2014 Government Communications Australia Awards for Excellence

Transcription

1 2014 Government Communications Australia Awards for Excellence Monday 7 October 2013 entries open Friday 25 October 2013 entries close (5pm EST) February 2014 Awards are announced at the Annual GCA Awards for Excellence Presentation Dinner (27 February 2014) 1

2 2014 GCA Awards for Excellence The annual Government Communications Australia (GCA) Awards recognise the exceptional work of government communicators. The GCA recognises and rewards outstanding examples of communications strategy and programming in accordance with best practice standards. The awards and categories have been modified over the years in response to new developments in communications theory and practice to reflect the growing appreciation of the critical role communication plays in the government industry. The Annual GCA Awards are presented to those organisations and communicators who have achieved outstanding success from innovative and effective communication practices. There are 12 categories, catering for all areas of government communications, marketing, engagement and public relations. The awards will be presented to the best of the best in each category, with an overall winner of the National Communications Award presented to the best overall communications program, as decided by the GCA Executive. Entries are encouraged from all government organisations across Australia. The awards are distinguished by criteria that require entrants to articulate the whole communication process, from inception to completion significant emphasis is placed on the measurement and articulation of the result of the program. The GCA Executive wishes you luck with your entry and look forward to seeing you at the GCA Awards for Excellence Presentation Dinner. The award categories are: Best Communications/Engagement (City Council) Best Communications/Engagement (Shire/Rural Council) Best Marketing/ Public Relations Campaign (City Council) Best Marketing/Public Relations Campaign (Shire/Rural Council) Best Communications Campaign on a Shoe string (NEW) Best Advocacy/Public Affairs Best Social Marketing Campaign Best Crisis Communication (NEW) Best Inclusive Communications Best Tourism and Events Communication Best Internal Communications/Engagement Best Digital Media Award Criteria and Weighting The issue 10% Setting clear objectives 10% The solution (originality) 20% The result 20% Key outcomes and evaluation 30% Presentation 10% Total 100% 2

3 Word Limit There s a 3500 word limit for award submissions. The accepted format for all submissions is PDF. All images and supporting documentation should be complied into one PDF document. Note: there is a file size limit of 15MB. As communicators, it is expected that you should be able to present your work in a pithy and concise manner, selling the program and communicating the result. Photos, images and web links should be included in the body of the document, and not attached separately. It is recommended that you use the Award Criteria as the format of your submission. The issue The objective(s) The solution The result(s) Key outcomes and evaluation Award Submission: All award submissions should be sent to gcaawards2014@gmail.com or online at by 5pm Friday 25 October,

4 Best Communications/ Engagement (City Council) and Best Communications/ Engagement (Shire/Rural Council) This category is about: planned communications/engagement activities that enhance community connection, participation and collaboration. Demonstrating how the community were provided an opportunity to inform a policy position or government decision. Best Marketing/ Public Relations (City Council) and Best Marketing/ Public Relations Campaign (Shire/Rural Council) This category is about: thoughtful communication, strategy, clarity, awareness and action. How a marketing/ public relations program has translated to positive perceptions and awareness. This category can also include brand awareness programs. Best Communications Campaign on a Shoe string This category is about: innovative and creative communications campaign developed and delivered on a shoestring little budget, big result! Best Advocacy/Public Affairs This category is about: demonstrating positive community benefit through well executed advocacy or public affairs, enabling members/residents or the community to have a voice, resulting in positive changes or benefits to the community. Best Social Marketing Campaign This category is about: marketing communications that relate to the community, how the program changed attitudes and behaviours and influenced social change and behavioural response. Best Crisis Communication This category is about: designing and effective communications response to a crisis. Best Inclusive Communications This category is about: the development and application of communications that demonstrate an easier way to engage, communicate and inform and should be targeted to assist culturally/linguistically diverse groups, hard to reach stakeholders in an inclusive/accessible way. Applications will articulate the challenges and complexities of the issue as well as the response and positive benefits. Best Tourism and Events Communication This category is about: well planned place/event marketing that increases public awareness and attendance. This can also include destination branding, revitalised image and promotion of towns, places and activities. Best Internal Communications/Engagement This category is about: crafting effective communications programs that create and increase staff connection, engagement and internal employee awareness. Best Digital Media This category is about: using digital media to communicate in an innovative way, challenging traditional forms of communication and increasing community/market accessibility through innovative digital media. National Communications Award This award is decided by the GCA Executive, from the winners of the 12 categories. This award recognises the best of the best in Government Communications programming and is the ultimate national recognition for a Government Communications Program. Special Awards The GCA reserves the right to announce Special Awards, awarded to recognise the outstanding achievement of Senior Communications Professionals. These Awards are at the discretion of the GCA Board. 4

5 Judging Judges will be looking for communications programs that show the application of professional communications principles to generate measurable success. The judging panel consists of Australia s foremost Communications minds, professionals and experts from industry and academia. The decision of the judges and GCA Executive is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Award Announcement Three finalists will be selected by the judges for each category. All awards (finalists and winners) will be announced at the GCA Awards for Excellence Presentation Dinner on the 27 February 2014 at the Hilton on the Park, Melbourne. Eligibility The communications program entered must have been active anytime in the 14 months prior to the closing date (Friday 25 October 2013). Anyone who specialises in government communications, public relations, marketing, engagement, advocacy or media in the Australian government sector can nominate for an award. Terms and Conditions Entries may be made in more than one category; however each category requires a separate submission/ application and details. No alterations to applications will be permitted once the award application has been submitted or after the closing date. Awards will be presented to the organisation submitting the award. For further information of details regarding the awards and the submission process please contact: Kath Oakley (Awards Committee Chair) Kath.oakley@knox.vic.gov.au Carly Hackett Carly.hackett@strathfield.nsw.gov.au Laura Beattie Laura.beattie@woollahra.nsw.gov.au Government Communications Australia (GCA) reserves the right to use all or any of the material entered in the competition for promotion of the Awards. Under no circumstances shall the organisers be held responsible for the payment of any royalties or other charges for the use of materials provided in support of the Awards. All entries become the property of GCA on submission. No entries will be returned; therefore duplicates of all original material should be retained. No responsibility for loss or misdirection of entries will be accepted by the GCA or it s Executive. The GCA accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss of commercial privilege or any other thing which constitutes loss or damage as a result of an entry in the 2013 GCA Awards for Communications Excellence. The National Communications Winner will be awarded to the most outstanding entry across all categories, and who will be present at the Awards Dinner to receive the award. Award category finalists/winners who are not registered to attend the Award Presentation Dinner will not be eligible for the National Award. 5