Announcing Ragan’s 2017 PR Daily Awards finalists

We found the year’s best PR campaigns, publications and events. We’re excited to name the finalists of Ragan’s 2017 PR Daily Awards.

Our judges selected these finalists from more than 200 submissions to find the best work from around the world. Next, the judges will review this pool of finalists to name the category winners of Ragan’s 2017 PR Daily Awards. The Special Edition announcing all the winners will be released in late February.

The Ragan Communications staff congratulates all our finalists and wishes you the best of luck in the final round of judging.

GENERAL CAMPAIGN

B2B Campaign

• The Good Clean Food Campaign, Stein IAS and Ingredion (EMEA)
• Sailthru Anchors Retailers in Personalization, SHIFT Communications and Sailthru
• BrightEdge Public Relations, The Abbi Agency and BrightEdge
• Hiscox Cyber Readiness, Hiscox USA
• Lead Generation for Bsquare's DataV Integrated Marketing Campaign, Magnolia Marketing Communications and Bsquare Corporation
• Staring Down The Street: State Street’s Fearless Girl, State Street Corporation (with support from Ogilvy Public Relations)
• 2017 Retail Reputation Report, 10Fold and Reputation.com

Branding Campaign

• Destiny 2 Launch Campaign, Activision Publishing, Bungie, PMK*BNC, Step 3
• Nutrition International Rebrand, GMMB and Nutrition International
• Ortho Dermatologics Rebranding, EvolveMKD and Ortho Dermatologics
• M&M's Caramel Launch, Weber Shandwick and M&M's
• Unveiling Hitachi Vantara, Hitachi Vantara
• Moving to a Unified Ascension Brand, Ascension and Nick Ragone
• NBA G League, FleishmanHillard and Gatorade
• Communicating Call of Duty: WWII’s Return to the Franchise’s Roots, PMK•BNC, Step 3 and RED Consultancy for Activision

Cause-Related Marketing Campaign

• PA Blue Ribbon Champion for Kids, Nell McCormack Abom Communications and Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance
• 2017 Home is the Key Campaign, Porter Novelli and Habitat for Humanity International
• Red Nose Day 2017, Weber Shandwick and M&M's
• Pet Diabetes Month, Stein IAS and Merck Animal Health-Caninsulin
• Aflac Holiday Helpers Give $50,000 to Families in Need, Aflac
• Close Before You Doze, UL and UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute

Community Relations Campaign

• Save the Sign: Preserving a Boston Icon, CITGO/Burson-Marsteller
• Dyno Nobel Ammonia Plant Opening, DEVENEY and Dyno Nobel
• Plants With A Purpose, Seymour PR and Sabra Dipping Company
• Renovation Across the Nation, Lowe's

Content Marketing and Brand Journalism

• “My God, It’s Better”: Emma Can Write Again Thanks To a Prototype Watch, Raising Hope for Parkinson’s Disease, Microsoft
• A Lost Boy and a Father’s Search: How Microsoft Technology Helped Solve a Four-Year Mystery, Microsoft
• For the Love of Aaron, and All Children Who May Be Susceptible to SIDS, Microsoft
• With New Microsoft Breakthroughs, General Purpose Quantum Computing Moves Closer to Reality, Microsoft News Center
• High-fives All Around as Young Inventor Fits Girl with a Robotic Hand, Microsoft
• Cashless Cities Interactive Data Visualization, Visa Inc./Beyond Words Studio

Corporate Social Responsibility

• Sunshine, Turk Telekom
• 2017 Sustainability Report, "Working Smart for the Long Term," Domtar
• Talking Paintings, Turk Telekom
• No ducking the disconnect: Aflac gets serious about corporate perception gap, Aflac
• CSR, RB

Crisis Communications

• Lowe's Weathers a Record Hurricane Season, Lowe's
• T-Mobile Responds to Natural Disasters, T-Mobile USA
• Managing Communications in the Storm of the Century, DTE Energy Corporate Communications

Event Marketing

• National Work from Home Week (#WFHWeek), Logitech
• Lowe's Renovation Across the Nation, AgencyMSI and Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• Propel Co:Labs Fitness Festival, FleishmanHillard and Propel Electrolyte Water
• Brunch With A Purpose, Maggiano's Little Italy
• 2017 Race for Every Child, Mission Partners and Children's Hospital Foundation
• McDonald's B-Boy Royale, IW Group and McDonald's

Location-Based Campaign

• Racing to Recruit Patients in Indy for the VENUS Clinical Trial, Merryman Communications and Active Implants
• Be A Smart Ash, GroundFloor Media and Denver Parks & Recreation
• McDonald's B-Boy Royale, IW Group and McDonald's
• You Gotta See This Place, Carson-Newman University

Media Pitch

• Signpost Trumps the News Cycle, SHIFT Communications and Signpost
• The 2016 Aflac Open Enrollment Survey, Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Aflac
• Social Saw It Coming, Hotwire and Socialbakers
• Love at First Lift: A Dream Wedding at Planet Fitness, ICR and Planet Fitness
• #VerHIGHzon, T-Mobile USA

PR on a Shoestring

• POPNatural, Volume PR and POPNatural
• Villa Italian Kitchen's Pizza-Kini, BML Public Relations and Villa Italian Kitchen
• Gut Check: Dad Bods Rule, ICR and Planet Fitness
• Denton County Transportation Authority Increases Brand Awareness with I-35E vs. A-train Campaign, Denton County Transportation Authority
• UPS Road Code, AgencyMSI and Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• T-Mobile Fires Back at the Duopoly, T-Mobile
• #BlackwithBlue for Mobile Stü, Allen & Gerritsen and Mobile Stü

Social Media Campaign

• #WeAreCisco #LoveWhereYouWork #Maythe4th Be With You, Cisco Talent Brand
• Don’t Quack Under the GRAMMY Awards Spotlight: Aflac Sets Company Record on Twitter, Aflac
• Ferrovial #UrbanPeek Instagram campaign, Ferrovial
• Emeril's Meril Restaurant Social Media Launch, DEVENEY and Emeril Lagasse Restaurants
• Are You The 4 Percent?, Delta Dental of Colorado
• #LetsTrumpAddiction, CURA Strategies and Advocates for Opioid Recovery
• #freestyle50 challenge, Verizon, 300 Entertainment, KWL Management, IW Group, LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS, VPE Public Relations, Weber Shandwick

Traditional Campaign

• SafeHouse Chicago, Heron Agency and SafeHouse Chicago
• The 2016 Aflac Open Enrollment Survey, Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Aflac
• Malwarebytes First Annual State of Ransomware Report, MIX Public Relations and Malwarebytes
• Bringing Industry-wide Recognition to Cuba’s First Independent Video Game: How Gregory FCA Helped Garner Funding and U.S. Acceptance for “Savior” and its Cuban Developers, Gregory FCA and Savior
• Life in Full Bloom, GdB Pitch and Bailey Nurseries
• American Professional Series Guitars: Fender Speaks To Next Generation Players, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
• "End of an Era": Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company Closure, iQ 360

Viral Campaign

• PR Campaign for Bonsticks Toys, LLC Eurotorg
• Love at First Lift: A Dream Wedding at Planet Fitness, ICR and Planet Fitness
• Gut Check: Dad Bods Rule, ICR and Planet Fitness
• Womanizer, MSR Communications

• Staring Down The Street: State Street’s Fearless Girl, State Street Corporation (with support from Ogilvy Public Relations)
• #freestyle50, Challenge Verizon, 300 Entertainment, KWL Management, IW Group, LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS, VPE Public Relations, Weber Shandwick
• Gatorade—Make Defeat Your Fuel, FleishmanHillard and Gatorade

PUBLICATIONS

Annual Report

• Foundations for Transformation: 2017 Sustainability Report, American Cleaning Institute

Blog

• Corporate Blog, Vizient, Inc.

• Knee Pain News: A Blog to Point Patients to Potential Relief, Merryman Communications and Active Implants

• Life at Cisco Blog, Cisco Talent Brand
• Brand Journalism by Ferrovial, Ferrovial
• DXC Blogs, DXC Technology
• Travelzoo Blog, Praytell Agency and Travelzoo
• Rapid Fire Friday, Praytell Agency and Dynamic Signal

Press Kit

• Microsoft Education Event Press Kit, Microsoft
• Marea Subsea Cable Press Kit, Microsoft
• Gatorade Bars “Break for Fuel” Press Kits, FleishmanHillard

Print Publication

• Raytheon 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report, Raytheon Company
• Leveraging Toolkits to Empower Employers to Advance Value-Based Care, CURA Strategies and the Purchaser Value Network
• NYISO Power Trends 2017, New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
• Where the Casino Money Goes, Cherokee Nation Businesses
• Anadisgoi magazine, Cherokee Nation Businesses
• Foundations for Transformation: 2017 Sustainability Report, American Cleaning Institute

Digital Publication

• Member Newsletters, Vizient, Inc.
• Today Brings a World of Weight Loss, SHIFT Communications and Slimming World

Online Newsroom

• Online Newsroom, Vizient, Inc.
• Microsoft News Center, Microsoft
• BCBST News Center, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
• Anadisgoi.com, Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses

Website

• Microsoft News Center, Microsoft
• Cisco Careers | Join the #WeAreCisco Tribe, Cisco
• Aflac Launches CSR Microsite, FleishmanHillard and KWI with Aflac

CAMPAIGNS BY INDUSTRY

Education Campaign

• Demystifying Guitar Education: Fender Play Inspires Next Generation Players to Learn Guitar, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation

Finance and Utilities Campaign

• The Birth of Consensus, Water & Wall Group and Investor Stewardship Group
• The Georges Are Coming! Ally Promotes “Hardest Working Dollar” Campaign by Putting Troop of Fun-loving George Washingtons to Work, Tier One Partners and Ally Financial
• From Here. For Here., Brownstein Group and AmeriGas
• Motivating the Modern Millennial Homebuyer with Relatable Insights, Bank of America with Burson-Marsteller
• Momentum Leadership Expo 2017, Hawaiian Electric Companies

Food and Beverage Campaign

• McDelivery, The Narrative Group and McDonald's
• Villa Italian Kitchen's Pumpkin Spice Pizza, BML Public Relations and Villa Italian Kitchen
• Emeril's Meril Restaurant Opens with a BAM!, DEVENEY and Emeril Lagasse
• RAGÚ Rose Parade: Simmered In Tradition, Hill+Knowlton Strategies and RAGÚ
• Hooters Mother's Day Campaign, Largemouth Communications and Hooters of America, LLC
• Chili's Is Back, Baby, Chili's Grill & Bar

Health Care Campaign

• Creating Differentiation in a Saturated Market for a Cosmetic Dentist, SowGrow Public Relations and Flax Dental
• Are You The 4 Percent?, Delta Dental Social Media Collaborative
• #LetsTrumpAddiction, CURA Strategies and Advocates for Opioid Recovery
• I Care. I Share. Employee Giving Campaign 2017, Mission Partners and Children's Hospital Foundation

Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Campaign

• 50th Anniversary Marketing Campaign, Suasion Communications Group and Montreal Beach Resort
• Crystal Takes Luxury to New Heights with Crystal Skye, Crystal/Finn Partners
• DEVENEY Breaks Records for the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, DEVENEY and New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Travelzoo and Tourism Ireland Partnership, Praytell Agency and Travelzoo

Sports or Outdoor Campaign

• Phoenix Rising FC: Helping a Local Team Become a National Contender, RIESTER and Phoenix Rising FC
• Engaging Athletes to Bring Call of Duty Back to Its WWII Roots, Activision & PMK*BNC
• McDonald's B-Boy Royale, IW Group and McDonald's

Technology Campaign

• Launching Bluetooth Mesh Networking, INK Communications Co. and Bluetooth Special Interest Group
• eSight Launch, Uproar PR and eSight
• MEDJACK—Medical Device Hijack Campaign, 10Fold Communications and TrapX Security
• Global Fishing Watch Launch, Oceana
• #freestyle50 challenge, Verizon, 300 Entertainment, KWL Management, IW Group, LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS, VPE Public Relations, Weber Shandwick
• DynaTrap, PulpPR and DynaTrap

PR EVENTS

Contest or Giveaway

• #WeAreCisco #LoveWhereYouWork #Maythe4th Be With You, Cisco Talent Brand
• Fan Favorite Song Giveaway: Launching the Special Edition M50xRD Headphones, lotus823 and Audio-Technica
• Kid Food Nation Recipe Competition, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
• #freestyle50 challenge, Verizon, 300 Entertainment, KWL Management, IW Group, LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS, VPE Public Relations, Weber Shandwick

Influencer Event

• McDonald's and Pasión for Fútbol: ICC Soccer Championship PR and Social Strategy, BODEN and McDonald's USA
• Engaging Athletes to Bring Call of Duty Back to Its WWII Roots, Activision & PMK*BNC

Press Event

• Bottled Recycled Water Campaign Launch, Orange County Water District, Orange County Sanitation District, Dick Jones Communications
• XPRIZE Brings Star Trek Science Fiction to Reality, Merryman Communications and XPRIZE
• Xeo-Men Hits the Road, EvolveMKD and Xeomin
• CHAMPION THE TROPHY, Edelman and Heineken
• Oticon Opn Rocks: World’s First Live Concert Broadcast to Hearing Aid Wearers, Gregory FCA and Oticon
• Working on the Edge, Aurora Strategy Group and Union of Canadian Correctional Officers

Product or Service Launch

• McDelivery, The Narrative Group and McDonald's
• Obalon Balloon System Product Launch, EvolveMKD and Obalon Therapeutics
• Now You’re Cookin’ with Char-Broil’s SmartChef® Gas Grill, SHIFT Communications and Char-Broil
• M&M's Caramel Launch, Weber Shandwick and M&M's
• NOVATION Rice Starch Launch Campaign, Stein IAS and Ingredion (EMEA)
• WaveNewYork, SweeneyVesty and Kaynemaile
• Unlimited 55+, T-Mobile USA

Publicity Stunt

• Building Cure Groundbreaking Celebration, Seattle Children's
• T-Mobile ONEsie, T-Mobile USA
• Official Home of Winter Campaign—Six More Weeks PR Stunt, Break the Ice Media and Visit Syracuse

GRAND PRIZE

PR Campaign of the Year

• The Power of Connected World Tour, Honeywell Aerospace
• The American Writers Museum Grand Opening, Heron Agency and American Writers Museum
• No Ducking the Disconnect: Aflac Gets Serious About Corporate Perception Gap, Aflac
• Unveiling Hitachi Vantara, Hitachi Vantara
• Make Dust History, Tech Image and Bosch Power Tool
• Staring Down The Street: State Street’s Fearless Girl, State Street Corporation (with support from Ogilvy Public Relations)
• #freestyle50 challenge, Verizon, 300 Entertainment, KWL Management, IW Group, LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS, VPE Public Relations, Weber Shandwick

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