County receives eight awards for outstanding public relations
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Special to the Outlook
Leon County Government received eight Image Awards for outstanding public relations from the Florida Public Relations Association Capital Chapter. Honoring top communications teams in the region, FPRA’s annual Image Awards exemplify public relations excellence in the state of Florida.
Leon County’s winning projects will compete at the state level later this year.
“This year’s award-winning projects highlight Leon County’s commitment to providing timely, relevant, and engaging communication to our citizens,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Bill Proctor. “Our County communications efforts continue to expand, exceeding expectations and reaching citizens in new and innovative ways.”
Leon County was awarded in the categories of brochures, websites and special events. In addition to Leon County, several entries were submitted from public relations teams across the region.
The following Leon County Government projects received awards:
Created Equal, in the category of Virtual Special Event
Becoming the first county in Florida to recognize Florida Emancipation Day as an official holiday, Leon County Government partnered with The Village Square to celebrate May 20 with a virtual panel discussion. Educating audiences across the state, the conversation promoted dialogue on the history of freedom and work towards equity that continues today.
The Essential Libraries Initiative Booklet, in the category of Brochure.
The Leon County Public Library System’s Essential Libraries Initiative is a strategic plan that re-envisions the library to address the changing needs of residents and trends in library use. The initiative refocused the priorities and action items to appeal to Leon County’s diverse population and implement enhancements to its offerings.
Hired on the Spot, in the category of special events
In 2021, organizations across the U.S. were confronted with a new challenge: the national labor shortage. To fill open positions, Leon County Government hosted Hired on the Spot, a one-day hiring event. The event was so successful that all targeted vacancies were filled in a single day.
Vax Map, in the category of Website
The Leon County Vax Map is an interactive mapping application that provides residents an easy way to locate COVID-19 vaccine, testing and monoclonal antibody treatment sites in Leon County. The map is a key community resource to citizens and community partners alike, promoting vaccine and testing information and saving lives.
“Leon County works on behalf of and alongside residents to provide exceptional essential service,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “This collaborative approach to co-creating our community relies on highly effective communications between the County and our residents. Our Community and Media Relations team prioritizes finding new ways to gather feedback, promote transparency and connect citizens to critical services.”
Leon County Community and Media Relations prepares and disseminates Leon County news and information via news releases, notices and other publications, and manages news conferences and events. CMR meets the changing needs of the community through proactive communications across multiple platforms, including mass communications, graphic design, special events, social media and so much more.
“Our County communications team connects citizens with County services that can change lives and shape our community,” said Kianna Gilley, Leon County Public Information and Communications Manager. “Whether saving lives with vaccine information or maintaining our organizational readiness through innovative hiring days, these awards acknowledge the hard work our team does every day.”
The Florida Public Relations Association is a statewide organization of more than 1,000 public relations professionals dedicated to advancing the profession of public relations and enhancing the professional development of its members. The Capital Chapter of FPRA boasts a 90-plys strong membership representing nearly every industry in the area, including government, associations, nonprofit, education, health care, legal, corporate, retail, agencies, and small businesses.
