2006 Call for Entries
The Premier Awards Competition for Chicago’s PR and
Communications Professionals
The Publicity Club of Chicago invites you to enter
the 2006 Golden Trumpet Awards — the most prestigious
awards program in the Midwest honoring distinguished
individual achievement of public relations and
communications. These coveted awards are presented for
excellence in planning, creativity and execution.
Who is eligible to participate?
All professional public relations and communications
practitioners, self-employed or retained by
organizations doing business within 500 miles of
Chicago.
Programs being entered must have been conducted
between January 1 and December 31, 2005. Activities
initiated prior to January 1, 2005, with results
extending into 2005 are eligible.
What are the key dates?
- February 13, 2006—Entries must be RECEIVED (not
postmarked) at the PCC office no later than 5 pm,
Monday, February 13.
- March 27, 2006—Winners will be notified on a
confidential basis (via letter) by the week of March
27.
- May 2006—Awards Program
What are the awards?
- Golden Trumpet for outstanding achievement in
public relations.
- Silver Trumpet for distinguished achievement in
public relations.
- Quality of Life Award for the foremost
contribution of the year to improve the quality of
life in our society through public relations.
- Creativity Award for exceptional creativity in
public relations programs. Platinum Award for the
best overall public relations program. How are
winners selected? Each category will be judged by a
panel of expert communications professionals. Many
are members of the Publicity Club of Chicago and
related organizations, including the Public
Relations Society of America and the International
Association of Business Communicators.
Judges follow strict procedures and each entry is
judged and scored by three separate judges.
What criteria do the judges use?
- Judging is scored on objectives, techniques,
creativity and results.
- Entries are not judged against each other. Each
entry is judged on standards of excellence.
- More than one Golden Trumpet and one Silver
Trumpet may be awarded in each category. If no entry
in a category is deemed worthy, no award will be
granted.
What are the fees?
PCC Member, $125* each subsequent entry, $75
Non-PCC Member, $175 each subsequent entry, $125
* Also applies to corporate members.
For non-members, $50 of the entry fee may be applied
to the cost of a new PCC membership. Call 773-463-5560
for details.
Absolutely no refunds will be given.
CATEGORIES
For the purpose of the Golden Trumpet Awards
competition, a "public relations program" is a
comprehensive, sustained multi-dimensional campaign. It
may involve a variety of publicity initiatives,
collateral material (audio, visual, and/or print) and
advertising.
There are 22 entry categories. Business, government,
trade association and non-profit programs may be entered
in any appropriate category.
A full program may be entered in only one category;
however, the judges reserve the right to select a more
appropriate category.
1. Community Relations Includes communications
programs seeking to serve, educate, enlighten or
influence a specific community or communities.
2. Institutional Communication programs or campaigns
that are devoted to an idea or a philosophy, a total
concept or identity.
3. Special Events and Observances Open-house
celebrations, commemoration of anniversaries, ceremonies
connected with new installations, events in connection
with national observances or local celebrations.
4. Internal Communications Programs for employee or
member communications. a. Employee b. Member
5. Government Affairs Programs on legislative and
regulatory matters or those intended to brief or
influence governments; politically oriented programs or
local, state or federal governmental activities.
6. Financial/Investor Relations Programs directed to
shareholders, the financial community or the investing
public.
7. Issues Management Programs that educate and inform
about issues such as public safety, the environment,
disease prevention, economics, etc. Also, advocacy
programs that present a point of view or position on
issues of public concern.
8. Crisis Public Relations Programs to plan for or to
manage disaster or emergency situations.
9. Marketing Comprehensive programs to publicize,
promote, and support the marketing of products, events
or services to general or special publics. 10.
International Public Relations Programs including any of
the aforementioned categories if the program is
implemented beyond the borders of the USA, requiring
significant additional considerations in terms of
communications strategy and implementation.
11. New Media Effective use of new
technology—multi-media presentations, online services or
faxback/e-mail services that provide timely, customized
information to critical audiences on demand (requiring
viewer participation). Entrants must submit hard copies
of screen displays or program outlines in order for
judges to see branching, user interaction options, use
of varied media, etc.
12-22. Communication Materials Materials not of
sufficient depth or breadth to create a total program.
Individual elements of a broader program may be entered
separately in this category. There must be a stated
reason, as evidenced through research and/or strategic
development, why the specific medium was chosen.
12. Brochures, Booklets or Books
13. Newsletters or Magazines
14. Corporate and/or Annual Reports
15. Non-profit Annual Reports
16. Public Service Announcements
17. Video News Releases and Films
18. Feature Videotapes and Films
19. Feature Stories written by public relations
professionals for newspapers and/or magazines
20. Web Sites
21. Electronic Press Kits
22. Printed Press Kits
PREPARATION CHECKLIST
Select the most appropriate category (Committee
reserves the right to re-assign entries to other
categories based on content).
Create a descriptive title not to exceed five
words.
Write a 20-25 word Summary of your program.
The heading must include: Title of Entry, Name of
Entrant, Name of Organization, and E-mail address.
Include TWO copies—one in binder, one in front pocket of
binder.
Describe your program in a Narrative of 1,000
words or less. A narrative is required for entries
in all categories. Organize the Narrative in the
following sequence so as to correspond to the following
judging criteria:
a. Research used to identify objectives and strategy
b. Techniques used to attain objectives
c. Creativity
d. Results—present with research or other
documentation including publicity, feedback and
testimonials
e. Return on Investment—describe how your actual
costs relate to final results
Document the scope and quality of performance
described in the Narrative.
Entry may include:
a. Newspaper or magazine articles/photographs
b. Audio and/or videotapes and/or transcripts (Only
one 1/2-inch videotape may be submitted per entry. If
the tapes are documentation of program coverage, list
the information on a separate piece of paper).
c. Films/slides
d. Research/plans/letters/memos/reports
e. Relevant advertising materials/other documentation
Note: Large exhibits or displays should be
represented as photographs. Do not send loose
promotional material.
Organize your entry in the following sequence:
a. Summary
b. Narrative
c. Documentation
Complete your entry:
a. Place each entry in a plain three-ring binder
with no illustrations on the front.
b. Complete the Entry Information and Entrant
Information cards (one per entry).
c. Affix ONLY THE ENTRY INFORMATION card (or copy
of card) securely to the upper right hand corner of
the outside front cover of each entry binder and to
all enclosures (e.g. video/audio tapes). All video
tapes must be securely contained inside the binder.
d. Place entry fee check in an envelope with a
copy of the ENTRANT INFORMATION card (including
AWARD INSCRIPTION INFORMATION) and attach the
envelope to the inside front cover of the entry
binder. e. Don’t forget to include two copies of
your Summary—one in the binder and one in the front
pocket.
Send entries—due no later than 5 pm on Monday,
February 13, 2006–to:
Publicity Club of Chicago
3731 N. Ridgeway Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
Phone 773-463-5560
Fax 773-463-5570
PLEASE NOTE: Entries must be picked up from the
Publicity Club office by June 12, 2006. Neither the
Publicity Club nor its Awards Committee will be
responsible for entries not retrieved by that date.
ENTRY INFORMATION Tape this section (or a copy
thereof) to the UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER of each entry
and to all supporting materials. Please type or print.
DO NOT REDUCE!
Title (up to five words) Name of Entrant
Agency or Organization
Circle the Appropriate Category:
1. Community Relations
2. Institutional
3. Special Events and Observances
4. Internal Communications
5. Government Affairs
6. Financial/Investor Relations
7. Issues Management
8. Crisis Public Relations
9. Marketing
10. International Public Relations
11. New Media
12. Brochures, Booklets or Books
13. Newsletters or Magazines
14. Corporate and/or Annual Reports
15. Non-profit Annual Reports
16. Public Service Announcements
17. Video News Releases and Films
18. Feature Videotapes and Films
19. Feature Stories written by public relations
professionals for newspapers and/or magazines
20. Web Sites
21. Electronic Press Kits Printed Press Kits
ENTRANT INFORMATION
Enclose this section with entry fee in an envelope
attached to the INSIDE FRONT COVER of the entry binder.
Please type or print. DO NOT REDUCE!
This is an Initial Subsequent entry in the 2006
Golden Trumpet Awards Competition.
I am am not a member of the Publicity Club of Chicago
(membership is by individual, not by organization,
unless an organization holds a corporate membership).
Name
Title
Organization
Address City State Zip
Phone
E-mail
Fee enclosed for this entry $ CC# Exp.
Please send me membership information.
The Publicity Club of Chicago presents its
Golden/Silver Trumpet for:
Title of Entry Category
Name (optional)
Organization (optional)
One Trumpet Award for each winning entry will be
inscribed with the above information. Duplicate Trumpet
Awards may be ordered (order forms will be included with
winner notification letters), however, duplicate awards
are NOT available for the Awards Program. The deadline
for orders is Monday, June 5, 2006.
Neither the Publicity Club nor its Awards Committee
will be responsible for entries lost or stolen.
