Ragan's and PR Daily's Communicators of the Year Awards and Rising Star Awards

What makes a communicator of the year?

These impressive professionals, teams and agencies are quick on their feet, cool under pressure and thrive when the spotlight is on them. They know how to get the job done, and their work and dedication surpasses their organization’s or client’s expectations.

Ragan and PR Daily’s Communicators of the Year Awards is your chance to showcase your particular expertise—or your team’s success.

We’re also including the “Rising Star of the Year” category to spotlight the up-and-coming communications professionals poised to make their mark on the comms world.

We’re looking for the individual communications professionals who deliver results, and the teams and agencies that create killer work and know how to knock their organization’s or client’s campaigns out of the park.

We’re featuring more than 40 categories, covering individual contributions and work completed by communications teams and agencies both large and small.

The program is open to all communicators at corporations, nonprofits and agencies.

You may nominate a colleague, client, yourself or your team (in-house or agency).

See a full list of categories and eligibility requirements, and read how to enter below.

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 reach him at 312-960-4407 or brendang@ragan.com.

This year’s program is open to any work executed between Oct. 1, 2018, and Oct. 18, 2019, inclusive.

Recognition

Each category winner will receive:

  • A featured write-up in a Special Edition of Ragan.com
  • An elegant trophy
  • Fifteen percent off registration to as many conferences as you’d like within one year of the winner announcement

The winners of the Grand Prize categories also will receive a one-year membership to Ragan Training —a premium online training library featuring hundreds of hours of the very best content from Ragan events. Find out more about the site here: https://ragantraining.com/

CATEGORIES

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

*NEW* Blogger of the Year

Industry experts, customers and potential employees consider you the go-to source for the latest industry insights. When you wrote, people listened. Tell us about your strategy and how it affected traffic and other metrics.

*NEW* Content Marketer of the Year

You know how to create content that can’t be ignored. Your copy, videos, visuals, social media posts and more captivate audiences and leaves them coming back for more. Share the engaging content you created.

Copywriter of the Year

Are you a writer creating compelling and powerful copy for your organization? How did you create engaging content that increased your traffic and online presence? We want to crown the best writer in the business.

CSR Professional of the Year

You’re leading the charge on making the world a better place. How do you champion these causes and enact change within or on behalf of your organization? We’re looking for a leader with vision and the conviction to make things happen. Has your CSR plan increased the pride everyone takes in working for your organization?

Digital Communicator of the Year

We’re seeking digital communicators who create great content for brands. Share your talents with us and show us how your work drove incredible results. Tell us about the creative vision that keeps your work in demand. Share content created for any platform. Proprietary work will not be made public.

Editor of the Year

The writers you work with owe you. You ensure their copy is clean and compels readers to act. Nothing gets by you, and you pride yourself on that. Share your clear and concise work or nominate the grammar nerd in your office who deserves this distinction.

Event Marketer of the Year

Tell us what you did to draw the masses to your live or virtual events. How did you introduce your event to a new audience or command the attention of journalists and influencers? How does your event strategy serve a larger business goal? How did you keep the conversation going during and after the event? We want to know how your events influence people to engage with your brand or buy your products.

*NEW* External Communicator of the Year

You delivered messaging across a slew of outside communications channels and earned the attention of important audiences. How did you deliver your organization’s most important news to external stakeholders? What channels suited you best? Share your success and the metrics that back it up.

*NEW* Financial Communicator of the Year

We are looking for communicators who turned dull but essential financial information into content that delivered an important message. You were essential in keeping stakeholders—and potential investors—up to date on the state of your organization when it mattered most.

Government Communicator of the Year

What makes you the best in communications for a local, state or federal agency or department? How did you avoid the inevitable trap of all government communication: Boring people so thoroughly that they give up and robotically do just the bare minimum needed to comply? How did you make crucial information engaging and interesting?

*NEW* Hall of Fame

Your breadth of work in communications has been crucial to helping the industry grow, and you’ve helped mentor and lead budding professionals throughout your career. You’re a leader who has had a tremendous impact on the organization(s) you’ve worked for and the communications industry as a whole.

Healthcare Communicator of the Year

Tell us about your fresh perspective on health care PR or marketing. How did you communicate an important message or an urgent new idea with passion, integrity and care? Tell us how you told health care stories or created campaigns with a fresh perspective.

Internal Communicator of the Year

Creating engaging internal content is a challenge. How do you balance being informative and having fun? What tools do you use to inform and inspire employees? How have you taken advantage of multiple channels to engage your diverse, multigenerational or distributed team? Tell us about your great work.

Intranet Expert of the Year

For widely dispersed workplaces, your intranet is your office. As an intranet guru, you’re responsible for keeping the digital office functional, collaborative and creative. How have you made improvements to your intranet in design, content and personalization? What fun additions do employees get excited about? Tell us how you’re giving this essential communications medium new life.

Marketer of the Year

You told your brand’s story with a compelling narrative that moved readers to act. How did you advocate for your brand, market on multiple channels and increase audience engagement? Tell us how you turned casual consumers into brand loyalists.

*NEW* Measurement Professional of the Year

You’ve dug into the data and used this crucial information to create incredibly successful campaigns for your organization or clients. Show us how you made metrics work for you and improved your communications efforts as a result. Share the impressive outcomes that were the result of your efforts.

Media Relations Professional of the Year

Tell us how you built relationships with journalists that resulted in close collaboration between you and reporters on stories about your industry. How did you capitalize on your relationships with reporters to generate interest in your story suggestions, media impressions and increased brand awareness? Share the projects you’re most proud of.

Nonprofit Communicator of the Year

You know how to generate conversations, appeal to your target market and establish your client as a leading industry voice. Show us how you wield PR tools, tactics and strategies to make indisputable arguments, repair tattered reputations and stir up buzz about new ideas for clients or brand executives.

*NEW* PR Professional of the Year—Agency

You are the supreme professional when it comes to working with clients and delivering incredibly successful campaigns and projects. You’ve also helped secure new clients and grow your agency. Share the metrics that prove the success of your work.

*NEW* PR Professional of the Year—Corporate

We’re looking for communicators who know how to deliver successful campaigns for their organization or brand. How did you help grow awareness for your organization and boost revenue? What beneficial partnerships did you create with outside sources? We want to hear it all.

*NEW* PR Professional of the Year—Nonprofit

A limited budget didn’t stop you from securing donations or media coverage for your nonprofit organization. You’re a leader in nonprofit communications, and we want to hear about the tactics you employed to help raise awareness or money.

*NEW* PR Team Leader

We’re looking for the fearless leaders who captained a team of PR professionals and not only delegated work flawlessly, but mentored the communicators on your team. We want to hear about your success over the past year.

*NEW* Publicist of the Year

We want to hear how you generated incredible awareness for your organization or client. What were your secrets for earning coverage? How did you protect and maintain your organization’s or client’s reputation? Share all the details.

*NEW* Public Affairs Professional of the Year

We’re looking for the communicators who know how to deliver their organization’s or client’s message to stakeholders and influence policy. What initiatives did you lead? We want to hear about your successful campaigns.

*NEW* Rising Star of the Year (30 years old and under)

Age is only a number, right? Tell us how you’ve burst onto the scene and made waves (in a good way). We’re looking for the innovative young communications professionals who are primed to climb the ranks quickly and achieve outstanding success. What makes you one of the brightest up-and-coming comms pros?

Social Media Professional of the Year

We want to hear how you created the perfect strategy to deliver your organization’s message across all social media channels. What work did you do to develop an identifiable brand voice? Tell us why you’re the best social media professional in the industry.

*NEW* Spokesperson of the Year

You were the face of an organization when delivering your message to the media and public. No matter the reason for the coverage, you honed your message and cast your organization in a glowing light.

TEAM AWARDS (IN-HOUSE OR AGENCY)

*NEW* Communications Team of the Year (1–9 people)

All communications for your organization came through your team. You led internal, external and maybe even social media communications for your organization. Share how you successfully created campaigns that engaged all audiences—internal and external.

*NEW* Communications Team of the Year (10–24 people)

All communications for your organization came through your team. You led internal, external and maybe even social media communications for your organization. Share how you successfully created campaigns that engaged all audiences—internal and external.

*NEW* Communications Team of the Year (25 people or more)

All communications for your organization came through your team. You led internal, external and maybe even social media communications for your organization. Share how you successfully created campaigns that engaged all audiences—internal and external.

Editorial Team of the Year (1–9 people)

Your editorial team has a way with words. How do you use that gift to support marketing through microsites, blogs and news sites? Do these channels and sites generate stories and posts that build your organization’s reputation as a fountain of ideas? Show us statistical data proving that your team is the heavyweight content producer in your industry.

Editorial Team of the Year (10–24 people)

Your editorial team has a way with words. How do you use that gift to support marketing through microsites, blogs and news sites? Do these channels and sites generate stories and posts that build your organization’s reputation as a fountain of ideas? Show us statistical data proving that your team is the heavyweight content producer in your industry.

Editorial Team of the Year (25 people or more)

Your editorial team has a way with words. How do you use that gift to support marketing through microsites, blogs and news sites? Do these channels and sites generate stories and posts that build your organization’s reputation as a fountain of ideas? Show us statistical data proving that your team is the heavyweight content producer in your industry.

Internal Communications Team of the Year (1–9 people)

How did your team reinvent the way your organization communicates internally? Did you think like corporate marketers appealing to a tough, indifferent external audience? Did you think like an outside corporate PR team working on a complete overhaul of your organization’s brand? We want proof that you made a deep, decisive change in internal communications.

Internal Communications Team of the Year (10–24 people)

How did your team reinvent the way your organization communicates internally? Did you think like corporate marketers appealing to a tough, indifferent external audience? Did you think like an outside corporate PR team working on a complete overhaul of your organization’s brand? We want proof that you made a deep, decisive change in internal communications.

Internal Communications Team of the Year (25 people or more)

How did your team reinvent the way your organization communicates internally? Did you think like corporate marketers appealing to a tough, indifferent external audience? Did you think like an outside corporate PR team working on a complete overhaul of your organization’s brand? We want proof that you made a deep, decisive change in internal communications.

Marketing Team of the Year (1–9 people)

How does your team create consistent and seamless integrated marketing and brand experiences? List your unifying ideas for your brand. Show us how your new ideas strengthened every product line your organization offers. Tell us how you established new connections among your products. How did you positively influence brand awareness, lead generation and sales?

Marketing Team of the Year (10–24 people)

How does your team create consistent and seamless integrated marketing and brand experiences? List your unifying ideas for your brand. Show us how your new ideas strengthened every product line your organization offers. Tell us how you established new connections among your products. How did you positively influence brand awareness, lead generation and sales?

Marketing Team of the Year (25 people or more)

How does your team create consistent and seamless integrated marketing and brand experiences? List your unifying ideas for your brand. Show us how your new ideas strengthened every product line your organization offers. Tell us how you established new connections among your products. How did you positively influence brand awareness, lead generation and sales?

Public Relations Team of the Year (1–9 people)

What strategies and tactics does your team use to send and showcase key messages to your target audiences? Tell us how your team creates a narrative for your organization’s uniquely compelling point of view for the public, your customers, your employees—or all three.

Public Relations Team of the Year (10–24 people)

What strategies and tactics does your team use to send and showcase key messages to your target audiences? Tell us how your team creates a narrative for your organization’s uniquely compelling point of view for the public, your customers, your employees—or all three.

Public Relations Team of the Year (25 people or more)

What strategies and tactics does your team use to send and showcase key messages to your target audiences? Tell us how your team creates a narrative for your organization’s uniquely compelling point of view for the public, your customers, your employees—or all three.

Social Media Team of the Year (1–9 people)

Social media gives you a direct line to your customers. How does your social media team craft key messages through photos, videos and exclusive stories on Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook? Are they dedicated to providing rapid and high-quality customer care via social media?

Social Media Team of the Year (10–24 people)

Social media gives you a direct line to your customers. How does your social media team craft key messages through photos, videos and exclusive stories on Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook? Are they dedicated to providing rapid and high-quality customer care via social media?

Social Media Team of the Year (25 people or more)

Social media gives you a direct line to your customers. How does your social media team craft key messages through photos, videos and exclusive stories on Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook? Are they dedicated to providing rapid and high-quality customer care via social media?

Video Team of the Year (1–9 people)

Show us how your team engaged and impressed audiences with innovative video content. We want videos with drama, humor and strong visual or script-based narratives. Internal videos qualify. Product demo videos are good. External sales videos make the cut. So do internal executive videos. Send them all to us.

Video Team of the Year (10–24 people)

Show us how your team engaged and impressed audiences with innovative video content. We want videos with drama, humor and strong visual or script-based narratives. Internal videos qualify. Product demo videos are good. External sales videos make the cut. So do internal executive videos. Send them all to us.

Video Team of the Year (25 people or more)

Show us how your team engaged and impressed audiences with innovative video content. We want videos with drama, humor and strong visual or script-based narratives. Internal videos qualify. Product demo videos are good. External sales videos make the cut. So do internal executive videos. Send them all to us.

How To Enter

On the entry form, be sure to include a thorough synopsis explaining what makes you, your nominee or your team (in-house or agency) exceptional. We ask that the synopsis be at least 500 words (max: 1,250 words).

You'll also be asked to describe two projects the nominee or team was involved in or led. Please include the following sub-headings (when applicable):

  • Goals
  • Strategy and tactics
  • Execution
  • Evaluation: success, results or ROI

Be sure to follow the guidelines laid out in the category descriptions, as the judges will look for those elements when they select the winners.

You will be able to upload up to five additional documents to your submission, per project. We encourage you to include press releases, design concepts, videos, analytics, testimonials and anything else you feel will give us a better sense of your project. Proprietary or internal information can also be attached and will not be shared with the public.

Supporting documents that can’t be uploaded to the system should be mailed to:

*NEW ADDRESS*

Brendan Gannon
Ragan Communications 
10 S. LaSalle St., Suite 310
Chicago, IL 60603

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you apply?
Our award programs help you measure the success of your work and prove the value of your contributions to your organization. You can set yourself apart in the industry as an expert, which will open doors throughout your career. As a winner, you’ll earn publicity for your brand across our websites and social media audiences, discounted training at Ragan conferences, a custom write-up about your campaign and a trophy.
Who can enter?
Entries may be submitted by individual communications professionals, organizations or agencies worldwide. The only requirement is that entries be submitted in English. This program is open to in-house, agency, independent communication practitioners and vendors in the private, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors.
What does it take to be a winner?
We look for top-quality work that shows clear, bold and creative ideas that benefit your business or client. Please provide metrics or media coverage that back up your claims, and share creative collateral such as videos, visual design or websites that were a part of your project. Please look at our past award winners to see what gets recognized and rewarded. We encourage you to submit the same campaign to multiple categories, if you feel they are relevant. Doing so increases your chances of winning.
Why are some deadlines extended?
We extend deadlines based on applicant needs and upcoming promotional opportunities.
When will I find out results?
We try to announce a list of finalists six to eight weeks after the close of the program. The announcement of the winners comes about three to four weeks after the announcement of the finalists. Each announcement will be made with a headline on our website, in our daily email newsletter and on our social media platforms. Emails notify entrants in advance of these announcements. As deadlines are extended, so are expected announcement dates.

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 him at brendang@ragan.com.

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsoring one of Ragan Communications’ award programs, please contact Hannah Lavelle at hannahl@ragan.com.