Welcome to the 2025 Virginia Public Relations Awards Submission Page
Each year, PRSA Richmond recognizes outstanding public relations professionals and their work at the Virginia Public Relations Awards. Over its history, the chapter's awards program has recognized the most creative and effective communications strategies and tactics happening across Virginia.
The Commonwealth Award recognizes exceptional public relations programs or campaigns, and the Capital Award recognizes outstanding public relations tactics that were implemented as part of a larger public relations program or campaign. Awards of merit are also given in both categories.
In addition, we honor three individuals working in the Greater Richmond metropolitan region:
- The Excellence in Public Relations Award recognizes the extraordinary achievements of an individual who has spent his or her career working in the field.
- The Rising Star Award honors a new practitioner with five or fewer years experience working in the public relations profession.
- The Shining Star Award honors a mid-career practitioner with 10 - 25 years experience working in the public relations profession.
PRSA Richmond encourages the PR community to identify and nominate those professionals most deserving of these two distinguished awards.
Entry Rules & Details
Submit AWARDS HERE.
Tactics and campaigns produced in part between Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2024, are eligible. Tactics and campaigns tend to have better chances of winning near their completion when evaluation against initial objectives can be measured.
Entrants must select a single category for each entry. However, entrants may submit a campaign and the parts of that campaign (tactics) for more than one category, provided that it meets specific criteria. For example, a campaign can be submitted as an entry to the Commonwealth Awards and the press release from that campaign could be submitted as a Capital Award entry. The entry must be submitted with separate category appropriate materials, as well as a separate entry fee for each additional category entered. In deciding which category is most appropriate, entrants should examine tactic objectives and target audiences. Judges will not move entries into other categories.
A concise summary must accompany the entry (approximately one page in length). The summary word limit for the Capital Awards (tactics) is 400 words and for the Commonwealth Awards (campaigns) is 800 words. The summary is the single most important component of the award entry. Judges evaluate tactics and campaigns in four key areas —planning/content, creativity/quality, technical excellence, and results. Within these areas, the summary should include measurable objectives, target audiences, budget, and any other specific information requested in the individual category. Results — qualitative, quantitative, or both — should provide evidence of how the stated measurable objectives were met, and how the entry impacted the success of a broader or ongoing program.
All tactics and campaigns must be submitted in English. Tactics or campaigns produced in a language other than English must be translated. A copy of the original, as well as the translated version, must be submitted.
By entering the Virginia Public Relations Awards program, all entrants confirm that their programs and entries comply with the ethical standards of the profession, as embodied in the PRSA Code of Ethics.
To view award category descriptions and judging evaluation forms, click here.
Capital Awards
Commonwealth Awards
Excellence in PR Awards
Rising Star Award
Shining Star Award
Questions? Contact us at awards@prsarichmond.org or admin@prsarichmond.org.