Best In Show

Last week, more than 200 PR people gathered in New York City to celebrate PRSA’s recognition of the most successful communication campaigns in 2007. The PRSA Silver Anvil award is seen by many as the most prestigious public recognition in PR. One of our campaigns was nominated; we won. Woohoo!

The event drew people of all types. Newbies, industry legends and regular ole communication people walked through the red carpet entrance dressed in glitz and glam. This is the one and only night a year PR people get to feel like celebrities (PRSA paparazzi included), so people play it up.

Most headed straight to the open bar, obviously. To give PRSA some credit, the food and drinks were impeccable. We had dinner elsewhere, but the post-ceremony dessert and cheese selection was scrumptious enough make me forget the six-course Mario Batali meal I consumed three hours ago.

It is an honor to be awarded a Silver Anvil; however, I couldn’t help but ask myself how many of these campaigns were truly industry moving and as successful as they appeared on paper? Which strategies and tactics really moved the needle?

One submission won because of its lavish national media coverage, yet I had never heard of it or had any perception of the brand. I read a lot, so it made me question the entire spectacle. How much of this is just marketing PR collateral to PR people?

Regardless of intent, people seemed to have fun. And while the beagle didn’t beat the poodle for best in show this time around, we have high hopes for next year.