Skip to main content

2022 FPRA Pensacola Image Awards

It is time to start planning your entries for our chapter's Image Awards competition! Image Awards and, at the state level, Golden Image Awards celebrate excellence in public relations. Started in 1957, today’s Golden Image Awards have become a standard of public relations excellence and demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design. At the local chapter level, the competition is known as Image Awards.

Image Awards competition includes four divisions of categories:

A. Public Relations Programs 
B. Printed Tools of Public Relations
C. Digital Tools of Public Relations
D. Student Projects in Public Relations (Students may also enter Division A, B or C)

Awards given at the local chapter level are:
  • Award of Distinction: Presented to entries that meet the standard of excellence set by a panel of judges.
  • Image Award: May be presented to the top-scoring entry in each category if the entry meets predetermined criteria of excellence set by the judges.
  • Judges’ Award: Presented by judges for an outstanding entry that achieves maximum results while using a minimum amount of money.
  • Grand Image Award: Presented to the best Image Award-winning entry in Divisions B, C and D.
  • Grand All Image Award: Presented to the best Image Award-winning entry in Division A.
Online Resources:

Visit fpraimage.org for more information and FAQs.

IMPORTANT DATES:
  • Jan. 20 - Virtual Info Session 
  • March 1 - Two-Page Summary Review Session
  • March 7 - Chapter Image Award Submissions Due

 

The FPRA Pensacola 2022 Image Awards is sponsored by Florida Power & Light.


Image Award Judging

It is important to remember that the Image Awards program is a public relations competition. As such, it is the public relations aspect of the entry that will receive the greatest scrutiny by the judges. To this end, the judges first read and evaluate the summary accompanying the entry. Seventy percent of the scoring is based on the summary that sets out the reason and need for the development of the public relations program or tool, how it was implemented and the results. The judges then review the support materials for professionalism, innovation and design to score the remaining 30 percent of the entry.

The judging method allows the judges to concentrate on the following criteria required in each summary:

  1. Research/Situation Analysis
    Summarize the situation and any information gathered (through formal and/or informal research methods) that helped identify the problem or issue, target audiences and develop a strategy for addressing the problem or issue.
  2. Objectives
    Clearly state the specific, measurable objectives (qualitative and/or quantitative) that the program or tool was designed to achieve.
  3. Implementation
    Outline the steps used to achieve the stated objectives.
  4. Evaluation
    Explain how the success of the program or tool was measured. Report how well it achieved its objectives.
  5. Budget
    Explain the financial outlay required for development, implementation and evaluation of this program or tool. (Reporting staff time agency/corporation/non-profit/government should be expressed in a total dollar amount for the entire number of hours. Hourly rates, salaries or total number of hours are not necessary.) Explain how these expenses relate to the project’s success.

Public Relations Programs – A public relations program is defined as a broad-based communications endeavor using two or more public relations tools. 

  • 1A. Community Relations – Any program that improves the organization’s image in the community through support of charitable or service activities. The program can be limited to specific segments of the community and usually is aimed at improving specific aspects of community life. Basically, this includes community “good neighbor” or community betterment programs. 
  • 2A. Public Service – Any program developed to inform about issues of public concern. These programs often deal with larger issues that require public knowledge and action. Public service programs usually are aimed at educating the public and solving public problems. 
  • 3A. Institutional – Any program that creates a public image for the organization. Typically designed to generate support for and awareness of the organization’s mission, values, programs, plans or activities. 
  • 4A. Public Information – Any program developed solely to inform or influence target audiences through use of the news media. This could include news conferences, special tours or informational programs. 
  • 5A. Crisis Communication – Any program developed and/or implemented to handle a disaster or emergency. These programs outline potential effects of the problem, as well as the plans, materials and budgets allocated to develop and implement the program and evaluate its effectiveness. 
  • 6A. Internal – Any program developed to communicate with internal publics such as employees, shareholders, association members, etc. 
  • 7A. Promotional/Marketing – Any program developed to promote, publicize, introduce or create an identity for a specific product, service or idea. These programs are generally developed within a marketing framework and often include a purchase or user acceptance of a specific product or service among their objectives. 
  • 8A. Public Affairs – Any program directed toward government action or activities such as legislative activities, political campaigns, government affairs or relations with public bodies or regulatory agencies. In the broadest sense, this category includes everything meant by “lobbying” plus direct political activities. 
  • 9A. Integrated Marketing – Any program incorporating public relations strategies and tactics as part of an integrated campaign and demonstrating effective integration with other marketing/communication disciplines. 
  • 10A. Reputation Management – Any program or strategy developed to enhance or improve the reputation of an organization with its publics, either proactively or in response to an issue or event. 
  • 11A. Special Events – Any in-person event developed to commemorate a special occurrence, observance or one-time activity. These could include anniversary celebrations, open houses, dedications, awards ceremonies, parties or receptions. 
  • 12A. Virtual Special Event – Any program developed to commemorate a special event, conference, observance, educational opportunity or one-time activity that took place virtually. This event must have been shared using online video broadcasting, which is the distribution of video and/or audio content to an audience over the web or via live streaming, in real-time.  
  • 13A. Other – Any broad-based public relations program using two or more public relations tools that is not included in the above-listed categories. 
  • 1B. Annual Report – Printed or electronic internal and external reports.
  • 2B. Brochure – Any printed folded or bound publication or digital PDF or flip-book publication produced for a single specific purpose.
  • 3B. Magazine – Any periodical or regular publication, which may include articles of one page in length or longer. Publication is usually 16 or more pages in length and includes articles that are more in-depth than a newsletter.
  • 4B. Newsletter – Any printed or digital report, that is produced, published and distributed on a regular basis by a business, institution, or other organization, that presents information and news to people with a specific interest in the organization or subject.
  • 5B. News Release or Pitch – Any document, prepared statement or email communication released to the media as a news item, article or feature story on behalf of a sponsoring person or organization.
  • 6B. Specialty Item – Any gift, premium, novelty or physical token used to convey an impression, make a point, establish an image or achieve a public relations objective. Examples include calendars, posters, promotional items and other novelties.
  • 7B. Other – Any printed or digital public relations tool that does not fit into the above listed categories or Division C categories. Examples include postcards, rack cards and invitations.

Digital Tools of Public Relations – This division includes any online, audio or audio/visual presentation or program that serves a public relations objective. Audio, video or electronic presentations should be submitted with a copy of the script or storyboard, if available.

  • 1C. Online Audience Engagement – The process of encouraging people to be interested or actively involved in your organization’s content. Examples include using blogging or microblogging, podcasts, crowdsourcing, influencer campaigns or similar mechanisms.
  • 2C. Digital Promotion – Edited, finished-product display tools such as: online media kits, email marketing, e-promotions, PSA, ad placement/sponsored ads, boosted posts, digital marketing and paid content.
  • 3C. Social Media – Any program or portion of a campaign developed for one or more social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, SnapChat, Twitter, Tik Tok, etc.
  • 4C. Video – Internal – Any video that presents information to an organization’s internal audience. Examples include orientation programs, meeting openers, news shows, company updates, training, webinars, etc.
  • 5C. Video – External – Any video that presents information to an organization’s external stakeholders with an intent to promote, publicize, introduce or create an identity for a specific product, service or idea. These tools generally are developed within a marketing framework and often include a purchase or user acceptance of a specific product or service among their objectives.
  • 6C. Video – Public Service – Any video presented to inform or educate an organization’s external audiences on an issue of public concern.
  • 7C. Video – Institutional – Any video used to support the public image of an organization. This tool typically is designed to generate awareness and support of the organization’s mission, values, programs, plans or activities.
  • 8C. Website – Any external or internal website created to achieve a public relations objective.
  • 9C. Other – Any digital, online, audio, audio/visual or electronic tool that is not included in the above listed categories such as a video news release, presentation, app, landing page, etc.

Student Projects in Public Relations – This division is restricted to entries submitted by full- or part-time students enrolled at accredited Florida universities or colleges. Student projects in public relations include printed or digital materials and campaigns created for public relations purposes, whether assigned for a course or completed outside the classroom. A photocopy of the entrant’s valid student ID must be attached to the entry from.

  • 1D. News Release or Pitch – Any document, prepared statement or email communication released to the media as a news item, article or feature story on behalf of a sponsoring person or organization.
  • 2D. Public Service Announcement – Any video or audio spot one minute or less in length that is designed to inform or educate an organization’s external audiences on an issue or event. Script must be included.
  • 3D. Public Relations Campaign – Any broad-based communications endeavor that uses two or more public relations tools. Campaigns can improve or create an organization’s image, inform the public on issues of concern, handle disaster situations or communicate with internal audiences.
  • 4D. Digital Communication – Any audio, video or other electronic tool used to achieve a public relations objective. Can include e-mail, video, website, presentation, etc.
  • 5D. Social Media – Any program or portion of a campaign developed for one or more social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, SnapChat, Twitter, Tik Tok, etc.
  • 6D. Special Event - Any event developed to commemorate an occasion either in-person or virtually. Special event examples include observances or one-time activities, such as anniversary celebrations, open houses, dedications, awards ceremonies, parties or receptions. Must be held live or live-streamed.

Rules for Entry

  • Entries must be submitted in the most appropriate division and category. Divisions and categories were updated in December 2020.
  • Entries for the same project may not be entered in more than one category in the same year; however, pieces from an entry may be entered into other categories. Entries that win Image Awards may not be re-entered in subsequent years unless there has been substantial change in the entry.
  • Some part of the entry must have taken place between January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021.
  • Entries must be submitted electronically in five separate files (Two-Page Summary .pdf, Support Material .pdf, Organizational Overview .pdf, 50-Word Summary .pdf, and one .jpg). The titles of all files should include the name of the entry, division and category.
  • The first PDF, titled with the name of the entry, division, category and the word “Entry,” is the two-page summary.
  • The summary must address each of the following: Research/Situation Analysis, Objectives, Implementation, Evaluation and Budget.
  • The summary cannot exceed two typewritten pages.
  • Summary must be created in Word using Times New Roman font. Type size must be ten-point.
  • Line spacing at one-and-a-half (1.5) lines with a .75 margin.
  • The second PDF, titled with name of entry, division, category and the word “Support,” is the material that supports or substantiates information provided in the summary.
  • The first page of the support material PDF should be a table of contents page indicating information about the files contained within.
  • News clippings, photos, publications and copies of materials used in the implementation of the program/tool are pertinent.
  • Photographs may be incorporated into the “Support” .pdf to represent support materials not available electronically.
  • Examples of audio-visual materials and video coverage may be submitted separately to support any entry in the Public Relations Programs division.
  • Entries in the Audio/Visual/Online Division should be submitted as electronic files titled with the entry name, division and category.

In this document, briefly list company background and PR staff size to better acquaint the judges with the submitting organization.

A 50-word summary of the entry must accompany your submission. This Information will be used when announcing winning entries.

The final attachment needed to submit your entry is a JPEG image representing your entry. This will be used if your entry wins an award.

Disclaimers

  • The judges reserve the right to reclassify entries if deemed necessary.
  • Entries that do not follow all of the Rules for Entry may be disqualified.
  • No part of the entry may be submitted after the deadline.
  • Fees for disqualified entries will not be refunded

More Information

For complete information on submissions and required materials, visit fpraimage.org or contact Pensacola Chapter's VP of Image Awards, Kimberly Blair.