Polly Bond Award Categories:

General Excellence categories are judged for the broad effort of a publication or media tool, rather than a specific issue or piece. For most of these categories, that means a full year’s worth of work, with entries offering several samples to judge a publication or tool. For Best Campaign, 3-6 pieces should be included, from a variety of media.

a. Best Website

Entries will be judged on layout, user experience, content, consistency of message and visual elements, and successful use of the website to achieve organizational goals. A successful entry will describe the communication goals that the website seeks to address, demonstrate the efforts to achieve the goals and provide metrics of success (both qualitative and quantitative). Entries need not necessarily be newly-built websites, but should demonstrate that the site is actively managed to continually engage users and updates were made throughout the year, either in design, function, or content. 

b. Best Print Newsletter/Magazine

●      Diocese/Organization

●      Parish/Cathedral

c. Best Email/Digital Newsletter/Magazine

●      Diocese/Organization

●      Parish/Cathedral

Periodicals published on a regular schedule (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) may be submitted. Publications that have been printed for mailing or other distribution should be entered in the print category, even if they have also been distributed digitally. Publications which have been distributed ONLY in digital format should be entered in the digital category. Awards will be given in each of the divisions (diocese/organization and parish/cathedral). Three different issues (not necessarily in consecutive order) from 2023 must be submitted. NOTE: If you have a new publication and have produced only two issues rather than the required three, you may submit those two. Please indicate on the entry form that this is the case. If submitting an annual publication which, by definition, only has one issue in 2023, please also note that.

Entries will be judged on content, appropriateness for audience, timeliness and visual design.

Entries also will define the audience, specify the date of publication and describe the importance of the publication in the organization’s overall communication plan.

All entries in the periodical categories should be submitted digitally, either as PDFs, or using a link to a platform such as Issuu or Yudu.

d. Best Campaign

Best Campaign entries carry one message/theme throughout multiple pieces. Entries may comprise 3-6 pieces, and must include at least two different channels or media (IE: You may submit a banner, a booklet, and 3 e-newsletters). Entries will be judged on creativity and innovation, as well as effectiveness in achieving organizational communication goals. A successful entry will describe the goals that the campaign seeks to address and the central theme, demonstrate the efforts to achieve the goals, and provide metrics of success (both qualitative and quantitative). Entries must include images of or links to the work/s.

Regular categories ($20 fee per entry):

II. Audio/Video

a. Long-form Video

Entries are judged on content, quality of production, creativity, technical skill and overall presentation of the final product. Entries should specify the audience and date of the video’s release. Please submit a file or direct link to one episode for evaluation. Long-form videos are described as produced videos longer than 5 minutes in length and do not include live stream recordings unless significant editing has been applied (use of live stream footage in a video for this category is acceptable). Live stream entries may be submitted under the new Communications Accessibility category.

b. Short-form Video

This category is for videos 5 minutes or shorter, and is judged on content, quality of production, technical skill and overall presentation of the final product. Please specify the audience and date of the video’s release. While judging will take into account contracted support for all categories, this category historically receives a high number of submissions with contractor support. Judging will take this into account to ensure comparable works are judged against each other. NOTE: videos created specifically for social media platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram should be submitted to the social media video post category. Short-form videos produced as separate projects that happen to be posted to social media platforms should be submitted here.

c. Podcast Production

Entries are judged on content, quality of production, creativity, technical skill and overall presentation of the final product. Entries should specify the audience and date of the video’s release. Podcast entries must demonstrate production expertise by the Episcopal Communicator member submitting the entry. Podcasts where the entrant is a speaker but did not produce the medium will not be accepted. Please submit a file or direct link to one episode for evaluation.

III. Writing

Writing categories are divided according to content, not medium of publication. Blog entries are eligible.

a. News

An article that reports the basics and details of an event within or relevant to your organization.

b. Feature

A human-interest article on a particular event, person or place relevant to your organization.

c. Commentary/Reflection

An opinion on the subject matter, or addressing a theme through interpretive writing, or delivering a reaction to an event or topic relevant to your organization. This can include reflection on personal experience or a wider current issue with regard to the Christian faith. Each entry should connect human experience with the divine, through interpretation of scripture and/or interpretation of one’s faith in daily life. Books are not acceptable.

IV. Visual Arts

Visual Arts categories are divided according to content, not medium of publication.

a. Photography

Photographs are judged on aesthetic merit, regardless of medium of publication. The communicator must be the person who took the photograph. No “project manager” or similar submissions will be accepted for this category.

b. Graphic Design

These images, icons or logos should be designed by the communicator using image, text, colors, fades, and layers, including overall design for posters, advertisements, event branding, etc. Submissions may be print or digital.

c. Layout (poster, one-page spread, etc.)

This category includes single-page posters, covers, or inside spreads of newspapers/magazines/printed publications that include graphics, photographs, text and other elements to achieve their goal. Banners are also eligible in this category.

d. Booklet

These multi-page publications may include graphics, photographs, text and other elements to achieve their goal. Entries will be judged on design quality and effectiveness in meeting intended goals. Brochures are eligible in this category. 

V. Social Media

a. Social Media Non-Video Post

Each entry should be a social media post where video is not the primary medium, submitted either by screen shot or direct link to the post. Entries will be judged on creativity and aesthetic, as well as its effectiveness. Metrics of success are encouraged but not required. 

b. Social Media Video Post

Videos created for social media platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram that specifically use those platforms' editing features and environment should be submitted here. Short-form videos produced as separate projects that happen to be posted to social media platforms should be submitted in the short-form video category. Live stream submissions can be submitted to the Communications Accessibility category.

VI. Communications Accessibility

This category is for projects from any medium that excels at promoting accessibility, which all communicators should be striving for in our work. A new category for this year’s awards, we are excited to see the creative entries that this generates. Entries to this category may include live streaming of events or services (including events that promote particularly engaging online comments or events that provide simultaneous translation or on-screen captions, for example), creative virtual engagement, use of non-internet based communications tools, or thorough application of accessible technology. The goal of this category is to uplift communications efforts that expand access to, and engagement with, communications materials for folks who may be unable to attend in-person services, live with disabilities, communicate in a language that is not the primary language of your diocese or parish, or people who are not fully immersed in the more commonplace communication materials used by the majority of communications professionals.