Tag: RPRS

Clairemont Wins 11 Awards for Excellence in PR

Margot HorganAwards, Blog, , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment on Clairemont Wins 11 Awards for Excellence in PR

Clairemont Communications Recognized Among Top Raleigh Public Relations Agencies with 11 Awards

–Raleigh Public Relations Society Names Sir Walter Raleigh Award Winners– 

Raleigh, N.C. – Sept. 25, 2013 – Clairemont Communications, a full-service public relations and marketing communications firm, brought home 11 Sir Walter Raleigh awards from the annual Raleigh Public Relations Society awards banquet. These honors included the most gold and best in division wins of the evening.

“Being acknowledged as the best in division winner for a number of our client campaigns reflects our dedication to do work we love for clients we love supporting,” said Dana Hughens, chief executive officer of Clairemont Communications. “As Raleigh continues to grow as a top communications agency market, we are honored that our work is recognized among the best in the region.”

Clairemont team member, Tracy Lathan accepts a Gold and Best in Division Award for Triangle Family Services' 10th Annual Gingerbread Benefit
Tracy Lathan accepts a Gold and Best in Division Award for Triangle Family Services’ 10th Annual Gingerbread Benefit

The Sir Walter Raleigh Awards are hosted annually by the Raleigh Public Relations Society and showcase exemplary work completed by North Carolina public relations and communications professionals. Award entries are judged by an independent public relations organization based on individual campaign’s objectives, method, results, creativity and budget. Members of the Sacramento Public Relations Association judged this year’s entries.

Clairemont was awarded with the following:

Special Event/Campaign

  • Best in Division and Gold: Triangle Family Services’ 10th Annual Gingerbread Benefit

Media Kit

News Releases

  • Best in Division and Silver: Newland in the Wall Street Journal

Organizational Identity/Promotion

  • Gold: Briar Chapel

Social Media

Promotional Campaign for a Product, Program, Topic or Issue

Employee Relations

  • Honorable Mention: Wrangler Dave & the Railinc Cow
Dana Hughens accepts one of Clairemont's three Best in Division Awards
Dana Hughens accepts one of Clairemont’s three Best in Division Awards

“These awards represent the strengths of our Clairemont team including strategic planning, effective media relations, results-driven social media, creative campaigns and successful event planning,” said Tracy Lathan, account strategist, Clairemont Communications.

Clairemont Communications devises communications strategies that utilize traditional communications and social media to help clients achieve business objectives and improve the bottom line by influencing purchases, persuading stakeholders and influencers, and defining brands. Clarity in vision + the promise of monumental results = Clairemont Communications.

–30–

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NCPRSA vs. RPRS

Josephine ButlerAPR, Blog, Professional Development, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , , , ,

Are you a public relations or communications professional? Then you probably realize the importance of getting out and networking! If you’re located here at a Raleigh PR agency or somewhere else in the Triangle, there are two great organizations you should consider joining: the North Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (NCPRSA) or the Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS). While I personally recommend becoming a member of both, if you had to pick just one, here are a few tips that will help you decide which group is right for you.

For starters, let’s take a look at what is offered by both groups:

  • Luncheons are held each month, where local PR professionals and industry leaders will share ideas and case studies.
  • Each group hosts an annual awards ceremony – NCPRSA hosts the InSpire Awards and RPRS hosts the Sir Walter Raleigh Awards – recognizing successful communications campaigns and tactics.
  • Members receive discounted rates on monthly luncheons and other events.

Now, let’s hone in on what NCPRSA has to offer:

  • This group is comprised of PR professionals with a broad range of experiences and leadership positions at every level. From CEOs to entry-level employees, there’s a lot of variety.
  • Each year, the organization hosts a PR & Marketing Seminar, playing host to both local and national communications experts.
  • On the website, members have access to the NCPRSA Job Bank, where local employers frequently post new job openings and leadership opportunities.
  • The North Carolina chapter of PRSA is part of the world’s largest network of PR professionals.
  • Within PRSA, you have the option to join one of 16 professional interest sections, putting you in touch with other members who share your expertise.
  • The organization offers the industries only accreditation program, Accredited in Public Relations (APR) program.
  • When you become a member, you’ll receive periodicals, daily news updates and access to research, articles, white papers and case studies.
  • Because of the larger network, dues are pricier than other local groups. National dues are $255 annually, plus a $65 initiation fee and the local chapter fee.

Now let’s take a look at what RPRS has to offer:

  • This group also features PR professionals at every career level, but has an especially strong presence of entry-level to account supervisor-level members.
  • In addition to monthly luncheons, this group will occasionally arrange tours at local media outlets.
  • Twice a year, the organization will host free networking socials at popular Raleigh restaurants.
  • An attractive economic option for members with a smaller budget, individual dues are only $75 annually.

Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about these wonderful organizations, feel free to ask questions. Dana and Tracy both sit on the board for NCPRSA, while I (Josie) serve as publicity chair for RPRS. We’d love to help you decide which group (or if both groups) is right for you!

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My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Days 5 and 6

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Public Relations, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , , ,

If you read Dana’s blog post NCPRSA InSpire Awards Recognize Excellence in PR and Communications, then you know that Clairemont Communications recently won a number of awards from NCPRSA including a Bronze Best in Show for our social media efforts for Thomasville Furniture’s Facebook page. I had the opportunity to attend the InSpire Awards banquet in May, and it was an amazing experience to see Clairemont recognized for all of its hard work.

Now, as a full-time employee, I will not just attend awards ceremonies, but also help draft award submissions. The Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS) Sir Walter Raleigh Awards Banquet will take place in September, but the deadline for submissions is fast approaching. These past few days, my main assignment has been writing award submissions.

This has been pretty challenging for me, but in the end, so rewarding because it has given me the chance to learn about Clairemont’s clients and everything that we have done for them in the past year. While I did work on a number of assignments for our clients this past semester as an intern, writing these award entries has given me a glimpse into everything I missed before joining the Clairemont team.

For those of you who are starting a new internship this summer or even a full-time job, ask to take a look at the client binders or past award submissions at your agency. There really is no better way to get caught up with the happenings of your clients and stay informed about all the work your company does!

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Clairemont Shares Award-Winning Advice with Raleigh PR Group

Josephine ButlerBlog, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , , , ,
Dana strikes a pose with Eva Hornak, awards chair for RPRS, at the May luncheon.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Raleigh Public Relations Society May luncheon, where a panel of past Sir Walter Raleigh Awards recipients shared advice on how to create award-winning entries. The group of panelists consisted of Raleigh PR agency experts including Clairemont’s very own CEO, Dana Hughens (did you know that last year, Clairemont Communications received 10 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards?).

I was excited to attend not just to hear Dana speak, but also because it was a great opportunity to jot down a few tips and tricks on how to make my own entries stand out. These are a few of my favorites:

1)   Have someone from the outside review your entry. This may mean having your client proof the entry, but someone at your agency who isn’t on the account could also work.

2)   Presentation is important. Impress the judges with your organizational skills and visual aesthetic.

3)   Write your entry early. Even though Sir Walter Raleigh Award entries aren’t due until around June, it’s a great idea to get started early. If you complete a project in February, go ahead and write the entry in February! Continue reading “Clairemont Shares Award-Winning Advice with Raleigh PR Group”

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