2011 PRSA/SENE AWARDS
Recognizing the Best in Public Relations in Southeastern New England


Registration for the Awards is now closed. Winners will be announced in Winter 2012. Please check back with us for announcement dates and details.

 

Categories

For 2011, there are two different categories, "Excellence in Campaigns" and "Excellence in Tactics." Awards will be given out for each of the items underneath the two categories. You can submit multiple entries under each category and campaign and/or program number. For example, an organization may enter two items under Public Affairs, one item under Business-to-Business, three items in Media Event, etc. For questions about the categories, please email Emily Hollenbeck at ehollenbeck@duffyshanley.com.

 

CATEGORY 1: EXCELLENCE IN CAMPAIGN STRATEGY & EXECUTION

  1. Community Relations/Cause Marketing
    Includes public relations programs that aim to improve relations with, or seek to win the support or cooperation of, 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. In addition, this category includes programs that advance public understanding of societal issues, problems or concerns.

  2. Public Affairs
    Includes programs specifically designed to influence public policy and/or affect legislation, regulations, political activities or candidates – at the local, state and/or federal government levels.

  3. Consumer Relations
    Includes public relations programs designed to introduce new products/services or promote existing products/services to a consumer audience.

  4. Business-to-Business
    Includes public relations programs designed to introduce new products/services or promote existing products/services to a B2B audience.

  5. Crisis Communications
    Includes public relations programs undertaken with an unplanned event that required an immediate response or issues that could extraordinarily affect ongoing business strategy.

  6. Internal Communications
    Includes public relations programs targeted specifically to special publics directly allied with an organization, such as employees, members, affiliated dealers and franchises.

  7. Social Media
    Includes projects using interactive social media channels, such as blogs, podcasts or other interactive media channels besides traditional websites, created for internal or external use to help educate, inform or influence opinion about specific products, issues, causes or services. Campaign must be driven by social media outreach, and not merely included as a tactic.

CATEGORY 2: EXCELLENCE IN TACTICS

  1. Newsletter/Magazine/Brochure
    Hardcopy or online publication designed for an internal or external audience.

  2. Video
    Multimedia video designed for an internal or external audience.

  3. Media Event
    Includes programs or events (in person or online). Events may include commemorations, observances, openings, press events, celebrations or other special activities – may be one event or represent a number of ongoing events.

  4. Local Newspaper/Television/Online Placement
    An individual press placement online, in print or on television in the local Southeastern New England region. Judged on placement skills and implementation of objectives.

  5. National Newspaper/Television/Online Placement
    An individual placement online, in print or on television in a national outlet or wire service. Judged on placement skills and implementation of objectives.

Rules

WHO'S ELIGIBLE?

The PRSA SENE Awards Competition is open to anyone in the communications or public relations field in Southeastern New England.

 

What’s the contest period and when is the entry deadline?

Your program must have taken place between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.
Entry deadline is 3 p.m., October 31, 2011.

Note: Submissions for the Awards have been closed. Winners will be announced in the Winter of 2012. Please check back for announcement dates and details.

 

How to enter
Entries must contain the following or may be disqualified:

  • Two complete copies of each entry

  • A signed entry form.

  • A check made out to PRSA SENE or print out of PayPal receipt (see link above).
    Judging will be based on planning/content, creativity/quality, technical excellence and results.

  • A summary no longer than two pages addressing the judging criteria. The summary should be typed using no smaller than a 10-point typeface and one-inch margins.

  • The materials requested for each individual category. Quality is more important than quantity. For example: only include print-outs of e-mails or meeting notes if they contain relevant information that judges need to evaluate the planning and successful execution of the program. There is no need to include duplicate press clippings when a representative sample and summary of coverage will suffice.

  • Entries should be submitted in either a pocket folder or binder no larger than one (1) inch. Pages should be no larger than 8 ½” x 11”.

    • Include a clean, formatted copy of your two-page summary inside your 3-ring binder. This should be the first document inside the binder.

    • Include a photograph or rendering of anything that will not fit neatly within the binder.

    • In keeping with PRSA’s ongoing green efforts, we ask that you do not use plastic sheet covers for every page in your binder.

    • Supporting materials referred to in the summary may be included.

  • Include title of entry, client name, and contact name on all materials submitted, including supporting CDs/DVDs.
     

Entry Guidelines

  • Entrees should be submitted in either a pocket folder or binder no larger than one (1) inch.

  • Pages should be no larger than 8 ½” x 11”.

  • Include a clean, formatted copy of your two-page summary inside your 3-ring binder. This should be the first document inside the binder.

  • Include a photograph or rendering of anything that will not fit neatly within the binder.
    In keeping with PRSA’s ongoing green efforts, we ask that you do not use plastic sheet covers for every page in your binder.

  • Supporting materials referred to in the summary may be included.
    Include title of entry, client name, and contact name on all materials submitted, including supporting CDs/DVDs.
     

Submitting your entry

Online
Email a PDF of your entry form to Emily Hollenbeck and Andrea Fortier. Items that cannot be emailed can be mailed to any of the addresses listed below.

Mail or Drop-Off
For your convenience, we’ve established three drop-off locations in different parts of the region. Deliver your entry to the closest one to you.

Emily Hollenbeck
Duffy & Shanley
10 Charles St.
Providence, RI 02904
401-274-001 x428
ehollenbeck@duffyshanley.com

Lisa Shorr
PC Troubleshooters, Inc.
110 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite C
Warwick, RI 02888
401-921-2607
lshorr@pctrouble.com

Andrea Fortier
Southcoast Hospital System
157 Page Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-961-5281
fortiera@southcoast.org

 

Who’s judging?

Judging is performed by PRSA members in another chapter and/or by experts in specific categories. No awards are given in categories in which judges determine that the entries do not merit them. Certificates of merit are awarded to runners-up.

 

Winners
Winners will be announced in the Winter of 2011/2012. Entries not claimed at the awards announcement event can be returned by request for a $10 fee.