2004 IABC/Detroit Renaissance Awards Recognizes

Communicators Who Are “Driven to be the Best”

DETROIT, MI – Communicators with a “drive” for excellence need look no further than the IABC/Detroit Renaissance Awards. The annual awards competition honors the Motor City area’s best communications efforts in more than 50 categories which are divided in eight disciplines – communication management including internal and external communication; writing; art/design; print communication; direct mail/advertising; and communication technology which includes electronic and interactive.

“The Renaissance Awards is one of the largest IABC award programs in the country,” said Fred Ferris, co-chair. The competition drew nearly 250 entries last year.

Two special honors, “Communicator of the Year” and the “Student Achievement Award,” are also bestowed to some of the top talent in the digital drive region.

Ferris noted that several new categories were added for 2004 to recognize excellence in communication management and technical skills. The new categories are:

Overall Corporate Communication Strategy – Communications programs that simultaneously target internal and external audiences in a seamless campaign.

Benefits Communication – Programs dealing with health and welfare, savings and pension, stock and compensation for employees or members.

Integrated Communication Strategy – An external campaign that simultaneously targets two or more diverse audiences in a comprehensive campaign.

Advertorial Writing – Paid editorial that promotes an organization’s particular point of view.

Photo Essay – A collection of photos or digital images that offers insight and communicates an intended message for internal or external audiences.

Organizational Identity / Logos – An organizational brand identity where design is the primary communication function.

Radio Broadcast Advertising – A radio message presented to a target audience.

Television Broadcast Advertising – A television message presented to a target audience.

Film / Video Production – Video news releases, training videos, historical films and other productions designed to provide audiences with information.

Interactive Electronic Presentations – Presentations that allow substantial user control over the environment, such as an interactive CD-ROM or training web site.

A complete list of categories is posted on the IABC/Detroit web site at http://www.iabcdetroit.com, along with entry guidelines and forms.

The 2004 IABC/Detroit Renaissance Awards program is open to all communicators (members and non-members of IABC) in southeast Michigan, northwest Ohio and southwest Ontario. Early bird entries are due by Monday, March 15, 2004. Last Chance deadline is Thursday, March 25, 2004. Awards will be presented at a banquet at General Motors Vehicle Engineering Center (VEC) Building at the Warren Technical Center in Warren, MI on June 15.

IABC/Detroit, one of the largest chapters of the 13,000-member International Association of Business Communicators, has more than 250 professional communicators. The chapter, which includes members in Michigan, Ohio and Canada, holds monthly professional development programs; sponsors workshops; offers job referral services, informative publications, award programs, accreditation programs and the opportunity to meet and network with other communicators. For information on membership, visit www.iabc.com.

Additional information on the chapter and its free electronic job referral service for employers is available at www.iabcdetroit.com or by calling IABC/Detroit's Executive Secretary Nancy Skidmore at 248-546-5490.

For more information about the 2004 IABC/Detroit Renaissance Awards, visit our website at http://www.iabcdetroit.com or contact co-chairs Nancy Sarpolis at 248-874-7573 or Fred Ferris at 248-288-0333.

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