West Virginia University’s University Relation’s Division won a record seven top awards in the international MarCom Awards, which recognize outstanding creative achievement in the marketing and communications fields.
The winners were chosen from more than 6,000 entries from corporate and educational marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, public relations firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers throughout the United States, Canada and several other countries. The Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals bestows the awards annually.
The Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism also received two platinum awards from the association.
“Our communication teams are proud to be able to tell the story of this great university to the largest audience in its history,” said Chris Martin, vice president for University Relations. “And we are pleased to be acknowledged for the great pride we take in that work, and for the great pride we take in the University we serve.”
The awards went to a range of creative projects produced by University Relations featuring the University’s successes in teaching, research and student life.
MarCom awarded WVU platinum awards for four projects:
• Memories. A comprehensive commencement tribute, this campaign combined social media from Twitter, Storify and Pinterest, plus student-produced stories, recollections and reflections with a series of videos and stories that chronicled the experiences of the Class of 2012.
• Morgantown Has Changed. Current WVU students documented the WVU campus, comparing present-day landmarks like the Coliseum, Woodburn Hall, the PRT system and the Health Sciences Center to their historic photographs. The video has more than 20,000 YouTube views, and was part of the http://memories.wvu.edu/ site for the 2012 commencement.
• Follow WVU. This 30-second national television advertisement was our quick telegram to the world about who we are and what we do. It has more than 9,000 views and is one of just six videos to be featured on Marcom’s award website. The MarCom judges wrote: “West Virginia University has produced one of the most visually creative commercials seen anywhere ? local television or national network ?The producers combine arresting graphics with sensational cinematography that draws viewers into the campus.”
• A Holiday Fantasia. The animated video followed the journey of a holiday sprite throughout the snow-covered WVU campus as it brightened the places we hold dear in our hearts at the holidays and throughout the year. This digital card received more than 40,000 views on YouTube.
The division also received gold awards in these projects:
• WVU Alumni Magazine. The magazine this year featured “The Big Issue.” Sent to approximately 130,000 alumni, the magazine also made it into the hands of graduates at graduation – the first time the magazine reached out to new alums in this way. The redesigned website http://alumnimag.wvu.edu/ increased visits by approximately 400 percent for The Big Issue.
• It’s the right thing to do. This mini-documentary piece chronicles the caring, compassionate work of WVU doctors who travel across the state to treat a community of patients in Gilbert, W.Va.
• If You Want. This 60-second news spot features WVU’s myriad successes in (featured on WVUToday) in teaching, research, arts and service with a unique multi-media video array.
The Journalism School received platinum MarCom Awards for the school’s 2012 SOJ Insider magazine and the nationally recognized student project West Virginia Uncovered.
“It’s wonderful to be recognized for the quality of work we do,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “I am proud of our faculty, students and staff for producing work at the highest level, and recognition from the MarCom Awards is further validation of their excellence.”
The School’s alumni magazine is distributed to approximately 5,500 alumni and supporters.
West Virginia Uncovered is a digital journalism initiative focused on rural West Virginia, and produced by faculty and students in the School of Journalism. They also offer training for more than a dozen weekly newspapers. The project began in 2008. An offshoot of the project is a website called Faces of the Mine, dedicated to the memory of the miners who died in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster.
University Relations helps to connect West Virginia University – its people, programs, messages, stories, challenges, triumphs and its continuing narrative of progress – to the world. University Relations consists of almost 70 media and marketing professionals who work in Web, Design, News, Video, Trademark Licensing and the Visitors Center.
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