Begin your entry by clicking here.

Get to Know the New Judging Rubric

• Prior to beginning your entries, familiarize yourself with the 2024 Scoring Rubric
• Rather than attaching a PDF outline of an award entry, we are now utilizing forms within this website. The rubric outlines what judges will be considering in each section.

Strategic Campaigns and Programs

Judging for Strategic Campaigns and Programs determines how each entry follows the Four-Step Public Relations process.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Includes 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.

CONTENT MARKETING
Programs that effectively demonstrate a strategic program that includes creating and distributing valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage target audience(s). Include examples and metrics.

CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS
Includes programs undertaken to deal with an unplanned event that required an immediate response.

EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES
More Than Seven Days
Seven Or Fewer Days
Includes virtual or in-person programs or events, such as commemorations, observances, conferences, openings, yearlong anniversaries, celebrations or other special activities. Events that took place for longer than a one-week period should be entered in “More Than Seven Days” and events occurring within a time span of one week should be entered in “Seven Or Fewer Days.”

FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS
Includes programs directed to shareowners, other investors and the investment community; includes communication programs related to decentralized currencies.

GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Includes any type of program, such as Reputation/Brand Management, Marketing or Events and Observances, that demonstrates effective global communications implemented in more than one country.

INFLUENCER MARKETING 
Macro-influencers: Celebrities, executives, bloggers, and journalists who have 10,000–1M followers. They have the highest topical relevance on the spectrum, with category-specific influence – such as lifestyle, fashion or business.

Micro-influencers: Everyday consumers or employees or industry experts who have 500–10,000 followers. They have the highest brand relevance and resonance on the spectrum of influencers, with influence driven by their personal experience and strength of relationship with their networks

INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS
Includes creative and effective integrated campaigns, along with other marketing or communications including paid, earned, shared and owned efforts. The program must demonstrate the clear leadership of public relations, along with its integration with other disciplines.

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Includes programs targeted specifically to special publics directly allied with an organization, such as employees, members, affiliated dealers and franchisees.

ISSUES MANAGEMENT
For programs undertaken to deal with issues that could extraordinarily affect ongoing business strategy.

MARKETING
Includes programs designed to introduce new products/services or promote existing products/services to a particular audience. 

CAMPAIGN ON A $5,000 TO $10,000 BUDGET
Effective campaign delivered within parameters of a limited budget. This does not include staff time and overhead.

CAMPAIGN ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET ($5,000 OR LESS)
Successful campaign despite constraints of a small budget. This does not include staff time and overhead.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE  (ESG)
Program that enhances an organization’s reputation and demonstrates a business approach to initiatives that positively impact society. Campaigns to highlight the positive impact that they have had delivering environmental and social benefits to stakeholders.

MULTICULTURAL PUBLIC RELATIONS
For any type of program, such as institutional, marketing and community relations, specifically targeted to a cultural group.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI) CAMPAIGN 
Efforts devoted to promoting inclusivity and/or dismantle discrimination for racial, ethnic, religious or sexual orientation and gender differences.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
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.

PUBLIC SERVICE
Includes programs that advance public understanding of societal issues, problems or concerns.

REPUTATION/BRAND MANAGEMENT
Programs designed to enhance, promote or improve the reputation of an organization with its publics or key elements of its publics, either proactively or in response to an issue, event or market occurrence.

Tactics and Elements

Tactics and Elements are judged on four key areas — planning/content, creativity/quality, technical excellence, and results

PAID:

PAID PROMOTIONS
Use of sponsorships, paid placements, or other marketing communications tactics that complement a broader public relations strategy or approach and generate exceptional ROI. These efforts should be targeted and strategic, and ultimately demonstrate a distinct purpose that aligns with the goals of an overview campaign or specific desired outcome. 

PAID SOCIAL MEDIA
Use of paid social media placements that complement a broader public relations strategy or approach and generate exceptional ROI. These efforts should be targeted and strategic, and ultimately demonstrate a distinct purpose that aligns with the goals of an overview campaign or specific desired outcome. 

EARNED:

MEDIA RELATIONS
Submit press releases, media advisories, pitch letters, requests for coverage, etc.that include measurable objectives and results, including media impact. Upload or provide YouTube/Vimeo links to any television or radio coverage.

FEATURE STORIES
Feature articles that have been written by a practitioner and submitted and published. Submit text of feature article, as well as documentation of publication and placement. The one-page summary should include target audience, measurable objectives and any documented results. Articles must be written in their entirety or substantively by the entrant, and not merely “pitched.”

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
Positioning of an executive at any level across earned, owned, and share platforms. The summary should include information about the executive and stated objectives, quantification of results as well as copies of significant placements, social media, posts or memos.

SHARED:

SOCIAL MEDIA 
How did you use social media to tell a story or connect with an audience? Share screenshots or links to your work and provide detailed results focusing on engagement and conversions, where applicable. If the project includes boosted or paid posts, enter it under the Paid Social Media category.

INFLUENCER MARKETING 
Tactic that focuses on using paid spokespeople and key leaders to increase awareness and drive your brand's message to the larger market. Include details of achievements/benchmarks on how the spokesperson met/exceeded campaign goals.

OWNED:

DIGITAL PLATFORM
Did you launch or substantially enhance a digital platform? How was it launched and how much risk was involved in your marketing plan? What value did the end user receive and how did it specifically match goals? Include metrics and benchmarks. This entry can be completed by a vendor or the customer.

DATA INSIGHTS
The use of data or research in a program to inform a communications strategy and/or message development. Demonstrate how the insights were acquired and applied. 

WEBSITES
Use of a website as part of a communications or content marketing program. Include screen grabs or copies of key pages to support your summary. Additionally, include the website URL for external sites and how the site met or exceeded your communications benchmarks.

NON-TRADITIONAL TACTICS 
Innovative, unconventional, creative tactics or approaches used as part of a public relations program. Documentation of how the tactic specifically contributed to the measurable results of the campaign should be included in the summary. (Photographic and/or video representation of any physical objects should be uploaded to be fully considered in this category.)

ANNUAL REPORTS
Projects - digital or print -  that report on an organization’s annual performance. Upload a sample of one copy of the publication or its URL, along with a  summary.

BLOGS/VLOGS
Web-based journals, or blogs, that communicated to a target audience. The  summary should include rationale for blogging strategy, target audiences and statistics, or other means of quantifiable measurement to support stated objectives. Screen downloads of the blog being entered, as well as the actual site URL, must be submitted as part of the story.

NEWSLETTERS
Publications – digital or print – designed, written and published/distributed periodically to provide brief and timely information to target audiences while supporting an organization’s overall objectives. Upload samples of three of your best issues, along with a summary including goals and results.

SINGLE-ISSUE PUBLICATIONS 
Single-issue publications designed for a special purpose. Books and other publications not eligible for consideration in other categories should be entered here. Upload a sample of one copy of the publication along with the summary including goals and results.

MAGAZINES
Publications designed to provide in-depth information about an organization or topic on a regular basis (Print, digital only and both will be considered). Magazines typically differentiate from newsletters by the number of pages and length of articles. Upload samples of three consecutive issues along with the summary including goals and results.

LONG FORM VIDEO – More than 60 seconds (production cost $5,000 or more)
Produced videos to inform target audiences of an event, brand, product, service, issue or organization. The summary should include usage statistics or other means of quantified measurement to support stated objectives.

SHORT FORM VIDEO – Less than 60 seconds (production cost $5,000 or more)
Produced videos to inform target audiences of an event, brand, product, service, issue or organization. The summary should include usage statistics or other means of quantified measurement to support stated objectives. 

LONG FORM VIDEO – More than 60 seconds (production cost less than $5,000)
Produced videos to inform target audiences of an event, brand, product, service, issue or organization. The summary should include usage statistics or other means of quantified measurement to support stated objectives. 

SHORT FORM VIDEO – Less than 60 seconds (production cost less than $5,000)
Produced videos to inform target audiences of an event, brand, product, service, issue or organization. The summary should include usage statistics or other means of quantified measurement to support stated objectives. 

BRANDED CONTENT
Use of content generation to promote a particular brand which funds the content's production. Upload samples along with the summary including goals and results.

PODCASTS
How did you tell your story – was the purpose to teach or share? Was it intended for internal or external audiences and was there engagement on multiple platforms? Provide goals, results and listener feedback.

PRSA-OKC Experimental Categories

COMMUNITY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 
COMMUNITY SERVICE TACTIC

Share how you utilized public relations skills to assist a non-profit organization in achieving its mission in a strictly volunteer/pro-bono capacity. 

HUMOR
Share how you utilized humor in messaging or tactics to achieve a public relations objective.

LET'S JUST SEE IF THIS WORKS
We've all been there. This category includes tactics completed and executed very quickly without much research. You've thrown caution to the wind and hoped for the best. We want to hear all about it.. How did it tie to business objectives? How did you know it was a success?

Individual Awards

Information regarding nominations for individual and team awards will be posted soon.

Clarus Award
The Clarus Award, presented to a member of the working media, symbolizes the importance of clarity of purpose in reporting the news affecting the lives of readers, listeners or viewers. This award honors a journalist who exhibits fairness in reporting and whose work reflects favorably on the practice of news reporting. The recipient will have established a good relationship with members of PRSA-OKC.

Outstanding Young Professional Award
The Outstanding Young Professional Award is presented to a member in good standing of the Oklahoma City PRSA Chapter who has demonstrated a desire to succeed in a challenging work environment and who has contributed significant efforts to the advancement of the

PRSA-OKC chapter, as well as the profession of PR. The recipient must be under the age of 30, have five or fewer years of full-time experience in the field of public relations and have demonstrated an aptitude for leadership and involvement in PRSA.

Public Relations Professional of the Year
The Public Relations Professional of the Year Award honors an individual or group who, in the previous year, represented the best in public relations as an outstanding communicator(s) or influencer(s), establishing or reinforcing the mutually beneficial relationship between an organization and the public or otherwise impacting the communications landscape.                                             

Paul E. Dannelley Jr. Harmony Award
The Harmony Award is presented to a public relations practitioner who has done outstanding work to bring harmony as a result of public relations efforts. The Harmony Award is presented to a member in good standing of the Oklahoma City PRSA Chapter who has given longtime service to the profession of public relations, who has furthered the profession and the practice of public relations, and who has earned the respect of his or her peers.

Group Awards

Information for group award nominations will be available soon.

Communications Team of the Year

• Agency
• Nonprofit
• Corporate
• Government
• Small (3 or Fewer Practitioners)

Begin your entry by clicking here.