Category

Description

Government/
Community Relations

For programs targeted at government bodies, government agencies, internal
stakeholders who play a role in or otherwise impact government relations or for programs targeted to community audiences of any kind, including work done by nonprofit and volunteer organizations.

Customer Relations and Marketing
Communications

For programs targeted at customer audiences, including customer relationship management and customer research; advertising and marketing aimed at marketing products and/or services to an external audience.

Media Relations

For programs that use news media as the main channel for reaching target audiences.

Issues Management and Crisis
Communications

For programs targeted at external and/or internal audiences that address trends,
issues and/or attitudes that have a significant impact on an organization, such as labor relations, crises, mergers, acquisitions, public policy, safety or environmental concerns.

Employee/ Member Communications

For programs targeted at employee or member audiences, including programs that create awareness and influence opinion or behavioral change, and those focused on management communication, ethics, morale, internal culture, or change management.

Human Resource
and Benefits
Communications

For programs targeted at employee or member audiences that deal with health and welfare, savings and pensions, stocks and compensation, or recruitment and retention.

Category

Description

Electronic and Digital
Communications

Programs that are computer-based communication projects produced for internal or external audiences that primarily use electronic production and/or delivery tools such as electronic newsletters, annual reports, websites and intranet sites.

Social Media

For programs that encompass a range of new tools and practices that allow individuals and groups to collaborate and share knowledge and experiences online.

Audiovisual

Programs in this category use sound, video, film, slides, CDs or a combination of these elements.

Publications

For programs targeted at external and/or internal audiences that address trends,
issues and/or attitudes that have a significant impact on an organization, such as labor relations, crises, mergers, acquisitions, public policy, safety or environmental concerns.

Writing

This category encompasses original material written for a particular
communication project, including the following:

• Personality profiles
• Recurring features or columns
• Stand-alone features
• Editorials
• News articles
• Speeches
• Scripts
• News releases
• Sales promotion and
• marketing
• Technical writing
• Writing for online distribution

Publication Design

This category is for design of internal or external
publications in all formats, including electronic.

Other Graphic Design

For projects that involve creating an organizational brand identity or other graphic project where the main communication function is achieved through the use of cartoons, drawings, illustrations, paintings, collages, montages, mobiles, invitations, special signs, etc.

Interactive Media Design

Design of electronic and interactive, computer-based media elements including:

• Web site design
• Intranet site design
• CD-ROMs or DVDs
• E-cards, banner ads, buttons, pop-ups, etc.

Outdoor/ 3D Design

Outdoor products that are intended for the general public including:

• Billboards    
• Murals and public sculpture
• Outdoor and transport posters (for use at bus shelters, airport terminals, “wrapped” buildings and cars, etc.)
• Decorations, neon signs, awnings, street furniture, etc.

Photography

For original photographs or photo essays created or commissioned for a particular communications project.

Advertising/
Conventional Media Design

Entries in this category demonstrate creative and
innovative use of traditional advertising media
including film/TV, radio and print.