Public Relations Firms Not Shy About Awards

The award categories did not include best actor or best actress but, then again, journalists weren’t allowed to make the nominations.

Nevertheless, there were some choice trophies handed out this week by the Public Relations Society of America--Orange County chapter in Costa Mesa.

Take, for instance, the category of best “Feature Story for Consumer Magazine/Newspaper-Planted.” The award goes to the PR rep who “plants” the best article in a magazine.

And last year appears to have been a banner one for planted articles--there were multiple winners in that category.

Of the group’s 180 members, 31 received awards Thursday night at the 14th annual Protos Awards Banquet in categories such as best press kit, best news release/feature, best speech and the best “PR for PR.”

The two top honorees were Laer Pearce of Laer Pearce & Associates, who received a distinguished service award for outstanding contributions to the PR field, and Nordstrom department stores, which received a distinguished service award for a corporation.

Some of the winners lost no time in spreading the word about their victories. On Friday morning, fax machines and mailboxes were overflowing with press releases hyping the people who write press releases.

“Paine & Associates Sweeps Photos Awards--Agency Dominates Two Categories, Wins Numerous Others,” read the release from one Costa Mesa firm.

Rolf Rudestam, the group’s president, seemed slightly embarrassed by his industry’s lack of humility. “A lot of the agencies put out their own releases,” he said. “They tried to toot their own horns.”