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Suggested Timeline for 2020 Blacksmith Awards Entries

Posted on Sep. 1, 2024  /  Blacksmith Awards  /  Subscribe 0

Tips and timelines for planning ahead and making your Blacksmith Awards entries a priority in 2020

In the blink of an eye, spring is upon us. While days of working from home can seem long, the coming months are sure to fly, which means the 2020 Blacksmith Awards are not far off.

The Blacksmith Awards, presented annually by Cincinnati’s PRSA chapter, honour the best of the Cincinnati region’s public relations community. Honourees include talented, experienced practitioners and standout work that has local, national and international impact. The entry portal for the Blacksmith Awards opens in July with winners announced at a special awards ceremony in November.

To help you plan ahead and submit a winning Blacksmith Awards entry, we’ve put together a suggested timeline to assist in keeping you on track over the coming months. The best entries include thorough details and closely follow the criteria laid out for each award category. Setting aside time to piece together a winning entry may be a daunting task, but with some forethought and planning, your Blacksmith Awards entry process can be stress free.

APRIL

• Make A List
  Consider the projects you’ve worked on since July 2019 that you’re most proud of. Which of your initiatives, events, campaigns or experiences stand out to you over the last year? Also, consider the projects you’re planning for the next few months. How can you plan them from now in a way that aligns with the Blacksmith Awards criteria? Lastly, think about the people who have recently made significant impacts in your PR experience. Who has inspired you, guided you, produced great work or helped a team reach its goals?

• Pull Together Your Resources
  Once you’ve listed potential topics for your Blacksmith Awards entries, create a folder (either on your computer or at your desk) where you can collect pieces of information for drafting your submissions. The folder can include initial notes, strategic plans, emails, websites, marketing collateral, reports and analytics, etc. Any documentation you have that relates to your award ideas will be helpful to have on hand as you’re thinking through the details of your entry. Continue to add to this folder over the coming months.

MAY

• Review the Blacksmith Awards Categories
  The Blacksmith Awards recognize outstanding public relations campaigns, tactics and professionals. In total, entries can be submitted for 80+ awards categories. These categories range from blogger campaigns and crisis communications to podcasts or top independent practitioner. The awards categories are directly related to PRSA’s Bronze and Silver Anvil Awards. Click here for a full list of Blacksmith Awards categories.

• Review the Awards Criteria
  Judges review and score award entries based on a predetermined rubric and criteria for each awards category. The judging rubrics outline how points are awarded and what specific details within an entry are required for a high-scoring submission. Rubrics for campaigns, tactics and professional categories can be found here.

JUNE

• Set and Follow Deadlines for Writing Your Entry
  You’ve gathered your materials and reviewed the criteria for the awards. Now, it’s time to get writing. The easiest way to approach the entry writing process is to break it up into bite-size chunks. Accomplishing small goals and meeting personal deadlines will help keep you on track and allow you to be more thoughtful and intentional with your entry.
  
  Below are suggested deadlines for your entry:

JULY

• Collect Supporting Materials
  Each Blacksmith Award entry requires at least FIVE pieces of supporting documentation. This is where your folder from April will come in handy. Pull together the best materials that show the quality or impact of the entry you’re submitting. Consider what you’ve written over the last month and allow these materials to be proof points for your entry. Examples of supporting materials include news clippings, photos, videos, websites, screen shots, social media, etc. Each entry can include up to 10 pieces of supporting documentation.

• Compile and Refine Your Entry
  You’ve written each section of your entry, and now it’s time to put them together. Review each section and read the entire entry together to make sure it is clear, consistent and comprehensive. Take another look at the judging rubric to make sure you’ve covered all required criteria.

• Share Entry for Review and Feedback
  When you feel your entry is complete, share it with a friend or colleague prior to your final submission. A fresh pair of eyes will help catch any discrepancies, give you additional pointers or insights and can also boost your confidence after working hard on putting together your entry. Choose someone who will be honest and helpful and whose opinion you trust. After you’ve received feedback, give your entry one final look and edit.

AUGUST

• Submit Your Blacksmith Awards Entry
  Congratulations! You’ve worked so hard over the last few months to get to this point. You’ve been diligent, focused, attentive to detail and thorough. The work you’ve put in to completing your entry reflects the work that you’ve done as a PR pro. The Blacksmith Awards Entry Portal will have step-by-step instructions for submitting your entries, making it easy for you to complete all the required steps. Plus, the earlier you submit your entries, the better discounts you’ll receive.

For more information about the Blacksmith Awards and for tips on preparing your entries, visit our Blacksmith Awards resource hub at www.cincinnatiprsa.org/blacksmith-awards.

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