Awards Timeline
*The page for the 2015 awards program will be made available on January 1, 2015.
One of the most important—if not the most important—signifiers of the success of a PR agency is a client saying, “Thanks for the great work, let’s do it again next year and here’s an increase in your budget.” That’s great news for you and your team members, but what you really need to spread the news is amplification and peer validation.
That’s where PR News’ newly launched PR Agency Elite Awards come in. We are going to showcase the top PR agencies by practice area at an awards luncheon event in Fall 2014, and now is the time to secure a place for your agency on the PR Agency Elite List. The winners of PR News’ PR Agency Elite Awards will be setting benchmarks of excellence in client PR efforts. Please share with us your client success stories and tell us why—through clear explanations of objectives and measures of success—your agency belongs on the PR Agency Elite List. Nominees may reside anywhere in the world.
Categories
By Practice Area::
- Advocacy
- Branding
- Business to Business
- Cause/CSR
- Community Relations
- Consumer Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Crisis Management
- Digital/Social Media
- Financial Communications
- Integrated Communications
- Issues Management
- Labor Relations
- Marketing Communications
- Marketing to Youth
- Marketing to Women
- Marketing to Latinos
- Measurement/Evaluation
- Media Relations
- Media Training
- Multicultural Marketing
- Nonprofit/Association
- Public Affairs
- Product Launch
- Publicity
- Reputation Management
- Search Engine Optimization/Marketing
- Word of Mouth/Viral
- Writing/Editing
PR Agency Internal and Promotional Categories:
These categories are for programs, initiatives and products that promote the business growth of an agency and advancement of its employees, community involvement and proprietary products. These categories do not encompass work done for clients.
- Best Training/Education Program
- Diversity Initiatives
- Proprietary Software/Client Solutions
- Promotion of Firm (marketing, advertising, PR)
- Internal Communications
- Web site
- Community Relations/Volunteer Programs
Agency People "Awe" Awards:
If you are entering someone in the Agency People “Awe” awards, please write a one- to two-page synopsis explaining how this person has raised the bar on creativity, strategy and execution for his or her agency, or how this person has gone above and beyond for their agency or for clients. Agency professionals of all titles can apply. Multiple winners will be selected. **Self-nominations are accepted.
How To Enter
Enter Online: To complete an entry, all materials (including supporting materials) must be submitted online. The online entry portal will walk you through the registration process, and then the nomination process. You may upload a word document or PDF that includes your full synopsis or entry, but please be sure to only upload it once. In the text boxes, please write "See synopsis attached."If you enter online, you do not need to send any materials via mail. You'll upload your supporting materials etc. to your online entry form(s).
Mail Your Entry: For all mailed entries, please provide three (3) copies of all materials including your synopsis.
At the beginning of your two-page synopsis, the following information must be listed:
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Category entered
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Name of agency being entered in the PR Agency Elite Awards (as it would appear on your award), or name, title and company of person being entered for Agency People “Awe” award
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Key contact for entry
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Organization submitting entry
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Budget information for campaigns highlighted (All budget information is strictly confidential and will not be published w/o expressed permission. Including budget information is not a requirement to enter the awards).
Your Synopsis-
In your two-page synopsis for your PR Agency Elite entry, include the following, using these sub-headings:
- Campaign summaries: A summary of successfully executed PR campaigns within the past year, clearly detailing campaign objectives, strategy/tactics and measures of success
- Unique best practices applied to all agency work on behalf of clients
- Client testimonials
Please attach any supporting materials would show evidence of the success of your agency’s campaigns. This can be any of the following: sales figures, media coverage, clippings, photos, research documents and client testimonials.
Agency People "Awe" Awards
If you are entering someone in the Agency People “Awe” awards, please write a one- to two-page synopsis explaining how this person has raised the bar on creativity, strategy and execution for his or her agency, or how this person has gone above and beyond for their agency or for clients. Agency professionals of all titles can apply. Multiple winners will be selected.
In your two-page synopsis for the PR Agency Internal and Promotional categories, include the following, using these sub-headings:
- Program objectives
- Program strategy
- Research
- Execution
- Evaluation of success
- Budget (will be kept confidential)
Who Should Enter?
The PR Agency Elite Awards are open to all PR agencies around the world. They honor the top agencies based on overall performance/outcomes and top campaigns. Below are the types of agencies that are eligible to enter:
- Sole practitioner
- Boutique (annual PR revenues under $5 million)
- Small (annual PR revenues between $5 million and $10 million)
- Midsize (annual PR revenues between $10 million and $60 million)
- Large (annual PR revenues above $60 million)
Eligibility Requirements-
To be eligible, the campaigns or PR initiatives you are highlighting must have taken place (either in part or in full) between January 1, 2013, and January 31, 2014. Some of the work must have occurred during this time, but it's not necessary for it to be completed during the eligibility period.
Deadlines/Entry Fees
Late Entry Deadline: Friday, March 21, 2014
All entries must be submitted by Friday, March 21, 2014.
For entries submitted between March 15 and March 21, 2014, please add a $225 late fee per entry. Finalists will be notified in late April and honored in Fall 2014.
Entry Fees
The price of each primary entry is $350. If you submit the same entry into multiple categories, the additional fee is $225 per category. Late entry surcharge of $225 per entry. Payment in full must accompany the entry.
All entries are non-returnable and non-refundable.
FAQs
How are the entries judged?
Entries are judged by a blue chip panel of corporate, agency and academic executives as well as by the staff of PR News. We evaluate your entry based on creativity, innovation, sound planning, implementation and outcomes. The most important criterion is proven success in aligning your strategic objectives with your end goals.
When will I be notified about the status of my entry?
You will be contacted by PR News staff regarding your entry only if you are named a finalist in the award program. Finalists will be notified in late April 2013 and announced in PR News and on www.prnewsonline.com.
Can I enter my campaign in more than one category?
Yes. Please include separate written entries for each category. Also, there is no limit to number of campaigns you can enter.
How do I increase my chances of winning an award?
Emphasize the goals of your campaign as well as your campaign’s achievements in your introduction. Provide as many concrete and specific examples of success as possible, and explain clearly and succinctly your research, planning, implementation and measurement of the campaign or ongoing initiative.
Must we include our campaign budget?
It’s not a requirement, but it helps the judges to better compare your campaign against other entries. Include at least a reasonable budget range. The judges always take into account the campaign budget relative to the goals and outcome. All information is confidential and will not be published.
What is your Federal tax ID number?
52-2270063
Questions & Sponsorship Information:
For general questions regarding the PR Agency Elite Awards, please contact Mary-Lou French at [email protected]; 301-354-1851.
For sponsorship of the PR News PR Agency Elite Awards, please contact Diane Schwartz at 212-621-4964 or [email protected].