PR EXCELLENCE IS CROWNED HERE

2025 Call for Entries Now Open

Entry Deadline: May 9, 2025 | Late Deadline: May 16, 2025

For over two decades, the Platinum Awards have been hailed as the most coveted and competitive award in the communications space. The winners of this world-renowned recognition represent the best of the best—those that have reached the pinnacle of both innovation and industry knowledge.

The prestigious honor of being named a Platinum Award winner has a profound impact on the lives of our winners and their organizations—boosting morale, accelerating career growth, expanding professional networks and increasing company loyalty.

YOU COULD BE ON STAGE AT THE BIGGEST NIGHT IN PR!

There is no bigger party in the PR world than the annual Platinum Awards Gala! The coveted event will take place on October 7 at The Lighthouse in NYC, where we’ll celebrate all finalists and unveil the winners across 70+ categories.

Each winning campaign will get some much-deserved stage-time—playing in front of hundreds of the industry’s most influential people from the biggest brands and best agencies. You simply can’t get this level of recognition and exposure anywhere else for your cherished campaigns and initiatives.

If you’re still not convinced, here are 3 reasons you should submit a nomination for PRNEWS’ Platinum Awards.

Stand out from the competition

Winning a PRNEWS award validates your organization or campaign as one of the leading innovators in PR.

Finalists and winners will have bested fierce competition from their peers to be placed in the running for these coveted industry recognitions.

Industry-wide recognition

Winners and finalists enjoy comprehensive coverage of their work, including finalist announcements across PRNEWS' digital channels, and extensive coverage by our editors in print and online.

Boost Morale

Who doesn’t love working on an award-winning campaign or team?

The prestigious honor of being named a PRNEWS Platinum Award winner boosts morale, accelerates career growth, and increasing company loyalty.

Categories

TEAMS OF THE YEAR

STRATEGY, CREATIVITY & EVENTS

  • 24-Hour Campaign
    Campaigns that focus on one big story, one goal, one kind of impact, or one clear call to action.
  • Anniversary Campaign
    Includes programs or events that take place for a day, week or a year-long anniversary (not including planning or preparation), or activities (commemorations, observances, celebrations, etc.).
  • Brand Reputation Campaign
    Recognizing the most effective campaign that builds or restores the public perception of an organization
  • Branding Campaign
    Recognizing a highly effective campaign in which an organization is enthusiastically received by its target audiences, where the essence of a product or service or the purpose of the company is effectively conveyed. This category also recognizes a company’s efforts to effectively re-invent a brand, applying the same principles of an outstanding campaign in which the organization becomes highly recognized.
  • Campaign Look and Feel/Identity 

    Honors a campaign that exceled in visual aesthetics, brand consistency, and overall design, creating a memorable and cohesive brand experience. Judges will look at how campaign success was measured.



  • Conference Marketing/PR Campaign
    Honors a standout PR or marketing campaign used to generate buzz for or participation in a conference or tradeshow.
  • Content Marketing Campaign
    This category represents the most effective use of content across a variety of mediums to tell your organization’s story.
  • Crisis Management Campaign
    Communications surrounding any crisis, from product recalls to executive malfeasance to terrorist attacks are eligible in this category
  • Event PR/Marketing Campaign
    These entries should include PR/marketing conducted at an industry event (a marketing communications effort conducted at an industry trade show, for example) or through an event or series of events conceived and implemented by your organization (for instance, a multi-city tour promoting a product or awareness of an issue)
  • Executive Thought Leadership Campaign

    Recognizing outstanding campaigns that position executives as industry thought leaders through strategic content, media engagements, and public speaking. This category celebrates initiatives that effectively elevate executive profiles and influence within their respective fields.

  • Experiential Event
    This category recognizes best-in-class campaigns that engages with consumers through interactive and/or immersive elements
  • External Publication (print or online)
    Any publication produced for stakeholders outside your organization is eligible for entry in this category.
  • Global PR Campaign
    These campaigns are those that are international in scope and require special efforts to manage the target audiences' broad geographic and cultural diversity.
  • Government and Regulator Relations
    These campaigns deal with types of public relations on organization interaction with the government, with governmental regulators, and the legislative and regulatory arms of government.
  • Human-Centric PR Campaign

    Celebrating a standout campaign that prioritized authenticity, relatability, and emotional connections with audiences.

  • In-House Campaign
    Entries in this category should be campaigns where the marketing activities are handled by employees of the company without use of external individuals or organizations.
  • Interactive Content

    Awarded to a campaign that creatively used interactive elements like quizzes, AR experiences, or live streams to engage audiences.

  • Integrated Communications, Marketing & PR
    These campaigns should consist of the joint action and well-planned series of efforts, tactics, actions, strategies and communication products.
  • Internal Publication (print or online)
    These campaigns should consist of the joint action and well-planned series of efforts, tactics, actions, strategies and communication products.
  • Launch Event
    Honors the most creative and effective use of an event to announce the launch of a product or service. 
  • Investor Relations
    Specific campaigns that revolve around how a company communicates with investors, shareholders, government authorities and the financial community
  • Legislative and Regulatory Relations

    This category recognizes a campaign involved in advocating for or against specific legislation or regulations through strategic communication to influence policy decisions. 

  • Marketing Communications
    Campaigns in this category combine public relations and communications with traditional marketing tactics for either b-to-b or b-to-c promotions.
  • Media Event/Press Tour
    Those events, from press conferences to media tours, which are built around in-person interaction between your company and the press. Entries should exhibit creativity in planning and implementing the event, drawing the media to it and engaging them at the event.
  • Media Relations Campaign: Agency
    This category recognizes an overall campaign whose primary objective was to sway the media. These campaigns may include individual components eligible in other categories (like Media Event), but are representative of a complete campaign using a variety of tactics to reach the press.
  • Media Relations Campaign: Corporation
    This category recognizes an overall campaign whose primary objective was to sway the media. These campaigns may include individual components eligible in other categories (like Media Event), but are representative of a complete campaign using a variety of tactics to reach the press.
  • Media Relations Campaign: Nonprofit
    This category recognizes an overall campaign whose primary objective was to sway the media. These campaigns may include individual components eligible in other categories (like Media Event), but are representative of a complete campaign using a variety of tactics to reach the press.
  • On a Shoestring Campaign
    Recognizing outstanding examples of achieving success with limited funds/budget, whether it's for a single campaign or ongoing PR/public affairs. While "shoestring" is subjective, the winners in this category are those who have done more with less, and have been creative with the limited PR dollars they have.
  • Pop-Up Experience
    Best example of a temporary location that provides an experience that turned a client’s objective into a limited-time engagement. Judges will be looking for a clever concept, new approaches, unconventional ideas and activities that reinforce the communications goals.
  • PR Stunt
  • Product Launch, B2B
    Entries in this category should focus on the PR efforts surrounding the launch of a new product or service in the business-to-business arena.
  • Product Launch, Consumer
    Entries in this category should focus on the PR efforts surrounding the launch of a new product or service to the consumer.
  • Public Affairs
    This category encompasses a wide range of campaigns influencing or educating the public about social, economic, governmental and other issues.
  • Re-Branding/Re-Positioning
    This category recognizes a company’s efforts to effectively re-invent a brand, applying the same principles of an outstanding in which the brand becomes highly recognized and well received by its target audiences.

COMMUNITY, PURPOSE & SUSTAINABILITY

  • Activism/Advocacy Campaign
    Honoring the most effective and creative campaigns that demonstrate efforts to promote social-political causes
  • Cause-Related Marketing
    This category comprises those campaigns whose primary focus is promoting a social cause, but which may also include promotion of your product and/or services and the advancement of your reputation as a corporate citizen.
  • Community Engagement
    These campaigns are a cornerstone of a strong public relations strategy. These campaigns should show creation of awareness and interest of community members by communication programs.
  • Community Relations
    These campaigns target the communities in which your organization works. A broad range of campaigns fit into this category: anything from persuading a community to accept a new recycling system to promoting a holiday drive that benefits those members of the community who are in need.
  • CSR, ESG or DEI Report 

    Honoring outstanding reports that transparently communicate a company’s CSR, ESG, or DEI efforts to shareholders and stakeholders. Winning reports will showcase your organization’s commitment to transparency, accountability and sustainable practices. 

  • Employee Event
    In this category you should demonstrate an event that aligns, motivates, unifies, celebrates your employees.
  • Employee Relations
    This category recognizes outstanding communications to your most important stakeholders. Any  campaign actively targeting the workforce is eligible.
  • LGBTQIA+ Centered Campaign
    This category honors the best campaign targeting one or more facets of LGBTQIA+ audiences across any channel. Judges will be looking for outstanding PR/Communications programs that engaged target audiences effectively and authentically and demonstrated measurable results.
  • Multicultural Campaign
    This category includes campaigns designed to recognize and serve the distinct needs of multicultural audiences. Campaigns targeted at specific racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQ+, or any group whose needs differentiate it from a mainstream consumer target, are eligible in this category.
  • Pro Bono Campaign

    This category honors campaigns provided by agencies to community or non-profit organizations at a reduced or no fee.

  • Public Health/Public Safety Campaign
    Recognizes outstanding efforts in promoting safety, health and well-being. Whether it’s encouraging vaccinations, driving mental health awareness, or advocating for cancer screenings, this category celebrates impactful campaigns that make our communities safer and healthier.
  • Sustainability Campaign
    Awarded to the campaign that best incorporates sustainability as a central piece of its strategy, execution and messaging. Attention will be paid to creativity, innovation, measurable results and measurable impact against sustainability KPIs.

COMMUNICATIONS & CAMPAIGNS

DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA

Deadlines & Fees

Deadlines

Entry Deadline: May 9, 2025
Late Deadline: May 16, 2025

Entry Fees

Initial Entry: $450
Additional Entries: $325
Late Fee: $199

The price of each primary entry is $450. Each additional entry after the initial entry is $325.  A late fee of $199 will be applied to entries submitted between May 10 and May 16. Payment in full must accompany the entry. Entry fees are not refundable.

*All entries must be submitted by May 16, 2025. Finalists will be announced in August 2025.

Entry Info

WHO’S ELIGIBLE?

The Platinum Awards are open to all agency, corporation, nonprofit/association, and government organizations. National and international entries are accepted.

Communications & Campaigns

All campaigns entered will be required to submit a synopsis describing campaign content including all of the following areas:

  • What was the goal of the campaign?

  • What metrics set the stage for the work your campaign sought out to do?

  • What was the thinking and the strategic approach behind your work?

  • What actions did your campaign take or how was your campaign implemented?

  • How was success measured for this campaign? What metrics show that this campaign performed well and met its goals?

  • Supporting Materials can include anything that best represents the success of your work. Examples include:

    • Websites
    • ROI Stats
    • Media Coverage
    • Press Materials
    • Testimonials
    • Research Documents
    • Videos
    • Photos

TEam Awards

Nominations for team awards will require the following:

  • Outline the reason why the team should be named a finalist.

  • Please provide some details of the team’s role in the organization.

  • Please explain how your team has raised the bar on creativity, strategy and execution for the organization, or how they have gone above and beyond expectations.

  • Supporting Materials can include anything that best represents the success of your work. Examples include:

    • Websites
    • ROI Stats
    • Media Coverage
    • Press Materials
    • Testimonials
    • Research
    • Documents
    • Videos
    • Photos

Agency of the Year Awards

Nominations for agency awards will require the following:

  • Firm Overview

  • What are some of the landmark campaigns and accounts you’ve worked on?

  • What are your marketable distinction and innovations compared to other firms?

  • Clearly state account wins & losses from May 2022 to May 2023.

  • Clearly state relevant industry partnerships, pro-bono work and other community relations.

  • Include testimonials from at least two clients.

  • Please explain how your agency has raised the bar on creativity, strategy and execution for the organization, or how it has gone above and beyond expectations.

  • Supporting Materials can include anything that best represents the success of your work. Examples include:

    • Websites
    • ROI Stats
    • Media Coverage
    • Press Materials
    • Testimonials
    • Research
    • Documents
    • Videos
    • Photos

*NOTE: Each section of the application has a 300 word limit

FAQ

Who can enter?

The Platinum Awards are open to all individuals and teams worldwide at for-profit and non-profit organizations including corporations, PR agencies, public affairs and IR agencies, publicity firms, associations, government, and NGO teams, and sole practitioners.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To be eligible, the campaign or initiative must have taken place (either in part or in full) between May 2024 and May 2025. Some of the work must have occurred during this time, but it’s not necessary for it to be completed during the eligibility period.

How are the entries judged?

We evaluate your entry based on creativity, innovation, sound planning implementation, results as well as proven impact on the communities targeted. Judges will evaluate campaigns on the innovativeness of execution and idea as well as the impressiveness of the results.  For Teams and Agencies, judges will be looking for an X-factor and the noteworthiness of their accomplishments and background.

How do I increase my chances of winning an award?

Emphasize the goals of your campaign, as well as your campaign’s achievements in your synopsis. Provide as many concrete and specific examples of success as possible, and explain clearly and succinctly your research, planning, implementation and measurement of the campaign. For people and team categories use metrics to specifically outline achievements and explain the impact of the person or teams or overall work.

When Will Winners Be Announced?

Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala on October 7 from 6:00 to 10:00 PM(ET) at the Lighthouse in NYC.

Unlock the Secrets to a Winning Entry: Download Our Nomination Guide!

AWARDS GALA

When:
The Platinum Awards Gala
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
6:00 - 10:00pm (ET)

Where:
Pier Sixty
Pier 60, 60 Chelsea Piers
New York, NY 10011

This sophisticated event venue is located within New York’s iconic Chelsea Piers.

Enter Now

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