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2023 Lantern Award Winners Announced at SPRF Annual Conference, PR LIFT OFF 2023
The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) recognized outstanding public relations practices during the Lantern Awards ceremony held Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Huntsville, Alabama.
Out of 89 entries, professional and student members of the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA), the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), and the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) earned a total of 61 awards out of 89 honoring the best public relations campaigns and tactics in the Gulf South.
“This year’s Lantern Award entries were a spectacular display of public relations knowledge, skills and abilities amongst our members,” said 2023 SPRF President Kelli West, APR (PRAL Central). “Each entrant’s ability to understand and utilize the strategic process provides outstanding returns to their organizations and clients while advancing the best public relations practices.”
Nineteen projects won Lantern awards, the program’s top honor, for outstanding achievement.
Feigley Communications and the Louisiana Department of Health for their “Vax Matters Podcast” (a member of PRAL Baton Rouge) earned the top award, the William A. Taylor Best of Show Award and also won for Best Tactical Material; Air Force Culture and Language Center, Mikala McCurry, APR, earned the Best Short-Term Program Award for their “Recruiting the Next Generation of Cross-Culturally Competent Airmen” community relations campaign (a member of PRCA Montgomery); the Down to Earth Committee was named the Best Long-Term Program for their “Down to Earth” marketing campaign (a member of PRCA Montgomery); the Mississippi State University department of communication earned the Best Student Award for their “Lights, Camera Action! Lighting up the Mag” special event entry (a member of PRAM Starkville).
Mississippi’s other six Lantern winners included PRISM, Mississippi State University (PRAM Starkville), Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau (PRAM Northeast), Mississippi State University College of Arts and Sciences (PRAM Starkville), City of Laurel (PRAM Pine Belt), the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (PRAM Central), and Sanderson Farms (PRAM Pine Belt).
Louisiana members also earned six Lantern Awards, including Southwestern Electric Power Company (PRAL Northwest), United Way of Northwest Louisiana (PRAL Northwest), Covalent Logic (PRAL BR), Louisiana Central (PRAL Central), Crest Industries (PRAL BR) and Feigley Communications and the Louisiana Office of Public Health (PRAL BR).
Alabama earned four Lantern awards comprising Huntsville Animal Services (PRCA Huntsville), Down to Earth Committee (PRCA Montgomery), Air Force Culture and Language Center (PRCA Montgomery), and the Mobile County Public School System (PRCA Mobile).
Professional and student submissions in 30 categories were scored on their individual merit based on adherence and success utilizing the four-step RPIE process by PR practitioners from the Minnesota Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). To be eligible, submissions must have been produced/appeared in the previous calendar year, Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2022, and entered by a current member of SPRF. Award-winning entries demonstrating excellence in process and results earned Certificates of Merit and Awards of Excellence, with top projects and programs earning Lantern Awards. The Best of Tier winners were selected from the Lantern-winning entries in each tier, with the Best of Show award chosen from the three Best of Tier winners.
Founded in 1972, SPRF is the umbrella organization representing more than 800 public relations practitioners in four state entities: PRAL, PRAM, PRCA and Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO). SPRF exists to further the professional and networking interests of today’s public relations and communication professionals in private, public and nonprofit businesses and organizations. Along with networking, SPRF serves to advocate on behalf of and assist its members through ongoing professional development and defining ethical behavior. For more information about SPRF, visit the organization’s website at www.sprf.org.
Click here for a full list of the 61 award winners.
If you have questions, contact 2023 Lantern Awards Chair Cheryl Michelet at [email protected].
THE INSPIRATION FOR THE NEW TROPHIES
SPRF’s representative states all border the Gulf of Mexico looking over its rich waters. The Gulf is a key resource and unique to the identity of this region. Introduced in 2019, the new family of Lantern trophies is designed to represent an angular silhouette of a lighthouse with a beacon of light shining out to illuminate its surroundings, informing and alerting all those within its influence.
Exemplary public relations product operates in much the same way – standing as a guide, communicating to vast and distant publics, serving as a constant and reliable guide when others require assistance and to help them steer clear of rough waters. A Lantern winner is a beacon of public relations excellence. The Best of Show and Best of Tier trophies are mounted on LED bases to amplify the "lighthouse" effect.
