The waiting is over. The finalists for the first-ever PRWeek Awards were announced this week, and the countdown to the big day (Feb. 15, 2000) starts here.
The waiting is over. The finalists for the first-ever PRWeek Awards
were announced this week, and the countdown to the big day (Feb. 15,
2000) starts here.
Over the next three pages, you’ll find details on the short-listed
entries in each of the 32 sponsored categories. The only exception is
the Student of the Year Award, which will be judged separately in
January.
The finalists include entries from New Line Cinema, Ameritech, Nike,
ESPN, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Nissan, McDonald’s, Pampers, Volvo,
Castrol, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and NASCAR
Fleishman-Hillard racked up the most number of short-listed entries with
six, while BSMG, Ketchum, Golin/Harris and Ogilvy each had a total of
five nominations per agency. Porter Novelli and Edelman each had four
nominations.
Picked from more than 800 entries, these finalists were selected
following extensive review by a panel with specialist knowledge in each
of the 32 categories.
The panel of judges for the first round of judging included an
impressive array of household names from the PR field, including agency
heads at leading agencies (Richard Edelman, president and CEO at
Edelman; David Drobis, senior partner and CEO at Ketchum; Tim Dyson, CEO
at Text 100; Lon Walls, president at Walls Communication; Brian Cohen,
CEO and chairman at Global Comm Group). Corporate gurus included
Marguerite Copel, director of corporate communications and public
affairs, Ocean Spray Cranberries; Steve Cross, director of public
affairs, AT&T; Kevin Ramundo, vice president, corporate communications,
BF Goodrich; Mike Fernandez, vice president of public relations, US
West; Maril MacDonald, vice president of corporate communications,
Navistar International; Margo Barnes, senior vice president of corporate
communications, Bayer Corp.; and Thomas Martin, senior vice president
and director of corporate relations, ITT Industries.
And the judging panel also contained a healthy mix of consultants (John
Grimaldi of GPR International, Mike Reilly, president of Hally
Enterprises), research gurus (Walter Barlow, president of Research
Strategies Corp.) and academics (Bill Adams, associate professor,
Florida International University) to provide a balance.
The finalists now go through to the second round of judging, from which
the winning entry in each category will be selected, with the winner
only revealed on the big gala night at the Marriott Marquis in New
York.
The PRWeek Awards are already proving to be a success. Sponsorship of
the 32 award categories has sold out. One sponsor, GCI, sponsored five
categories in total. The gala night in February promises to be one for
the industry to remember - don’t get left out in the cold. For more
details, see the entry form or contact Hillary Singer, promotions
manager, at (212) 251-2614 or e-mail Hillary.Singer@prweekus.com
AGRI-BUSINESS - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Morgan & Myers ’Take the Test. Beat the Pest’ The Rowland Company Launch
of DuPont Steward
Hill & Knowlton Oxy Diesel
Burson-Marsteller’Beef Made Easy’ National Cattlemen’ s Beef Association
Sponsor: Fleishman-Hillard
As a leader for two decades in agri-business, Fleishman-Hillard
recognizes the value this expertise brings to global communications
issues. Our agribusiness knowledge enhances our work in biotechnology,
lifesciences, healthcare and nutrition. Agriculture has been our history
and is our future; we are proud to shape its story.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Alan Taylor Comm. Mastercard MLB All Century Team Edelman PR Mr.
Bigglesworth/Cats magazine
Feld, Entertainment/P&F Communications Ringling Bros. Circus Lou Hammond
& Associates MGM Grand/ Tommy Tune New Line Cinema Austin Powers: The
Spy Who Shagged Me
Sponsor: Levenson PR
Heightened anticipation. Superb performance. Wild applause. Is there
anything more exciting than an unforgettable opening night? From Academy
Award-winning motion pictures to symphonic presentations, we have
publicized artistic triumphs to sell-out audiences for more than three
decades. LPR salutes the arts and congratulates the PR awards
finalists.
BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Shandwick: 1998 Saflex Safe & Sound Award Jack Horner Communications
Millennium Elephant Campaign
M Booth & Associates Cap Gemini America’ s Year 2000 Services
ASV/Posi-Track with Carmichael Lynch Spong Blowing the Lid Off the Best
Kept Secret in Compact Work Vehicles Sponsor: Rubenstein Associates
One of the world’ s largest and best-known independent public relations
agencies, Rubenstein Associates serves more than 475 clients with a
professional and support staff 160 strong. It operates across the
complete spectrum of practice areas and offers all the capabilities and
resources necessary to the conduct of modern public relations.
CAUSE-RELATED PR - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Porter Novelli: Nissan’ s Quest for Safety Procter &
Gamble/Fleishman-Hillard: Pampers Joins the Back to Sleep Campaign
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide: Call to Protect
Hallmark Gold Crown Stores/Fleishman-Hillard Cards for the Cure
Prudential: Spirit of Community Awards
Sponsor: TVN Target Video News, the award-winning broadcast services and
production company, is pleased to sponsor this award. TVN offers 20
years of experience producing quality journalism that appeals to the
people who put news stories on the air. Our team of producers and
broadcast publicists gets unsurpassed results for our clients every
time.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Foley Sackett Continental Harmony Nelson PR Group Look Good ... Feel
Better Golin/Harris International McDonald’s Bike Helmet Safety Campaign
GTECH Corporation After School Advantage IPALCO Enterprises
Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial Fleishman Hillard Rebirth of Times
Beach, MO
Ameritech ParenTech Sponsor: Shandwick Int’l We are the leading global
reputation management firm. Founded in London in 1974, Shandwick has
grown into one of the largest, most comprehensive networks with over 100
offices in worldwide business, governmental, media and cultural
centers.
CONSUMER MARKETING COMMS. - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
The Rowland Company The Pharmacy at Kmart Alan Taylor Comm Castrol Super
Clean Hand Festival BSMG Schick Groove ’N Smooth Tour Ketchum Maxwell
House: Build A Home America MTD Products/Edelman PR Worldwide Yard Man
General Mills/Carmichael Lynch Spong Millenios Access Communications
Sega Dreamcast Launch Ruder Finn iCanBuy.com Creamer Dickson Basford
Great American Cross-Out Sponsor: GCI Group
Creating, disseminating and managing the brand image is one of the most
challenging tasks in PR. GCI salutes the program which most successfully
brought a client’ s brand image to the public at large.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Spaeth Communications Fighting Collective Bargaining Legislation in
Missouri Miller/Shandwick Technologies MSN Hotmail Crisis Swedish
Medical Center Columbine High School BSMG WorldwidePutting an Accurate
Spin on Hurricanes Jefferson County Public Schools Columbine Tragedy
Secretariat of Tourism of Mexico/Edelman PR
Mexico Tourism CPR Sponsor: GCI Group
The most important service an agency can provide is often to keep its
client out of the press. As a leader in crisis management, GCI has grown
immensely through the addition of GCI Kamer Singer’ s expertise. We are
proud to honor the greatest achievement in crisis communication.
HEALTHCARE - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Porter Novelli Florida Tobacco Pilot Program American Psychological
Association Warning Signs: A Youth Anti-Violence Initiative
Cohn & Wolfe Paxil Launch
McNeil Consumer Healthcare with Hill & Knowlton Benecol Launch Centers
for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) with Ogilvy PR ’Choose Your
Cover’ Skin Care Prevention Sponsor: GCI Group The healthcare industry
has revolutionized our lives. We live longer, healthier and more
productive lives than ever before. GCI Healthcare has paved new paths in
the communication of innovation and achievement, and we are proud to now
recognize this year’s greatest achievement in healthcare
communication.
HI-TECH - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Sensar/Diebold Sensar Buck & Pulleyn Montego II Quadzilla Sound Card
Access Communications Sega Dreamcast Launch Interactive Public Relations
E-Stamp National Launch Shandwick Int’l Norwest Year 2000 Awareness
Campaign Golin/Harris International The Legend of Zelda
Fleishman-Hillard Nortel Networks: Riding the Light Sponsor: GCI
Group
It seems like a new technology is introduced every day. As a leader in
hi-tech, GCI is well aware of the increasing difficulty in making your
client’s product stand out from the thousands around it. We are happy to
slow the pace of progress, for one day at least, to congratulate the
team that made us take notice of one particular achievement.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Ketchum Introduction of 1999 Employee Benefits Navistar Int’l Transport
Corp with Matha MacDonald
Leadership Positioning
Ketchum Visa USA Corporate Realignment Carter Ryley Thomas Learning the
Power of One McKesson HBOC/Ogilvy PR Cultural Integration & Internal
Crisis Management
Sponsor: GCI Group
Through GCI Boxenbaum Grates, GCI has led the industry in developing the
most effective and innovative ways to bring a client’s message to those
who need to believe in it the most - the employees. It is an honor to
take part in the recognition of this year’ s most powerful internal
communications program.
INTERNATIONAL - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Ketchum Lions Club Presence Euro RSCG Purevision Contact Lens Technology
Ruder Finn Operation Smile - World Journey of Hope ’99 McKay Public
Relations Starwood Preferred Guest Text 100 PR Colorstorm: Xerox
Acquisition of Tektronix Sponsor: Rowland Communications Worldwide
Rowland Communications Worldwide is an international network that offers
clients a global, multidisciplinary approach to meeting communications
needs in public relations, advertising, direct marketing, new media and
sales promotion. A worldwide communications leader, Rowland builds share
and creates value through an integrated approach to communications.
Headquartered in New York, Rowland has 46 offices in 31 countries.
INVESTOR/FINANCIAL RELATIONS - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Gabbe & Gabbe Conoco: The Road to Independence Seagate Seagate’ s Annual
Report Campaign PaineWebber Beyond the Basics:Investment Strategies for
Women Financial Relations Board with BSMG Worldwide Electronics Boutique
Sponsor: Weber Public Relations Worldwide
As the premier public relations agency for the Information Economy,
Weber Public Relations Worldwide delivers high value to clients through
programs that are interactive, individualized, immediate and
information-rich - based on an approach that blends new technology-based
communications with traditional methodologies.
Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, Weber has offices in major markets
globally.
MARKETING TO MINORITIES - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Burson-Marsteller BREATHE IssueSphere Celebrate Life: Reaching
Minorities about HIV-Related Anemia Flowers Communications Group Black
History Month TV Special Ogilvy PR The ConPact Bromley/MS&L and Western
Union Aprender es Poder Schering-Plough/Claritin with Edelman Allergies
En Espanol Sponsor: Durazo Communications
For nearly a decade, Durazo Communications has been proud to be a
pioneer in the dynamic field of Hispanic marketing. And we’ re extremely
proud to be sponsoring the ’Marketing to Minorities Campaign of the Year
Award.’ Congratulations and thank you to those organizations that have
made multicultural PR a priority.
MEDIA - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Hasbro Games with Agnew, Carter/MS&L The Monopoly Game New Token
Campaign
BASF Human Nutrition with Fleishman-Hillard SAM-e: The Launch of a
Supplement Superstar New Line Cinema Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged
Me Stanton Crenshaw The Weather Channel: Hot Enough for Ya?
Golin/Harris International Pokemon Sponsor: Internet Wire
Internet Wire - ’when your company news should be everyone’ s business’
- is the leading Web-based PR distribution company, providing targeted
distribution channels to more effectively disseminate news. Our
worldwide distribution to media, analyst and consumer channels results
in broad exposure for your press releases, media alerts and other direct
company news.
NON-PROFIT - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Weber PR Worldwide South Florida Blood Banks Cohn & Wolfe Y2K9
Burson-Marsteller Children’s Scholarship Fund Burson-Marsteller National
WWII Memorial Campaign Martin Public Relations Mount Vernon 1999 George
Washington Bicentennial Campaign Martin Public Relations Andrew’s
Buddies
Sponsor: Manning, Selvage & Lee Congratulations to all of the finalists
short-listed for the best non-profit campaign of the year. Working
largely in the ’commercial’ world, the employees of Manning, Selvage &
Lee are proud to support the fine efforts of all of you in the
not-for-profit sector. Your programs help to make the world a better
place, and as public relations professionals, we’re all proud of the
contributions you make.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
APCO Associates Citizens for Better Medicare Edelman 1999Service to
America Summit: The National Association of Broadcasters Rogers &
Associates California Children and Families Initiative/Proposition 10
Shandwick Public Affairs Stand Up for Steel Campaign Stoorza, Ziegaus &
Metzger Yes on CC Repair Our Zoo Sponsor: Hill & Knowlton/Blanc & Otus
Blanc & Otus, a Hill & Knowlton company, is a hi-tech public relations
agency headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Silicon Valley,
Boston, Austin and Washington, DC. Hill & Knowlton is a leading
international public relations and public affairs firm based in New
York, with 59 offices in 34 countries as well as an extensive associate
network.
PUBLIC SERVICE - CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Golin/Harris International Energy Savers Porter Novelli Florida Tobacco
Pilot Program Golin/Harris International Illinois Department of Public
Health: Respect Your Mind, Protect Your Body
Prospect Associates PeachCare for Kids Stoorza, Ziegaus & Metzger
Riverside County Treasurer -Tax Collector 1999 Tax Sale Sponsor: Carter
Ryley Thomas Carter Ryley Thomas is an employee-owned, full-service PR
and marketing firm ranked among the top 50 largest independent firms in
the nation.
Practice areas include: technology/ telecommunications, health sciences,
corporate communications, consumer products and sponsorship & event
marketing.
CRT represents Fortune 500 and consumer products national clients.
NEW MEDIA - SITE OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Columbus Life Insurance Company Explore Life!
Levick Strategic Comm Legal News Network P.I.C.P.A. Pennsylvania
Institute of Certified Public Accountants San Diego Convention Center
San Diego Convention Center Corp.
Sponsor: Media Map MediaMap - ’the Internet PR Resource’ - is the
premier information resource provider for the public relations industry.
We are the first company to deliver an e-business public relations
solution to marketing and PR professionals, offering an enormous
database of accurate media intelligence, OneLink press release
distribution, and a searchable archive of Dow Jones Business
Publications.
VNR OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Siddall, Matus & Coughter PBM Products: All Baby Formulas Are Not Alike
Fleishman-Hillard NEJM/Hypothyroidism Cairns & Associates Waterman
Steals the Spotlight at the Academy Awards Cairns & Associates Volvo/
Breaking Health News
General Mills Big G Whole Grain News Sponsor: Worldcom
Worldcom, the largest network of independent PR firms, offers clients
unique benefits. Broadest reach: 95 partner firms in 106 offices in 38
countries on six continents; local knowledge through on-the-ground,
market-savvy communicators; informed counsel from mature, best-of-market
firms owned by entrepreneurs dedicated to client satisfaction. Worldcom
also provides a single point of contact for multi-partner projects and a
single source of billing.
ANR OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
AARP/News Generation Medical Prescription Benefit Jack Horner
Communications H.J. Heinz Company 57th Anniversary Publicis Dialog
Hidden Valley Ranch Longest Salad Bar
Commonwealth NewsCall/ Shandwick International World Peace Bell
Commonwealth NewsCall/ Shandwick International U of L Healthcare Cancer
Survivors Day
Sponsor: PR Newswire
PR Newswire is the world leader in the delivery of time-sensitive
information via its cutting-edge network. It has 35 bureaus worldwide,
an exclusive partnership with Canada NewsWire and a vast international
affiliate system.
PR Newswire provides a broad complement of services for PR and IR pros
to immediately reach the media, financial community and consumers.
PUBLICITY STUNT OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Alan Taylor Communications Castrol Super Clean Hand Festival Hunter &
Associates Scotch Brand Wrapper Contest Marina Maher Communications Pert
Plus Edelman PR Yard Man Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Photo
of the Century Presented by Kodak Ogilvy PR AmericanGreetings.com
Celebrity ScreaMail Sponsor: D S Simon Productions
It is with great pride that D S Simon Productions gets to sponsor the
Publicity Stunt Award. Actually, it was one of the few categories
available to us because you can’t sponsor a category in which you’ re
eligible to compete. Seriously, a great stunt represents the best in PR
- creativity, imagination, successful positioning, results and often, a
sense of humor.
We salute the finalists.
THE PROOF AWARD FOR BEST USE OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
Shortlist
Heery International The Heery Millennium School
AT&T Understanding how news coverage and advertising interact
Shandwick CharitAbility from Lutheran Brotherhood: Research
Ketchum The Can Manufacturers Institute’s 1999 Pilot Research
Program
Ogilvy PR McKesson HBOC
Sponsor: Walker Information Walker Information is proud to sponsor the
Proof Award for best use of research and evaluation. As a global leader
in the measurement and management of stakeholder relationships, Walker
Information has helped companies of all types and sizes conduct research
on customer loyalty, employee commitment, business integrity and
corporate reputation.
INTERNATIONAL PR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Margery Kraus APCO Associates
Albert Durig Burson-Marsteller
Peter Hehir Countrywide Porter Novelli
John Graham Fleishman-Hillard Sponsor: Text 100
As part of our commitment to international best practice, Text 100
Public Relations is proud to sponsor the International PR Professional
of the Year category. Text 100 is an international technology PR firm
with more than 28 offices worldwide. For more information, please visit
our web site at www.text100.com.
PR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
John F. Budd, Jr. James Arnold Consultants Jacqueline Townsend
Konstanturos The Townsend Agency John D. Graham Ketchum Jonelle Birney
Blanc & Otus Harris Diamond BSMG Sponsor: News Broadcast Network
News Broadcast Network is the originator of broadcast media distribution
services for the public relations industry. NBN services include
production and distribution of video and radio news releases, radio and
satellite media tours, production and distribution of PSAs for radio and
television, corporate videos and Internet broadcasts. The company has
offices in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Seattle,
Milwaukee and Fairfield County, CT.
YOUNG PR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Tiffany Swinehart Nationwide
Mark Grossien Porter Novelli Matthew Flanagan FitzGerald
Communications
Larry Barrios MWW Group Kathryn Spring Chicago Board of Trade Sponsor:
PepperCom PepperCom is a strategic public relations firm specializing in
the corporate, business-to-business, interactive and technology sectors.
Since its founding more than four years ago, PepperCom has distinguished
itself in three ways: positioning, partnerships and people. The firm is
sponsoring the Young PR Professional of the Year Award because the
category aligns perfectly with PepperCom’ s commitment to developing
superior talent.
SOLO PR PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Lisa Skriloff Multicultural Marketing Resources Michael Schug Manchester
College Wayne Catan Catan Communications
Hilary JM Topper HJMT Communications Sponsor: CARMA International As the
world leader in global media content analysis, CARMA International helps
keep companies one step ahead of their competition globally by making
their communication more effective and accountable. Our congratulations
goes out to the Solo PR Practitioner of the Year and to PRWeek for its
first US awards presentation.
PR STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
The shortlisted students for this award will be selected by a separate
judging panel in early January.
Sponsor: BSMG Worldwide
BSMG Worldwide has an overarching resolution for the new millennium:
continue to provide a stimulating, rewarding, professional environment
that challenges our people to grow and succeed. Sponsorship of PRWeek’s
Student of the Year Awards underscores our commitment to attracting the
best and brightest entry-level professionals.
PR AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Access Communications
Brodeur Worldwide Miller/Shandwick Technologies Ketchum BSMG Worldwide
Sponsor: Medialink
Every day, we work with public relations professionals to provide the
most effective production, notification, distribution and tracking
systems for TV, radio, print, photography and the Internet. As a tribute
to the stellar agencies and savvy professionals with whom we partner, we
are proud to sponsor the PR Agency of the Year Award.
MID-SIZE PR AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
PepperCom
Chandler Chicco Agency
Stanton Crenshaw
Carter Ryley Thomas
Carmichael Lynch Spong
Sponsor: Burrelle’s Information Services
Burrelle’ s Information Services, a leader in media monitoring, provides
comprehensive resources expertly reviewing and disseminating the most
pertinent, customized portions of media, including the Internet, to its
customers. Now also available is BIO, a complete software package that
allows you to receive, store, display, organize, search, share and
report on all of Burrelle’s media monitoring services and media
directories.
BOUTIQUE PR AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
Linn Public Relations Sloane & Company
KHJ Public Relations JSH&A PR
Schenkein Sherman
Sponsor: Video Monitoring Services VMS is the premiere broadcast news
retrieval company with 17 offices nationwide. VMS covers both domestic
and international news in over 40 countries. Experienced staff and
24-hour availability makes VMS the first name in crisis management. VMS
records foreign language networks, monitors advertising and provides
sponsorship information (check us out on the Web at www.vidmon.com)
CORPORATE PR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
NASCAR Southwest Airlines
ESPN Navistar International Transportation Corp. with Matha
MacDonald
Nike Sponsor: Business Wire Business Wire is on the cutting edge of
communications technology, and we are fortunate to work with many of the
nation’ s leading corporate public relations and investor relations
teams. Businesswire.com, recognized as the premier newswire Internet
site, is a pioneer in shaping the future of the interactive use of the
Internet.
NON-PROFIT PR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Shortlist
The Children’ s Museum of Houston Torme & Company for United Way of the
Bay Area Guide Dogs for the Blind Third Eye for San Diego Chamber of
Commerce BJC Health System Sponsor: Ketchum Headquartered in New York,
Ketchum, a unit of Omnicom Group, is the seventh-largest public
relations firm in the world, with offices and affiliates in key
capitals. Ketchum’s mission is to deliver breakthrough, integrated and
consistent public relations solutions on a global basis. Additional
information can be found at www.ketchum.com.