Excellence in Communications Awards

2012 Entries Closed

CAPIO Awards are presented annually by the California Association of Public Information Officials to honor outstanding public agency information and communications programs. Awards will be presented on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at CAPIO’s 2012 Annual Conference in Palm Springs.

CAPIO has established our annual awards program to recognize and honor outstanding professional work and accomplishment.  This work represents standards of excellence and creativity and stand as inspiration for those in our profession.

Submissions for awards for the 2011 calendar year were accepted between January 11 - February 8, 2012.

Finalists were selected and notified in March and awards were presented at the CAPIO annual conference in Palm Springs, April 20, 2012.

Entries were judged on overall quality, effectiveness of message (with measurable results where possible), creativity, and appropriate use of budget, rather than actual budget (with the exception of a newly-created "Dollar-Stretcher" category).  Thus, projects or entities with smaller budgets can compete effectively with entries that have larger budgets.  Generally, awards will be presented for first, second and third place.  Where submissions may be fewer than necessary to select these, or if judges deem the quality insufficient, awards of merit or, possibly no awards, may be presented.

The awards categories have been revised this year so please review them in preparation of entering.

Online Entry Form >>>

Eligibility

Any public information professional representing a California city, county, school, special district or other public agency may participate. In addition, private firms may submit awards on behalf of a public agency; however, the entry must be in the name of the public agency. CAPIO membership is not a criteria for entry.

How to Enter

All entry materials, including entry form, narrative, project materials and entry fee payment, are to be submitted online via CAPIO's website,  www.capio.org (copy of checks should be scanned and emailed to CAPIOExec@att.net).

If you need assistance with this process, please contact CAPIO Executive Director CAPIOExec@att.net

Entries are for work performed/executed in calendar year 2011. A single work may be entered in multiple categories and an entrant may submit multiple works in each category, as long as separate entry fees are paid for each entry.  Entry fees must accompany entries.

      Entries will be judged on:

  • Presentation (overall completeness and organization of entry)
  • Planning
  • Implementation
  • Results/evaluation

      Narrative Guidelines

  • Keep narratives to two typed pages or less, single-spaced, minimum of 11 point font
  • Top right corner of each narrative page should include agency's name, award title and award category
  • For more information, please visit our narrative information page.

Judging
Entries in each category will be evaluated by a panel of judges with experience in a wide range of public information and communications practices. All awards will be made at the sole discretion of the judges and are final.

Entries will not be returned and become the property of CAPIO.

Award Notifications
Finalists will be notified by email in late March 2012. The finalists will also be posted on the CAPIO website at this time. From these finalists, the Award of Excellence winners will be announced on April 19 at the annual CAPIO Awards of Excellence ceremony in Palm Springs.

Categories

1. Print
a. Writing.   Original writing for a program or project addressing a community or agency issue. May include feature article, editorial, opinion piece, news release, speech, copy for advertisement or other message. It may be a stand-alone piece or part of a program/campaign, but only one item of that program/campaign may be entered. 
b. Newsletter.
i. External, community, stakeholders, etc. Must be distributed regularly, at least twice a year.
ii. Internal, employee.  Must be distributed on a regular basis and show a commitment to employee information and relations
c. Other/Special Publication.   Publications, such as an annual report, calendar, schedules, brochures, etc.  May or may not be published routinely and may or may not be part of an ongoing program or campaign.
d. Photography.   Original photos used in a publication (print or electronic, including website, news releases for outside uses, etc.) that effectively, creatively communicate a specific message, communicates a theme or other pertinent topic.
e. Graphics.   Outstanding design that helps to convey a message, support written copy, branding/identity, or otherwise reflects a superior graphic image for the public entity.  If created by outside designer, must emphasize PIO's contribution to effectiveness.
2. Electronic
a. Video Production.
i. Short form. Spots :60 or less, public service or commercial that convey an informational or persuasive message of benefit to the public  or about the entity.
ii. Long form. Informational pieces in excess of one minute that educate, inform, persuade for the benefit of the public or the entity.
b. Website.   Agency or issue-specific site. Visually attractive, informative, ease of navigation, current, relevant information. Discuss analysis of website statistics to show success of website.
c. Online newsletter.   Must be published regularly and readily accessible to the general community, not a duplication of a print newsletter.
d. New Media.   Highlight agency's use of new media to engage community, effective two-way communications, including Facebook, Twitter, blogs, pod/webcasts, etc. Emphasize creative uses, methodology and effectiveness.
e. Media Relations.   An individual or series of interviews in which a complex issue is effectively communicated to the public via electronic media. Emphasis on the spokesperson's messages and communications skills.
3. Campaigns/Programs.   Includes multiple exposures, elements, promoting a specific concept.
a. Crisis Communications/Public Safety.   Including ongoing/general preparedness or specific crisis, man-made or natural. 
b. Marketing/Communications. A limited-term or ongoing campaign designed to achieve a particular result, e.g., voter registration, school vaccinations, water conservation or promotion of a new service, major infrastructure improvement, etc.
c. Ballot Question.   Public education programs to inform voters about a specific issue on an upcoming ballot. (Legally cannot advocate a position but allows the voter to make informed decisions.)
4. Community Relations/Engagement
a. Special events.   One-time or regular (i.e., annual) events of particular importance to the community.
b. Ongoing or ad hoc committees, commissions.   Demonstrable effectiveness to address a specific issue/need. May emphasize creative approach or effective resolution of complex and/or controversial issues.
5. Special
a. Innovation.   Doesn't fit into other categories, demonstrates leadership, innovation, creative approach and success.
b.   "Dollar-Stretcher" award.   Special achievement for notable results with minimal expense.

Go to Entry Form >>>