The PRSA/NWPA Niagara Awards are awarded annually to public relations practitioners who have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. We have also created a competition for students attending colleges in Pennsylvania. Students or PRSA chapters may enter any program or project category.

The PRSA Niagara Awards recognize complete public relations programs and projects incorporating sound research, planning, execution and evaluation. Winning entries must meet the highest standards of performance in the profession. A Best of Show Award will be given to the entry that stands out from the rest. All entries are judged by PR professionals outside of the Erie region.

If you have any questions about the categories, contact Marissa Orbanek at 267.408.5151 or email her at marissaorbanek@generalmclane.org.

Deadline for entries: October 13, 2017

Northwestern PA Chapter

Honoring the Best of Northwestern Pennsylvania’s Public Relations Practices

2017

Awards ReceptionBrewerie at Union StationNovember 16, 2017

PRSA Niagara Award Categories

1. Community RelationsPrograms or projects that seek to win the support or cooperation of, or that aim to improve relations with, people or organizations in communities in which the sponsoring organization has an interest, need or opportunity. “Community” in this category refers to a specific geographic location or locations (Campaigns designed to promote products should be entered in Marketing Consumer Products or Services).

2. Special Events and ObservancesEvents may be commemorations, observances, openings, celebrations or other special activities and must occur within a time span of one week.

3. Public Service and Public AffairsPrograms or projects that advance public understanding of a societal issue, problem or concern (Similar programs, conducted principally to enhance an organization’s standing or to otherwise serve its interest directly, will ordinarily fall under Institutional Programs). Also includes programs specifically designed to influence public policy and/or affect legislation, regulations, political activities or candidacies at the local, state or federal government levels so that the entity funding the program benefits. Include any print, TV, radio or social media PSA’s.

4. Advertising/MarketingPrograms or projects designed to introduce new or promote existing services to a consumer or business audience. Include any corresponding print, TV, radio or social media campaigns.

5. Crisis CommunicationsPrograms or projects undertaken to deal with an event that has had or may have an extraordinary impact on an organization’s reputation.

6. Internal CommunicationsPrograms or projects targeted specifically to special publics directly allied with an organization (ex., employees, members, affiliated dealers or franchises).

7. Multicultural Public RelationsAny type of program (i.e., institutional, marketing or community relations projects) specifically targeted to a cultural group.

8. Integrated CommunicationsA program that employs the creative and effective integration and leadership of public relations strategies and tactics with other promotional marketing communications. It should demonstrate the integration of strategies, plus the budget and measurement of return on investment of the communications to any stakeholder group including employees, consumers, the media and shareholders.

9. Interactive (Social Media) Communications New, creative or unconventional use of technology in a public relations program. Submit an entry form including Web address, objectives, target audience, techniques, budget and results. Entrants should include “screen grabs” or print copies of key webpages in case connection with sites during judging fails. Entrants submitting a flash drive should submit the drive along with the entry form.

10. Media Relations/Feature StoriesDealing with the media regarding a specific product, organization or service.

11. Publications (Print or Digital)Any publication used for Public Relations or Marketing in either print or digital. These would be: Internal or External Newsletters; Magazine; Annual Reports; Brochures; Direct Mail/Direct Response;

12. Video News Release/Audio Visual ProgramsDigital or print.

All entries are judged by PR professionals outside of the Erie region.

Northwestern PA Chapter

Each entrant must designate on the entry form the category that is most appropriate for the entrant’s program and the organization that funded it. Judges cannot transfer entries to other categories and will eliminate entries submitted in an obviously incorrect category.

It is possible that an entry could be appropriate for more than one category. In deciding which category or categories are most appropriate, entrants should examine program objectives and target audiences. The same entry fee will be assessed for every category in which an entry is placed. A new entry form is required for each category. PLEASE NOTE: Situation, Objectives, Strategy, Tactics and Results are now mandatory and must be completed on your entry form.

Contact Michele King at kingm@lcbalife.org to be invoiced electronically.

Deliver your entry (including 3 physical copies) and completed entry form and check to:PRSA Niagara Awardsc/o Marissa OrbanekGeneral McLane11771 Edinboro Rd.Edinboro, PA 16412

Or email your entry and completed entry form to:

marissaorbanek@generalmclane.org

(You will be invoiced electronically if entering via email.)

Entry Information Northwestern PA Chapter

Entry fees are payable by a check or money order (U.S. funds only) to PRSA NWPA Chapter for each entry in the amount of:

$25 for members/students/nonprofits entry

$35 for each entry – non-members

Entries are not returned and become the property of PRSA. Entry fees are not refundable. Winning entries are kept for professional reference of the NW Pennsylvania Chapter of PRSA. All entries are judged by PR professionals outside of the Erie region. The decision of the judges is final.

Remember to enclose the following: Entry Fee Entry Form Entry

» Videos are accepted as a component of entries. Transcripts, storyboards or screen grabs may be submitted (optional).» Please limit your entry to a one-inch binder or just the entry form with attachments.

PRSA will notify you of receipt of your entry by e-mail. A listing of the finalists will also be sent to you in this manner after they have been determined. The e-mail address you provide when entering the competition will be the address used for these purposes. Winners will be notified prior to the awards reception on November 16, 2017.

Category Number (1-12): Title of your entry:

Name(s) of organization(s) for which the program was conducted:

Name(s) of assisting agency/agencies or counseling/firms(s), if any:

Person authorized to submit the entry: Yes____ No____ Student Entry____

Yes – PRSA / PRSSA Member # (required): Please refer to your Member ID card or contact Member Services at PRSA.

Name:

Title:

Company:

Address:

City:______________________________State: Zip:______________Telephone:

Email (must be included in order to be notified of receipt):

Please provide as much information below regarding your entry to assist judges in understanding the need and results of the campaign. (Mandatory fields)

Situation:

Objectives:

Strategy:

Tactics:

Results:

Deadline for entries: October 13, 2017 by 5:00 p.m. No extensions will be granted.|

Entrant’s Signature:

I have read and agree to abide by the rules of the competition as administered by PRSA.

PRSA Niagara Award Entry Form Northwestern PA Chapter