1. Eligibility
Q: We are an in-house team, are we eligible to enter?
A: Yes, in-house teams are eligible, but you must have collaborated with a PR agency or sole trader. Please reference the agency in your submission. You can enter for the award or they can.
Q: We worked with a PR agency on our campaign, do they need to submit the entry or can we?
A: You can submit the entry directly, please ensure the agency/sole trader is named and you have permission to share the campaign details.
Q: We are not members of the PRCA, what is the cost of entering or becoming a member?
A: Non-members can still enter, contact PRCA directly for membership details and costs. Email: info@prca.ie
Q: Is there a description of each of the categories and the criteria
A: Yes you can download the Award briefing which describes each of the categories and the criteria and you can listen to the award briefing recording.
Q: Is the best corporate campaign open to public sector bodies
A: Yes, campaigns that deliver an important outcome for a business or organisation by focusing on the organisation as distinct from its products or services are eligible for entry to this category. You must have collaborated with a PR agency or sole trader as part of the campaign.
2. Format
Q: Can we include a video to support our entry?
A: Yes. You can include links to videos in your form or in the PDF supporting documents. Please remember the judges have a limited amount of time to review each entry, so best advised to submit short videos or pdfs.
Q: Is there a declaration form clients or agencies need to sign?
A: No separate form is needed. There is a confidentiality statement included in the submission process that you agree to abide by. You do not need to upload a signed form, but you must have client permission to mention them in your entry.
Q: Can we tailor and submit the same campaign in multiple categories?
A: Yes. You can submit across more than one category if it’s relevant. Please review the criteria carefully and respond to that criteria. Each entry costs €200.
Q: Are there limits on the number or size of supporting materials?
A: You may upload up to five PDFs with a combined total size of 32MB. Be selective and focused. Try to avoid excessive or lengthy materials.
3. Categories & Judging
Q: In previous years, judges sometimes moved entries into more appropriate categories. Will that happen again this year?
A: No. It is entirely up to entrants to select the correct category. Judges will not reassign entries.
Q: In the Best Ongoing Communications Strategy category, does the campaign need to run for more than 12 months?
A: Up to 12 months or longer is fine. There are shorter term categories for shorter campaigns so enter the category that best suits your work.
Q: We are interested in the Hall of Fame and the Contribution to the Industry categories. What’s the difference?
A: The Hall of Fame is awarded by the PRCA Board and you nominate your candidate by email, no entry fee applies. The Contribution to the Industry Award is entered via the awards portal and is judged as part of the main competition. If you have a worthy candidate, consider submitting for both.
Q: Is Agency of the Year split into big and small agency categories?
A: No, there is only one Agency of the Year category.
4. Metrics
Q: In the past, PR coverage was the key focus. Are earned and organic social results also valid?
A: Yes. Any result that demonstrates impact—earned, organic social, press coverage—is valid. What matters most is how clearly those results contributed to your campaign objectives. A high quantity of coverage alone won’t guarantee high scores.
5. Key Dates & Timeframes
Q: We have two campaigns from March 2025. Are these eligible?
A: Campaigns are eligible if they occurred anytime between February 2024 and 6 March 2025.
Q: What are the key dates for the 2025 awards?
Entries Open: 7 March 2025
Entry Deadline: 15 April 2025 at 12:00 PM
Shortlist Announced: 20 May 2025
Gala Ceremony: 20 June 2025 at The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin
Q: Can I save my submission as I go along and revisit it another day?
A: Yes, the platform allows you to save and return later to finish your submission.
Q: Is it possible to get an extension to the entry date?
A: In no circumstances.
Q: Do you accept overseas campaigns?
A: If you can show that the work (media campaign etc) was managed and led from Ireland, then the entry is acceptable. Media coverage can be generated abroad but managed from Ireland.
Q: My campaign contains sensitive information, will you publish it should my campaign win?
A: If your campaign wins, you will be given the opportunity to review your campaign and you can decide what elements you wish to publish.
Q: Do we need to pay for each entry as they are submitted?
A:
Pay online
As you enter the entries are added to your shopping cart (much like Amazon etc) and you pay once at the end for all the entries
Pay by Bank Transfer
When you get to the ‘Cart’ Section - select ‘Pay by Bank Transfer’
You can then pay as you requested below – the entry system will issue you a pro forma invoice.