Call for Entries Deadline:
Sept. 10, 2026

The most meaningful AI work in communications deserves to be recognized

Ragan’s AI Excellence Awards recognizes AI work that goes beyond experimentation. 

This program honors the communicators, marketers, teams, leaders and organizations using artificial intelligence to create measurable impact across internal communications, PR, marketing, corporate communications and employee experience. The strongest entries will show clear strategy, thoughtful execution, responsible use and results that made a difference for an organization, client, audience or team.

Categories span AI use cases, AI agents, organizational adoption, people and teams, department-wide AI work and standout innovation. Whether your work improved media relations, executive communications, employee engagement, content creation, social media, measurement, research, data insights, personalization, training, governance or workflow, this is your opportunity to earn recognition from Ragan and PR Daily.

Enter your own work, a colleague, a team, a leader or a client whose AI work deserves industry recognition.

Explore the categories, choose the entries that best represent your impact and submit your entry for Ragan’s AI Excellence Awards.

CATEGORIES

BEST USE CASES

 Best AI-driven Intranet or Employee Hub

Recognizes AI-powered intranets or hubs that make workplace information easier to find and act on. Share results in communication, service or engagement.

 Brand Marketing

Celebrates AI-supported brand work that sharpens audience understanding, message testing or campaign execution. Show how it built awareness, relevance or measurable brand value.

 Creative

Bold ideas belong here when AI helped shape concepts, design, copy or production. Enter work where creativity and results worked together.

 Data & Insights

Strong AI use can turn complex data into clearer decisions. Submit work that found patterns, audience truths or actionable insights.

 Employee Engagement

Celebrates AI-supported efforts that helped employees feel informed, connected or heard. Share how the work improved participation, feedback, culture or trust.

 Executive Messaging

Showcase AI-supported executive communications that made leadership messages clearer, faster or more relevant. Judges will look for strategy, voice, accuracy and audience response.

 General Content Creation

This category recognizes AI-assisted content programs that saved time without sacrificing quality. Submit examples of planning, drafting, editing, repurposing or distribution that delivered results.

 GEO/Search

Rewards AI-supported search strategies that improved visibility across search engines and answer platforms. Enter work using research, optimization, content or measurement.

 Lead Generation

AI can help find, qualify and convert the right audiences. Submit programs that improved targeting, nurture, personalization or conversion outcomes.

 Measurement (Dashboards, proving ROI)

Great measurement turns AI activity into business proof. Submit dashboards, ROI reporting, attribution models or insights that changed decisions.

 Media Pitching

For media pitching that used AI to sharpen targeting, angles or outreach. Show better relevance, stronger reporter fit, quality coverage or response rates.

 Multilingual (Global Communications)

Recognizes AI-supported global communications that made messages clearer across languages, cultures or regions. Share how accuracy, localization, speed or access improved.

 Press Release Writing

Submit press releases where AI helped with research, drafting, editing or localization. Winning work should still show judgment, accuracy and earned attention.

 Project Management

Smart AI use can make complex work easier to manage. Enter projects that improved timelines, routing, collaboration, reporting or accountability.

 Research

Research powered by AI should lead to sharper decisions. Submit work that improved audience understanding, competitive scans, media research or message testing.

 Social Content Creation

Great social content still needs judgment, timing and voice. Enter AI-assisted posts, series or creative that grew engagement or audience action.

 Social Listening

AI-supported listening can help teams spot conversation shifts sooner. Submit work that found sentiment, risks, trends or audience needs.

 Social Media Optimization

This category recognizes AI use that improved social strategy, timing, targeting or performance. Judges want smarter decisions, stronger content and clear metrics.

 Stakeholder/Audience Personalization

Enter work that used AI to tailor messages for distinct audiences or stakeholders. Show how personalization improved relevance, engagement, trust or action.

 Talent Recruitment/Employer Branding

AI can help talent audiences see why your workplace stands out. Submit recruitment or employer brand work with measurable candidate or employee impact.

 Thought Leadership

Showcase AI-supported thought leadership that brought timely ideas to the right audiences. Enter bylines, speeches, reports or social content with measurable influence.

 Video

Submit video work where AI supported concepting, scripting, editing, localization or measurement. The story, craft and results should still shine.

 Visual Storytelling (Non-video)

Celebrates AI-assisted visuals that made information clearer or stories more memorable. Entries may include design, photography, illustration or infographics with clear impact.

 Other

Have an AI use case we did not name? Enter it here and show why it belongs among the year's strongest work.

AI AGENTS

 Best AI Agent for Executive Comms/Speechwriting

Honors agents that help leaders communicate with clarity, accuracy and the right voice. Share how the agent supports speeches, messages, briefing, review or more.

 Best AI Agent for Internal Comms

Recognizes agents built to support employees and internal communicators. Entries may include, but are not limited to, agents for FAQs, messaging, content planning, channel support.

 Best AI Agent for Measurement/Analytics

For agents that turn data into faster, clearer insight. Submit work that supports dashboards, reporting, trend analysis or recommendations.

 Best AI Agent for PR/Media Relations

Media relations agents should improve speed without losing strategy. Enter agents supporting research, list building, pitching, monitoring or coverage analysis.

 Best AI Agent for Social Media

Celebrates agents that help teams plan, create, monitor or report social content. Show how the agent improved workflow, engagement or brand consistency.

 Best AI Agent for Thought Leadership

Enter agents that help turn expertise into stronger ideas and content. Judges will value support for research, drafting, positioning or distribution.

 Best AI Agent for Employee Experience/HR Comms

People teams need clear, timely communication. Submit agents that support HR messaging, employee questions, benefits, onboarding or workplace resources.

 Best AI Chat Bot

A great chatbot makes help feel fast, useful and accurate. Enter bots that answer questions, guide users or route needs effectively.

 Other

Did you build an AI agent outside these categories? Enter it here and show the need it served, the work it handled and the impact.

WIDER IMPLEMENTATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL ADOPTION

 Best Company-wide AI Communications Rollout

Big AI rollouts need more than announcements. Submit communications that helped an organization understand, adopt and use AI responsibly.

 Best Event or Program to Drive AI Adoption

The right program can turn curiosity into action. Enter events, workshops or activations that built AI confidence, skills or participation.

 Best Internal AI training/Upskilling Program (L&D)

Celebrate training that made AI practical, responsible and useful for employees. Share curriculum, participation, behavior change and results.

 Best AI Change Communications Strategy

AI change can raise big questions. Enter communications that built understanding, reduced confusion and helped people adapt with confidence.

 Best AI Guidelines/Governance Framework

Strong governance builds trust in AI use. Submit frameworks that clarified policies, risk, approvals, data use, transparency or accountability.

 Best AI Internal Adoption Campaign

For campaigns that encouraged employees to try AI with purpose and confidence. Share messaging, channels, participation, feedback and behavior change.

 Best AI Prompt-athon or Hackathon or Innovation Challenges

Hands-on challenges can spark better ideas and practical AI habits. Enter prompt-athons, hackathons or contests that produced learning, prototypes or adoption.

PEOPLE AND TEAMS

 AI Trail Blazers

This category celebrates people who moved AI from possibility to practical progress. Nominees should show leadership, responsible judgment and measurable influence.

 Best Cross-Functional AI Initiative

Great AI work often crosses departments. Enter initiatives where comms, marketing, HR, IT, legal or other partners worked together toward clear results.

 Best Leader Driving “Responsible AI”

Senior leaders set the tone for responsible AI. Nominate executives who shaped governance, safeguards, transparency and accountable adoption.

 Best AI Center of Excellence or Task Force

This category is for teams creating the structure behind smarter AI use. Submit groups that built guidance, training, standards, support or cross-functional alignment.

 Best AI Champion

Champions make adoption feel possible. Nominate advocates who encouraged responsible AI use, answered questions, coached peers or built momentum.

 Consultants & Trainers

Great consultants and trainers turn AI uncertainty into practical skill. Nominate experts who guided teams, taught responsible use and helped organizations improve.

 Rising Stars

Early-career talent is shaping AI work in real time. Nominate rising professionals showing initiative, sound judgment and measurable results.

 Top AI Teams

Outstanding teams turn AI ideas into repeatable, responsible work. Enter comms, marketing, HR or creative teams delivering clear value at any size.

OVERALL USE OF AI WITHIN COMMS/MARKETING DEPARTMENTS

 Agency

Agencies are helping clients move from AI questions to measurable work. Submit agency programs, workflows or client results that show standout AI use.

 Corporate

Corporate teams are applying AI across reputation, culture, content and operations. Enter department-wide work that improved performance, consistency, insight or speed.

 Education

Schools and education organizations can use AI to reach communities with greater clarity. Submit communications or marketing work that improved engagement, service or outcomes.

 Nonprofit or Government

Purpose-led organizations need AI that builds trust and serves people. Enter nonprofit or government work with clear value, safeguards and measurable impact.

BEST IN CLASS

 AI Innovation Award

This award celebrates the boldest AI work of the year. Submit entries that pair fresh thinking with responsible execution and meaningful results.

HOW TO ENTER

On the entry form, be sure to include a thorough synopsis explaining the purpose and scope of your AI work, initiative, campaign, program, agent, team or nomination. We ask that the synopsis be 350-900 words and clearly explain the challenge, strategy, AI use, human oversight and results.

Be sure to follow the guidelines outlined in the category descriptions, as judges will look for the elements that best match each category. The strongest entries will show not just that AI was used, but how it improved communications, marketing, employee experience, workflow, adoption, decision-making or organizational outcomes.

You will be able to upload additional documents, URLs and testimonials to your submission. We encourage you to include AI-assisted campaign assets, content examples, screenshots, videos, dashboards, reports, testimonials, sample prompts or prompt workflows with confidential information removed, governance materials, training resources and anything else that gives judges a clear understanding of your work and its impact.

ENTER

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

These awards are open to in-house, agency and independent communication practitioners in the private, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. Enter your work, the work of your organization or submit entries on behalf of your client.

Companies from around the world are welcome to enter as long as the entry is submitted in English.

Contact Brendan Gannon to find the perfect category for your campaign or project. You can call 312-960-4407 or email [email protected].

This year’s program is open to any work executed between Sept. 1, 2025, and Sept. 10, 2026, inclusive.

ENTRY FEES

The fee for this program is $550 per entry into standard categories, and $600 per entry into our Best in Class category.

A late fee of $325 per entry will be added to all entries received after 11:59 p.m. Central time, September 10, 2026.

Do you have a campaign or project you'd like to enter into multiple categories? Pay the original entry fee, and then only $250 for each additional category!

All entries are non-returnable and non-refundable.

W-9 Form / Tax ID Number Request

Frequently Asked Questions

WHY SHOULD I APPLY?
Ragan’s AI Excellence Awards give you the chance to earn industry recognition for AI work that created measurable value in communications, PR, marketing or employee experience. A win or finalist honor can help validate your work, spotlight your team and show clients, colleagues and leaders what thoughtful AI use can achieve.
WHO CAN ENTER THESE AWARDS?
Communicators, marketers, PR professionals, agencies, consultants, trainers, teams, leaders and organizations may enter their own work or nominate others. Entries may be submitted on behalf of an organization, client, colleague, team, individual or cross-functional group.
CAN I ENTER MULTIPLE CATEGORIES?
Yes. You’re encouraged to enter multiple categories if your work applies. Each submission is judged independently, and discounted pricing is available for additional entries—giving you more chances to earn recognition for your work.
WHAT ARE JUDGES LOOKING FOR?
Judges will look for clear goals, smart strategy, responsible AI use, human oversight, strong execution and measurable results. The strongest entries will show how AI improved communications, marketing or organizational outcomes, not simply that AI was used.
WHY ARE DEADLINES SOMETIMES EXTENDED?
Deadlines may be extended to give entrants additional time to gather results, approvals, supporting materials or client permissions. Any extension will be clearly posted, and late fees may apply during the late-entry period.
WHEN WILL I HEAR THE RESULTS?
Entrants will be notified three months after the final entry deadline, after the judging process is complete and results are finalized. Announcement details will also be shared on the awards website and through Ragan and PR Daily channels.

Additional Questions

If you have any questions about the program or problems submitting your entry, please call Brendan Gannon at 312-960-4407 or email [email protected].

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsoring one of Ragan Communications’ award programs, please contact Hannah Lavelle at 312-960-4628 or email [email protected].