Award Categories

Budget Category

• $74,999 and under (includes in-kind services)
• $75,000 and over (includes in-kind services)
  

Broadcast Category

• Is the message informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, original, and have visual impact (for television entries)?

Radio Ad (Ad or PSA)
Provide one 8.5" x 11" typed single spaced copy of radio ad on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core with CD of radio ad in a pocket adhered to the display board. Board may be no larger than 11" x 17". Only one entry permitted on CD.

Television Promotion (Ad or PSA)
Provide one 8.5" x 11" typed single spaced copy of television ad on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core with DVD of TV ad in a pocket adhered to the display board. Board may be no larger than 11" x 17". Only one entry permitted on DVD.

Televised Program NEW
Submit DVD in labeled case. Only one entry permitted on DVD.

Social Media Marketing Category (NEW)

• Is the message informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, easy to navigate, have visual impact, and original?

Examples of social media marketing include, but are not limited to, MySpace, FaceBook, YouTube, webcasts, blogs, podcasts, Flickr, etc.

For MySpace, FaceBook, YouTube, webcasts, and blogs, display profile page home page, plus two additional pages and URL (for podcasts, provide iTunes name instead of URL) on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Outdoor Advertising Category (NEW)

Judging criteria: 

• Is the message informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, easy to read, have visual impact, and original?

Examples of outdoor advertising include, but are not limited to, over-the-street signage, street pole banners, bus signs, vehicle wraps/signs, sidewalk signage, billboards, trash can wraps, etc.

If mailing signage, banners or wraps, do not adhere to a display board; place in a tube for mailing. If the item is a standalone item, such as a license plate, do not adhere to a display board. Photos of banners or signage may be submitted in lieu of mailing banners or signage. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Partnership Category(NEW)
(includes sponsorship, community, or educational partnerships)

Judging criteria:

• Does the partnership serve a purpose or objective, involve and benefit all partners, and produce measurable results and is it an original idea?

Display a minimum of two images of the partnership in action (can be any print collateral, article, photographs, etc.) and one 8.5" x 11" typed single spaced summary page describing the partnership’s purpose/objective, the level of involvement and measureable benefits of all partners, and results on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Photography Category (black or white or color/8” x 10” only)

Judging criteria: 

• Does the photo have original and exceptional composition, use of light and color, and evoke an emotion or leave an impression?

Display on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core. Board may be no larger than 11" x 17".

Press Communications Category (NEW)
(printed or electronic)

Judging criteria: 

• Is the message informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, easy to understand or navigate (if electronic) and is the communication original and have visual impact?

Examples of press communications include, but are not limited to, press conferences, press releases, press kits, on-going press communications (i.e. newsletters), press rooms, etc.

If submitting full press kits, do not adhere to display board. All other entries provide a minimum of two different images of your communications and website URL, if applicable, on a display board. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Printed Materials Category

Judging criteria: 

• Is the printed promotional piece’s message informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, easy to understand or navigate (if electronic) and does it possess exceptional design features and originality?

Brochure
Display both the entire front and back of brochure on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core, and place a folded brochure in a pocket adhered to the display board. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Poster (for sale and not for sale)
Display on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core. Board may be no larger than 20"x 30". If poster is larger than 20" x 30", please roll poster and send in a tube.

Miscellaneous Printed Materials (bound and not bound)
Examples of miscellaneous printed materials include, but not limited to, invitations, tickets, postcards, direct mail pieces, annual reports, and magazines. Brochures may not be entered in Miscellaneous Printed Materials.

Display both the entire front and back of printed material on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core, and place an additional copy in a pocket adhered to the display board. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Magazine Display Ad NEW
Display on black mat board, poster board, or foam core. Place a copy of the entire magazine in a pocket, with pages marked where ad appeared, adhered to the display board. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Newsletter
Display both the entire front and back (if applicable) of the two latest newsletters on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core, and place the two additional copies in a pocket adhered to the display board. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Newspaper Special Section (Must be on newsprint.)
Display entire front of newspaper special section on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core, and place an additional copy in a pocket adhered to the display board. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Print Ad (black/white or color/any size)
Display ad as it originally appeared in the publication (include entire page) on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core. Place a copy of the entire page that ad appeared on in a pocket adhered to the display board. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Programming Category (NEW)

Judging criteria:

• Does the program serve a purpose or fulfill an objective, what was purpose or objective fulfilled and to what extent? Was the program original?

New Event/Program/Promotion
Entries must be a brand new event, program, or promotion or a new event, program, or promotion within the time period of June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008. Examples of a new event/program/promotion include, but are not limited to, a new children’s program, a new program that benefited a charity, a new promotion for recycling, a new program that benefited the community, a new volunteer program, new art component, etc.

New Event/Program/Promotion within an Existing Event
Entries must be a brand new event, program, or promotion within an existing event. Examples of a new event/program/promotion include, but are not limited to, a new children’s program, a new program that benefited a charity, a new promotion for recycling, a new program that benefited the community, a new volunteer program, new art component, etc.

Provide one 8.5" x 11" typed single spaced summary page describing the program, its purpose or objective, its effectiveness, and results and adhere to one black mat board, poster board, or foam core. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".

Promotional Items Category

Judging criteria: 

• Is the promotional item original, have visual impact, and serve a purpose for its target market?

Examples of promotional items include, but not limited to, souvenirs, collared shirts (no tee-shirts; enter tee-shirts in the Tee Shirt Category), hats, mugs, pins, and recognition items. Do not adhere promotional items to a display board. Tee-shirts have a separate category.

Adhere (by pins, clips, etc.) to promotional item, one small paragraph (no more than 200 words) describing the purpose of the promotional item, the target market, and if the item was for purchase or distributed free of charge.

Sponsorship Category (NEW)

Judging criteria: 

• Is the report informative, include documentation (proof of performance), is it easy to understand or navigate (if electronic) and does it include visual images and impact?

After Event Report (can be printed or electronic)
Provide one 8.5" x 11" typed single spaced summary page describing the sponsorship, its purpose/objective, the level of involvement, benefits to both the event and to the sponsor, and results. Must be a three ring binder with description page first unless submitted electronically. Electronic submissions must adhere summary sheet to a black mat board, poster board, or foam core with DVD of follow-up report in a pocket Board may be no larger than 11" x17". Only one entry permitted on DVD. Proprietary information may be blacked out.

Tee-Shirt Category

Judging Criteria: 

• Does the tee-shirt display good use of design and originality?

Collared shirts should be entered under Promotional Items.

Do not adhere tee-shirt to a display board.

Web Site Category

Judging Criteria:

• Is the website informative, clear, concise, compelling enough to engage the audience, easy to navigate, have visual impact and does it possess exceptional design features and display originality?

Display home page, two additional pages of the website, and website address on one black mat board, poster board, or foam core. Board may be no larger than 20" x 30".