
This program is now closed.
Learn more about current programs here.
RECOGNITION
Each category winner will receive:
An elegant trophy: Display this shiny trophy for all to see. Go ahead, you've earned it.
Editorial & Social Media Coverage: You’ll be featured on Ragan’s websites Ragan.com and PRDaily.com, on our social platforms and in our eletters, reaching more than 250,000 communicators and marketers.
Marketing & PR: Leverage your win in your marketing materials, press releases and other messaging.
Digital Badge: Add the Winners badge to your email signature and your web site.
Press release: We’ll provide you with a quote for your press release, plus we’ll post your organization’s award release on our site to boost recognition.
Standing out and delivering on the media landscape has become increasingly difficult.
We want to hear how you told powerful stories, protected your organization’s reputation, navigated uncertainty during the pandemic, built mutually beneficial relationships with reporters and more to create a robust media relations strategy.
Ragan’s Media Relations Awards will showcase the people and teams whose efforts positioned their organization or client in a positive light and delivered compelling messaging. This is the premiere program for recognizing the best media relations campaigns, events (live or virtual) and initiatives from the past year.
Showcase your innovative tactics for securing media coverage, your ability to remain calm during a crisis, your knack for crafting engaging narratives. If you’ve been a part of campaigns and initiatives that led to success for your organization or client, we want to hear about it.
Enter Ragan’s Media Relations Awards to earn recognition for your impressive work from the past year! Winners will be announced in special editorial programming and will receive awards trophies and more.
CATEGORIES
CAMPAIGNS
Brand Messaging or Positioning Campaign
Cause Marketing Campaign
Community Relations Campaign
COVID-19 Communications Campaign
Crisis or Reputation Management Campaign
Data-Driven Media Relations Campaign
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative
Global Media Relations Campaign
Governmental or Public Affairs Media Relations Campaign
Integrated Marketing Communications Campaign
Purpose-Driven Campaign
Social Media Campaign
Thought Leadership Campaign
EVENTS
New Product or Service Launch
Press Event or Media Tour
Stunt or Special Event
Virtual Event
MEDIA RELATIONS STRATEGY
Content Marketing and Brand Journalism
Exclusive Content Strategy
Innovation in Media Relations
Media Relations Video
Newsjacking
Pitch
Use of a Celebrity or Personality
GRAND PRIZE
Grand Prize: Media Relations Campaign of the Year
Grand Prize: Media Relations Innovator of the Year
Grand Prize: Media Relations Professional of the Year
HOW TO ENTER
Campaign or Initiative Entries: On the entry form, be sure to include a thorough synopsis explaining the purpose and scope of your project. We ask that the synopsis be at least no more than 1,000 words and include the following sub-headings (when applicable):
- Goals
- Strategy and tactics
- Execution
- Evaluation: success, results or ROI
Individual or Team Entries: Tell us in 1,000 words or less about the nominee’s or team's accomplishments in the previous 12 months. Winners will be those who have distinguished themselves among their peers with meaningful achievements. Please include examples of creative campaigns or initiatives that have proved beneficial to your organization or clients. When applicable, please include the following sub-headings:
- 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 additional documents to your submission. 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:
Brendan Gannon
Ragan Communications
10 S. LaSalle St., Suite 310
Chicago, IL 60603
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 brendang@ragan.com.
This year’s program is open to any work executed between Jan. 1, 2020, and March 12, 2021, inclusive.
ENTRY FEES
The fee for this program is $425 per entry into standard categories. Grand Prize entries are $475 per entry.
A late fee of $199 per entry will be added to all entries after 11:59 p.m. Central time, March 19, 2021.
Do you have a campaign, project, person or team you'd like to enter into multiple categories? Pay the original entry fee, and then only $199 for each additional category!
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, a custom write-up about your campaign and a trophy.
Who can enter?
Entries may be submitted by organizations worldwide. The only requirement is that entries be submitted in English. The 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?
Although each award program is unique, 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—and you'll receive discounted rates on additional entries.Why are some deadlines extended?
We extend deadlines based on applicant needs and upcoming promotional opportunities.When will I find out results?
Finalists will be announced in summer 2021. The announcement of the winners comes about 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 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 brendang@ragan.com.
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you are interested in sponsoring one of Ragan Communications’ award programs, please contact Hannah Lavelle at 312-960-4628 or email hannahl@ragan.com.
Ragan Communications is not responsible for international shipping fees related to trophies or certificates.