The SPN Communications Excellence Awards recognize and encourage outstanding achievements in marketing, communications, and media across the state think tank Network. Winners will receive a grant to pursue future projects, as well as a trophy to honor their effort and results. SPN will highlight both the winners and the nominees to share their success stories and best practices across the Network.
Finalists have been announced!
Check out the finalists in all six (yes, six) categories! And check out our bonus category below.
Winners were voted on by the Network’s Communications Peer Group and State Think Tank CEOs. Winners will be announced at SPN’s Annual Meeting in August.
Award Categories
Influential Marketing Campaign Award
Effective marketing campaigns gain traction with their targeted audiences. They drive the consumers of their content to take action and position the organization for even greater success. This award recognizes the creativity of such marketing campaigns.
Driving the Media Narrative Award
Driving the media narrative around a policy issue means your organization was able to effectively frame the policy debate with media and policy makers. Your talking points, your heroes, and your messaging were omnipresent in print, television, radio, and digital. This award recognizes the power of effectively driving the media narrative.
Bold Brand Boost Award
A powerful brand means your organization has a seat at the policy-making table. Citizens look to your organization for information and guidance on important policy issues. Lawmakers and media see you a trusted resource for quality research and information. This award recognizes the influence of a powerful brand boost.
Powerful Storytelling Award
Storytelling is the most fundamental element of communication. In marketing, storytelling can inform and persuade. An organization that tells powerful stories will boost its brand, spread the message of policy impact, and change public sentiment. This award recognizes the storytelling that truly impacted an organization’s brand image and policy impact.
Creative Shoestring Budget Award
Not all marketing is done with millions of dollars. Sometimes it’s the guerrilla marketing on a shoestring budget that can go viral and have outsized influence despite limited resources. This award recognizes organizations that punched above their marketing weight and had big impact with few dollars.
Bonus Category: Expanding Your Audience Award
No matter how just your cause, or how impeccable your research, none of what you say matters if it’s to an empty room. Only slightly more useful is talking to an echo chamber of the same audience again and again. After pouring through the nominations from our exceptional Network, it was clear a new category of award was needed for the folks who expanded the reach of their message to achieve new heights and build new coalitions. This award recognizes the organizations whose efforts led to expanded audiences and increased capacity and infrastructure for educating and mobilizing their states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I nominate my organization for more than one award?
Yes! You can nominate your organization for as many of the awards as you want.
Can I nominate my organization for the same award multiple times, for different projects?
Yes! As long as they’re distinguished as different projects in the nomination, you can nominate your organization for the same award as many times as you’d like.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Meredith Turney.