by Writing by Design Media, Inc. staff
According to a press release, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Memphis chapter hosted the 26th annual VOX Awards. An event for communication professionals in the Memphis area to be honored and recognized for their work.
The event was held at the Wiseacre Brewery in Downtown Memphis on Nov. 4. The chapter president is Milton Howery, III and he expressed the relationship building aspect of the event.
“It was a celebration, but it was also a much needed reunion of PR professionals in the Memphis area who haven’t had the opportunity to see each other in person because of the pandemic,” Howery said.
This year’s event honored a diverse group of communication professionals in public relations, education, government and nonprofit.
Bentley “Chip” Washington, public information officer for Shelby County’s Health Department COVID-19 response team was the emcee for the program.
According to PRSA Memphis' website, the annual event recognizes PR professionals in various sectors. However, due to the pandemic, the event was not held in 2020.
“Bringing back the VOX Awards after two years was so important to our local public relations community,” said VOX Chair, Amelia Ables. “VOX is a time for us to come together and celebrate the incredible, meaningful work happening in Memphis every day, and it felt great to be back.”
There were several winners in various categories. Below are highlights from the event. The full list of winners are below.
Photo Credit: Rachel Crawford
Best in Show
DCA for their work on the Discover Memphis Naturally Campaign for Integrated Communications - $7,500 or more
Campaigns - Brand Management - $7,500 or less
VOX: LeMoyne Owen College, KQ Communications
Alisha Tillery & Idesha Reese
Campaigns - Brand Management/Reputation - $7,500 or more
Gold: Liberty Park, DCA
Campaigns - Community Relations - $7,500 or less
Gold: Welcome to Memphis COVID-19 Fund, Shannon Briggs
Campaigns, Community Relations $7,500 or more
Gold: ArtsMemphis “Invest in the Arts,"Campaign, DCA
Campaigns, Crisis Communications - COVID-19 Challenges
VOX: Welcome to Memphis COVID-19 Fund, Shannon Briggs
Gold: Managing PCs During a Global Pandemic, Cmdr. Matt Knight, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs
Campaigns - Integrated Communications - $7,500 or less
Gold: Welcome to Memphis COVID-19 Fund, Shannon Briggs
Campaigns - Integrated Communications - $7,500 or more
VOX: Discover Memphis Naturally, DCA
Gold: BLDG Memphis Affordable Housing Trust Fund Campaign, inferno
Aisling Maki, Sophie Tsagronis & Bri Kraus
Campaigns - Employee/Internal Communications
VOX: COVID-19 Information and Updates, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Campaigns - Marketing Communications/Promotion - Services - $7,500 or less
VOX: Commute Coaching, Shannon Briggs
Gold: Laid Off Lawncare Launch, Shannon Briggs
Campaigns - Media Relations - $7,500 or less
VOX: Welcome to Memphis COVID-19 Fund, Shannon Briggs
Gold: Laid Off Lawncare Launch, Shannon Briggs
Campaigns - Public Service - $7,500 or less
Gold: Welcome to Memphis COVID-19 Fund, Shannon Briggs
Campaigns - Public Service - $7,500 or more
VOX: Explore Bike Share “Let’s Ride This Out.” DCA
Campaigns - Social Media
Gold: Welcome to Memphis COVID-19 Fund, Shannon Briggs
Media Relations - $7,500 or more
VOX: Liberty Park, DCA
Gold: Ring Container Technologies’ SMartCan Media Campaign, inferno
Aisling Maki
Media Tactics - Issues Management
Gold: Saving the UPPs, KQ Communications
Renee Malone, Amelia Ables, Adriane Johnson-Williams
Media Tactics - Media Kit
VOX: Discover Memphis Naturally, DCA
Media Tactics - Op-Ed/Editorials
VOX: ArtsMemphis “ArtWeek” Op-Ed Series, DCA
Gold: CDCs can be so much more affordable than housing agencies, inferno
Aisling Maki & Bri Kraus
Media Tactics - Pitch
VOX: Sam’s ABCs, KQ Communications
Renee Malone& Paula Dickson
Gold: Goodness Gracious Cookies, KQ Communications
Alisha Tillery & Joyce McKinney
Media Tactics - Press Conference
VOX: Memphis Sports & Events Center at Liberty Park Press Conference, DCA
Online Tactics - E-newsletter
Gold: Discover Memphis Naturally, DCA
Online Tactics - Website
Gold: Discover Memphis Naturally, DCA
Print Tactics - Annual Report - Nonprofit
VOX: Palmer Home for Children Impact Report, Palmer Home for Children
Gold: Downtown Memphis Commission Annual Report, DCA
Print Tactics - Magazine
VOX: UTHSC College of Medicine Magazine Summer 2021, Office of Communications and Marketing at University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Print Tactics - One-Time Special Publication
VOX: Discover Memphis Naturally, DCA
Print Tactics - Promotional Piece VOX: Light Box, DCA
Gold: Discover Memphis Naturally Stair Art Installation, DCA
Print Tactics - Visual Element
VOX: Discover Memphis Naturally Illustrated Map, DCA
Gold: Discover Memphis Naturally, DCA
Special Events - One Day - $7,500 or less
Gold: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the MidSouth Virtual SportsBall, KQ Communications: Amelia Ables, Joyce McKinney
Special Events - Two or More Days - $7,500 or more
VOX: ArtsMemphis “Artsweek”, DCA
Gold: Downtown Dining Week 2020, DCA
Video Tactics - External Presentation
VOX: Sam’s ABCs, KQ Communications
Renee Malone, Amy Rosenberg, Angel Ortiz
Gold: Downtown Memphis #BackDowntown Campaign, DCA
Writing - Feature/Profile
VOX: A History of Hope - Feature in Porch + Prairie, Palmer Home for Children
To learn more about PRSA Memphis, visit prsamemphis.org.