Call for Entries Deadline: May 9, 2025

The pinnacle of communications excellence

The Zenith Awards, presented by Ragan and its Communications Week brand, launches this year to showcase the penultimate campaigns in communications, PR and marketing and the people and teams leading the charge.

Honored during the biggest event for communicators, Communications Week's Zenith Awards will shine a spotlight on the top internal and external comms strategies and tactics that drive brand reputation, engagement, critical issues and growth.

Enter your exceptional work and tell us about the outstanding talent who should be recognized as smashing the standards of success across the industry. Finalists will be recognized at an awards gala in Austin in November during Ragan’s Communications Week. The deadline to enter is May 9. Winning a Zenith Award not only validates your achievements; this distinction underscores your impact and positions you as a top performer in the profession.

Don’t miss this opportunity to rise to the top with the Zenith Awards.

CATEGORIES

CAMPAIGNS & INITIATIVES

 AI – Use of

This category recognizes innovative campaigns that leveraged artificial intelligence to enhance communication strategies and achieve outstanding results.

 Annual Report

Honoring exceptional annual reports that effectively communicate an organization’s accomplishments, goals and financial health to stakeholders.

 Brand Storytelling

Celebrating campaigns that crafted compelling brand narratives to engage audiences and build strong brand identity.

 Branded Content

Recognizes creative content initiatives that seamlessly integrate brand messaging while captivating audiences.

 Change Communications

Spotlighting successful communication strategies that guided organizations and stakeholders through transformative changes.

 Community Relations

Honoring initiatives that fostered positive relationships between organizations and their local or global communities.

 Content Marketing

Celebrating campaigns that delivered valuable, relevant and consistent content to attract and retain target audiences.

 Creative Content

Recognizes imaginative and impactful content that resonated with audiences across various platforms.

 Crisis Communications

Honoring strategic communication efforts that effectively managed crises and protected organizational reputation.

 CSR

Spotlighting campaigns that demonstrated a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and positive social impact.

 Digital Communications

Celebrating innovative digital strategies that effectively engaged audiences and drove results.

 Education

This category recognizes outstanding communications campaigns that elevate the brand, mission and impact of educational institutions through strategic messaging, engagement and storytelling.

 Employee Communications

This category celebrates exceptional strategies and initiatives that foster collaboration and communication within an organization's workforce, keeping employees informed, inspired and aligned with organizational goals.

 Employee Engagement

Recognizes initiatives that fostered strong employee connection, motivation, and involvement within organizations.

 Employer Branding

Celebrating campaigns that positioned organizations as employers of choice through compelling storytelling and engagement strategies.

 ESG

Honoring campaigns that communicated environmental, social, and governance initiatives with transparency and impact.

 Event/Experiential

Spotlighting memorable events or experiential campaigns that created meaningful audience interactions.

 Executive Communications

Recognizes communication strategies that effectively conveyed executive leadership’s vision and priorities.

 External Communications

Honoring campaigns that successfully communicated key messages to external stakeholders.

 Government

Celebrating effective communication initiatives within or in partnership with government entities.

 Influencer Marketing

Spotlighting campaigns that strategically partnered with influencers to amplify brand messages and engagement.

 Integrated Communications

Recognizes campaigns that seamlessly blended multiple communication channels for cohesive storytelling and impact.

 Internal Communications

Celebrating efforts that fostered clear, effective, and engaging communication within organizations.

 Intranet

Spotlighting intranet platforms that enhanced internal communication and employee engagement.

 Investor/Financial

This category recognizes exceptional investor and financial communications campaigns that build trust, enhance transparency, and effectively engage stakeholders.

 Issues Management

Recognizes strategic communication efforts that navigated complex issues and protected brand reputation.

 Marketing

Spotlighting innovative marketing campaigns that drove brand awareness, engagement and growth.

 Media Relations

Celebrating campaigns that built strong media relationships and secured impactful media coverage.

 Measurement & Evaluation

Honoring the use of data and analytics to measure communication effectiveness and inform strategy.

 Nonprofit

Recognizes impactful communication campaigns led by or in partnership with nonprofit organizations.

 Platforms & Tech

Honoring innovative technology platforms that support communication strategies and objectives.

 Podcast

Recognizes engaging and informative podcasts that connected with audiences and shared valuable insights.

 Public Affairs

Celebrating campaigns that effectively managed public policy, advocacy, and stakeholder relations.

 Public Relations

Honoring strategic PR campaigns that elevated brand reputation and engagement.

 Reports

Spotlighting comprehensive and impactful reports that effectively communicated key information to stakeholders.

 Reputation Management

Recognizes efforts to build, maintain, or restore organizational reputation through strategic communication.

 Social Justice

Honoring campaigns that championed social justice initiatives and drove meaningful change.

 Social Media

Celebrating creative and impactful social media campaigns that engaged audiences and drove results.

 Special Event

Spotlighting unique and memorable events that captured audience attention and achieved communication goals.

 Thought Leadership

Recognizes campaigns that positioned individuals or organizations as thought leaders in their industries.

 Video

Honoring compelling video content that captured audience attention and conveyed key messages.

 Visual Storytelling

Spotlighting visually impactful campaigns that creatively conveyed powerful narratives.

INDIVIDUALS & TEAMS

 Comms Leader (VP and above)

Recognizes senior communication leaders who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision.

 Educator (Professor or Trainer)

Honoring educators who have made significant contributions to the field of communications and marketing.

 Emerging Communicator

Recognizes rising professionals who have demonstrated exceptional potential and early career success.

 Leadership in Communication

Honoring individuals who have shown exemplary leadership and influence within the communications field.

 Marketing Leader (VP and above)

Honoring marketing executives who have driven innovative strategies and impactful campaigns.

 Mentor

Recognizing individuals who have guided and inspired the next generation of communicators.

 PR Leader (VP and above)

Honoring senior PR leaders who have driven strategic initiatives and elevated brand reputation.

 Practitioner of the Year (Senior Manager/Manager Level)

Spotlighting experienced professionals who have made significant contributions to their organizations.

 Social Media Leader (VP and above)

Spotlighting social media leaders who have shaped impactful strategies and fostered online engagement.

 Rising Stars (Comms and Marketing Professionals 30 Years Old and Under)

Honoring young professionals who are making a notable impact in communications and marketing.

 Communications Team of the Year

Celebrating teams that achieved outstanding success in communication strategy and execution.

 Marketing Team of the Year

Spotlighting marketing teams that delivered exceptional campaigns and strategies.

 PR Team of the Year

Celebrating PR teams that delivered outstanding campaigns and media strategies.

AGENCIES OF THE YEAR

 Boutique (Under $5m in Revenue)

Celebrating boutique agencies that delivered exceptional client results and creative strategies.

 Small ($5m-$25m)

Honoring small agencies that achieved outstanding success and innovation.

 Mid-Size ($25-70m)

Spotlighting mid-sized agencies that demonstrated remarkable growth and campaign excellence.

 Large ($70m+)

Recognizing large agencies that delivered impactful campaigns and strategic initiatives.

AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

 Campaign of the Year

This award honors the most outstanding campaign that achieved remarkable success and demonstrated creative excellence. It represents the pinnacle of strategic planning, execution, and audience impact.

 Communications Campaign of Year: Consumer

This award recognizes a top consumer-focused campaign that creatively engaged audiences and drove significant brand awareness. It celebrates impactful storytelling and effective communication strategies.

 Communications Campaign of the Year: B2B

Honoring a standout B2B communications campaign that successfully connected with professional audiences. It highlights strategic planning, execution, and measurable outcomes.

 Communications Campaign of the Year: Nonprofit/Government

This category celebrates an exceptional communications campaign led by or in partnership with a nonprofit or government entity. It recognizes creativity, impact, and meaningful engagement.

 Marketing Campaign of Year: Consumer

Spotlighting a high-achieving consumer marketing campaign that delivered exceptional results and creative storytelling. This award honors the best in audience engagement and brand strategy.

 Marketing Campaign of the Year: B2B

This category recognizes a top-tier B2B marketing campaign that drove remarkable outcomes and innovation. It highlights effective messaging, strategy, and measurable success.

 Marketing Campaign of the Year: Nonprofit/Government

Honoring a nonprofit or government-led marketing campaign that made a significant impact. This award recognizes creative execution and audience engagement.

HOW TO ENTER

Awards Criteria

On the entry form, be sure to include a thorough synopsis explaining the purpose and scope of your project. We ask that the synopsis be 350-900 words and include the following sub-headings (when applicable):

  • Goals
  • Strategy and tactics
  • Execution
  • Evaluation: success, results or ROI

Be sure to follow the guidelines laid out in the category descriptions, as the judges will look for those elements when they select the winners.

You will be able to upload additional documents to your submission. We encourage you to include press releases, design concepts, videos, analytics, testimonials and anything else you feel will give us a better sense of your project. Proprietary or internal information can also be attached and will not be shared with the public.

ENTER

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

These awards are open to in-house, agency and independent communication practitioners in the private, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors. Enter your work, the work of your organization or submit entries on behalf of your client.

Companies from around the world are welcome to enter as long as the entry is submitted in English.

Contact Brendan Gannon to find the perfect category for your campaign or project. You can email him at brendang@ragan.com or call 312-960-4407.

This year’s program is open to any work executed between May 1, 2024, and May 9, 2025, inclusive.

ENTRY FEES

The fee for this program is $550 per entry into standard categories, and $600 per entry into Awards of Distinction categories.

A late fee of $325 per entry will be added to all entries received after 11:59 p.m. Central time, May 9, 2025.

Do you have a campaign or project you'd like to enter into multiple categories? Pay the original entry fee, and then only $250 for each additional category!

All entries are non-returnable and non-refundable.

W-9 Form / Tax ID Number Request

Frequently Asked Questions

WHY SHOULD I APPLY?
  • Achieve the Peak of Industry Recognition: This prestigious honor represents the pinnacle of success in communications, marketing, and PR, solidifying your place among the best in the industry.
  • Showcase Your Excellence on a Grand Stage: Winning or even being named a finalist amplifies your work’s impact, increasing visibility among top industry leaders, peers, and potential collaborators.
  • Celebrate and Strengthen Your Reputation and Influence: Earning a Zenith Award reinforces your credibility, elevates your brand, and positions you or your organization as a leader in the field.
WHO CAN ENTER THESE AWARDS?
Entries may be submitted by organizations worldwide. Entries must be submitted in English. The program is open to in-house, agency, independent communication practitioners and vendors in the private, corporate, nonprofit and government sectors.
CAN I ENTER TWO OR MORE CATEGORIES?
YES! In fact, we encourage you to submit your applications in multiple categories. Each category is judged discreetly, and discounted pricing applies to your 2nd category and beyond. This also increases your chances of winning.
WHAT DO THE JUDGES LOOK FOR IN ENTRIES?
Judges look for top-quality work that shows clear, bold and creative ideas that benefit your business or client. Please provide metrics or results that support your claims, and share creative collateral such as videos, visual design or websites that were a part of your project. Please look at our past award winners to see what gets recognized and rewarded.
WHY ARE SOME DEADLINES EXTENDED?
We extend deadlines based on applicant needs and upcoming promotional opportunities.
WHEN WILL I FIND OUT RESULTS?
Finalists will be recognized - and category winners will be revealed - during a live event in November during Ragan's Communications Week in Austin, Texas. All entrants will be notified of finalist announcements three months prior to this industry event.

Additional Questions

If you have any questions about the program or problems submitting your entry, please email Brendan Gannon at brendang@ragan.com.

RECOGNITION

EACH CATEGORY WINNER WILL RECEIVE:

EVENT CELEBRATION:
Finalists will be recognized at a special live event during Communications Week in November. Winners will be announced at this industry event.
AN ELEGANT TROPHY:
Display this shiny trophy for all to see. Go ahead, you’ve earned it.
EDITORIAL & SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE:
You’ll be featured on Ragan’s web sites Ragan.com and PRDaily.com, on our social platforms and in our eletters, reaching more than 250,000 communicators and marketers.
MARKETING & PR:
Leverage your win in your marketing materials, press releases and other messaging.
DIGITAL BADGE:
Add the Winners badge to your email signature and your web site.
PRESS RELEASE:
We’ll provide you with a quote for your press release. Plus, we’ll provide winners with a press release template to use for their promotional purposes.

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsoring one of Ragan Communications’ award programs, please contact Morgan Einspanier at morgane@ragan.com. 

Ragan Communications is not responsible for international shipping fees related to trophies or certificates.