Recognizing excellence in public relations and communications.
PRSA NJ established the Pyramid Awards in 1989 to recognize excellence in public relations and communications in New Jersey. The competition is open to all public relations professionals in New Jersey who implemented or completed qualifying public relations campaigns or exceptional single items such as annual reports, videos, etc.
Available Awards
Winners for the following awards and scholarships will be announced at the next Pyramid Awards. See what it takes to write a winning entry.
Are you- or do you know – a PR practitioner who has gone above and beyond for the profession? Then submit a nomination for the 2022 PRSA NJ PR Pro of the Year Award.
The PR Pro of the Year Award honors excellence in public relations and those who serves as a role model to staff and practitioners in the industry.
Nominees do not have to be a member of PRSA NJ or be APR certified, but must:
- Have a strong record of measurable public relations success
- Practice public relations or integrated marketing communications in New Jersey
- Exhibit the highest standards of public relations ethics
- Serve as a role model to his or her staff and practitioners entering the field
- Have at least ten years of public relations experience
All entries will be judged by the PRSA NJ Board of Directors.
Nomination Procedures:
- A two-page summary of the accomplishments and qualifications, which highlights the judging criteria.
- The nominee’s professional bio and headshot. (This is not counted as a summary page)
To nominate yourself or a colleague, please send your submission to Deirdre Lopian at Deirdre.Lopian@gmail.com. There is no fee for this entry.
Are you – or do you know– a young communications professional with truly stand-out talents and accomplishments? Submit a nomination for PRSA NJ Rising Star Award!
The Rising Star Award honors PR professionals under the age of 35 who have made outstanding contributions to their organizations and the advancement of the profession.
Nominations should be no longer than two printed pages and include concrete examples of exceptional performance. All nominations must also include a resume or list of job history to support the entry requirements. Nominees do not have to be a member of PRSA NJ or be APR certified, but must:
- Practice public relations or integrated marketing communications in New Jersey
- Have 2-8 years of experience
- Exhibit the highest standards of public relations ethics
- Have a strong record of measurable public relations success (please include 1-2 examples of campaigns from January 2021 – May 2022.
- Possess a lifelong learning mindset and showcase a desire for continued education
- Demonstrates a desire to continue to grow professionally by participating in professional development, in-house training, mentoring, etc. (please provide at least one example in the nomination essay)
- Continuously goes above and beyond his/her job description (please provide at least one example in the nomination essay)
All entries will be judged by the PRSA NJ Board of Directors.
Nomination Procedures:
- A two-page summary of the accomplishments and qualifications, which highlights the judging criteria.
- The nominee’s resume or list of job history to support the entry requirements. (This is not counted as a summary page)
To nominate yourself or a colleague, please submit your nomination to Deirdre Lopian at deirdre.Lopian@gmail.com.
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson
The Public Relations Society of America’s New Jersey Chapter is now accepting entries for the 2022 Future Public Relations Professional of the Year Award scholarship. This annual award recognizes an undergraduate student who demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of and commitment to the public relations profession. The winner will receive a cash scholarship of $3,000, a Certificate of Achievement, and one-year membership for PRSA National and PRSA NJ ($360 value).
Members of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) attending a college or university in New Jersey are invited to apply.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
- Demonstrated leadership
- Essay perspective and writing ability
- Commitment to public relations
- Practical experience (e.g. internships, other work/service, student firm work)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Email pitch should be no more than 250 words and include a catchy headline
- Obtain at least one nomination letter from a professor, PRSSA faculty adviser, internship supervisor, and/or mentor (see your PRSSA chair for the formal Future PR Pro packet, which includes a reference letter guide)
- Attach your résumé
- Submit all materials to deirdre.lopian@gmail.com.
ESSAY TOPIC
Your agency has been retained by a prominent lobbying group that is active on behalf of the cannabis industry in New Jersey. The clients need communications support to educate municipal and state officials, parents, and other key stakeholders about the positive impact that a new cannabis industry could have on the State. Currently, there are plans to expand the cannabis industry footprint by 5-fold in the next three years.
Your job is the draft a media pitch that will be used to engage journalists covering this topic. These journalists likely are aware of the debate from all perspectives. It will be critical to frame the discussion to eloquently capture the client’s point of view, grounded in facts that articulate the benefits for patients, recreational users, communities, and the state government.
This email pitch should be no more than 250 words and include a catchy headline. Feel free to link to additional resources that might be helpful.
Please submit your entry to Michael Lauer at michael@mdlcomms.com by Friday, July 29, 2022. There is no fee for this entry.
ABOUT PRSA NJ
The New Jersey Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA NJ) was founded in 1960 and is the local affiliate of PRSA, the world’s largest and foremost organization for public relations professionals. Our nearly 300 members live and work in all corners of the state, representing business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, healthcare systems, schools, professional service firms, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, nine Chapters of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) reside in New Jersey.
JOIN US . . . AND LEARN ALL THOSE THINGS THEY DON’T TEACH YOU IN COLLEGE!
After your college days are over, it’s challenging to find a similar community of like-minded communicators who are your professional interests and can offer useful advice. Joining PRSA is a great solution: you can expand your network of contacts, explore ways to advance your career, draw on a wide range of informative webinars and workshops, and bounce ideas off people in similar fields. Membership is a must to advance your career, develop your skills, and network with employers and colleagues. For more information, visit us here.
PRSA NJ looks forward to your participation. On behalf of the PRSA NJ Board of Directors, good luck!