Green Works - Green Works Encourages Girls to Unleash Their Natural Potential
- Lippe Taylor - MonaLisa Touch: Improving a Woman’s Gynecologic Health and Quality Of Life
Measurement/Evaluation
- INK Public Relations - THE DMM: Daily Media Report for an International Renewable Energy Company
Media Relations
- Cone Communications - 2015 Jiffy Lube National Donut Day
- Fineman PR Produces National Impact for HNTB and Foster Farms
- Murphy O'Brien Public Relations - Santa Catalina Island Company: Breathing Life Back into an Iconic Destination
- Sweeney Marketing + PR - Jo-Ann Local Television Coverage
- Voce Communications - Tile Holiday Campaign 2015
Nonprofit/Association
- Momentum Communications Group - Empowering Nonprofit Voices
- Piper & Gold Public Relations - T3 Launch Campaign
- Sage Communications - S&R Foundation Fully Integrated Communications Campaign
- SKDKnickerbocker - Katrina 10: Resilient New Orleans
Product Launch
- Alpaytac Marketing Communications/Public Relations - SharkNinja Enters Coffee Market with Ninja Coffee Bar Launch
- GOLD PR ~ Galderma Laboratories, L.P. – “Perfecting the Pout”: Launch of Restylane Silk
- Inner Circle Labs – The L16: Bringing New Light to Photography
- Murphy O'Brien Public Relations - Lynx Smart Grill: Smart Gadgets Enter a New Market
- PAN Communications - Artec 3D Shapify Booth Launch
- Peppercomm - LEVL CES Launch
Promotion of Firm
- Fineman PR - Get Your Ship Together in a Crisis: Do a PANTCHEK
- Hollywood Public Relations - Hollywood Holiday Wishes 2015
- Racepoint Global Business Development and Global Marketing Team - Post-Integration: How One Agency Promoted an Evolving Brand, Increased Clients and Attracted New Talent
- RED PR
Public Affairs
- Butler Associates Public Relations Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York - Correct the $27/Day Disability Crisis for New York's Bravest
- Davies Public Affairs - Vancouver Energy
- Powell Tate - Halting a tax on medical innovation
- SKDKnickerbocker - Katrina 10: Resilient New Orleans
Publicity
- Sweeney Marketing + PR - Jo-Ann Local Television Coverage
- Think PR - Aloft Hotels Emoji Room Service Launch
- TopFire Media - Mission: Fit to Own
Reputation Management
- BRG Communications - Walmart’s “Holiday Sing to Salute Military Families” campaign
- Deveney - UMC Grand Opening Reputation Management
- LDWWgroup - Carnival Corp: “Big Game” Campaign Draws Consumers “Back to the Sea” and Accelerates New Demand for Cruising
- MWWPR - MWWPR's Reputation Management Practice
Website
- Lippe Taylor
Word of Mouth/Viral
- Irwin Gail Consumer Communications - Badger & Winters #WomenNotObjects
- Minnesota Pork Board - Pig + a Pint
- RF Binder - Changing Public Perception of Algae: A Groundswell Marketing Campaign from the Thrive Brand