We are pleased to present the recipients of this year’s Edward L. Bernays Awards! This year’s theme was “World Design Capital” after the prestigious designation given to our region this year.

The 2024 Edward L. Bernays Award entries were judged by the Utah Chapter. As usual, we award one Excellence Award and up to two Merit Awards in each category, unless there is a tie. The “Best of Show” award represents the entry, or entries in case of a tie, with the highest overall score of all Silver Bernays entries and all Bronze Bernays entries, respectively. The Special Awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the public relations profession in the San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Winners

Special Awards

Otto Bos Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award: David Glanzer
Eva Irving Community Service Award: Denise Scatena
PR Pro of the Year: Arika Daniels
PR Team of the Year: (W)right On Communications

Student Awards

Excellence: Modern Military Association of America – Serve with Pride, students from the Journalism and Media Studies School at San Diego State University.

Saraí Solorzano, Team Lead
Luke Dane, HR Manager
Amy Nguyen, Research Captain
Riley Schueber, Logistics Captain
Lauren Wright, Media Relations Captain
Ariana Carvajal, Social and Graphics Captain
Kelly Cutler, Campaign Coordinator
Gianna Morrone, Campaign Coordinator
Vianey Sanchez Cuevas, Campaign Coordinator

Silver Awards

Silver Excellence Awards

Best in Show: WD-40 Precision Pen Launch Campaign – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
Community Relations: Government: Robertson Ranch Park Public Involvement Program – City of Carlsbad
Corporate Social Responsibility: Summer of Economic Power: Celebrating Local Tourism – Intesa Communications Group
Events and Observances: Less than Seven Days, Business: 2024 WD-40 Brand x Throtl Cars & Coffee – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
Events and Observances: Less than Seven Days, Nonprofit/Government/Association: Rolling into Summer 2024: A Celebration of Local Tourism – Intesa Communications Group
Integrated Communications: $5.5B Payment Card Settlement: Legit, Big and Easy to Claim – (W)right On Communications
Internal Communications: City Manager’s Employee Update Videos – City of Carlsbad
Marketing: Consumer Products and Services: WD-40 Precision Pen Launch Campaign – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
Public Service: Border Wall Fall Injuries – UC San Diego
Reputation/Brand Management: Intesa Spotlights SDRM’s Efforts to End Homelessness – Intesa Communications Group

Silver Merit Awards

Community Relations: Government: Making “Cents” of San Diego County’s Billion Dollar Budget – County of San Diego
Community Relations: Government: Portside Community Academy – PRM Consulting Inc.
Community Relations: Nonprofit/Association: 2024 SDCVA Economic Impact of San Diego Wineries Report – Clearpoint Agency
Events and Observances: Less than Seven Days, Nonprofit/Government/Association: Grow with Us at East Campus Medical Center – UC San Diego
Integrated Communications: CDFA Invasive Fruit Fly Integrated Outreach Campaign – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
Integrated Communications: Welcoming East Campus Medical Center to UC San Diego Health- UC San Diego

Bronze Awards

Bronze Excellence Awards

Best in Show: San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House Red Shoe Day Fundraiser – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
Annual Reports: Better Together: County of San Diego 2022-23 Annual Report – County of San Diego
Editorials/Op-Ed Columns: ECO at UCSD DES Binational Learning + Preparation OpEd Trio – Scatena Daniels Communications
Executive Communications: Elevating Donnie Dee’s Mission to end Homelessness in SD – Intesa Communications Group
Media Relations: Business to Business: Clearpoint Expands Awareness of OptionMetrics – Clearpoint
Media Relations: Consumer Products and Services: Petco Holiday PR Campaign 2024 – Petco
Media Relations: Nonprofit: San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House Red Shoe Day Fundraiser – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
Media Relations: Press Conferences: Cathedral Plaza Grand Reopening Press Conference & Publicity – Intesa Communications Group
Media Relations: Shoestring Budget: San Diego Rotary Celebrates Peter Seidler as Mr. San Diego – Scatena Daniels Communications
Newsletters: City Manager’s Update E-newsletter – City of Carlsbad
Social/Digital Media: Nurse Uses Power of Music to Heal – UC San Diego
Videos: City Manager’s Employee Update Videos – City of Carlsbad

Bronze Merit Awards

Annual Reports: DEI with AEG Worldwide: A Stage for All – (W)right On Communications Inc.
Creative Tactics: Overcoming Skepticism for the $5.5B Payment Card Settlement – (W)right On Communications Inc.
Editorials/Op-Ed Columns: Carlsbad Magazine City Matters Column – City of Carlsbad
Editorials/Op-Ed Columns: Monarch School: Social-Emotional Learning for Unhoused Youth – J. Walcher Communications
Media Relations: Consumer Products and Services: WD-40 Precision Pen Media Relations Campaign – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker
Media Relations: Nonprofit: GI Film Festival San Diego Presents Untold Military Stories – Scatena Daniels Communications
Media Relations: Nonprofit: Epilepsy Clinical Trial News Release and Media Relations – UC San Diego
Media Relations: Press Conferences: Rolling into Summer 2024: A Celebration of Local Tourism – Intesa Communications Group
Podcasts: At the Edge of It All – A University of San Diego Podcast – University of San Diego
Videos: Living Liver Transplant Video Campaign – UC San Diego
Videos: Pathway to Possibility: Domanick’s Scholarship Story – San Diego Foundation

Special thanks to our sponsors!

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