Judging
Submissions are judged by professionals in editing, photography, social media, graphic design, news media and public relations. Judges base their decisions on learned perceptions of professional and creative excellence.
An Award of Excellence will only be achieved by an entry that scores at or above the Excellence threshold on the scoring rubric AND receives the highest score total within that group. These awardees will be considered for Best of Show.
An Award of Distinction may be awarded in a category where no entries meet the criteria to be considered for an Award of Excellence OR as a runner-up in categories where an Award of Excellence has been given. No award may be given if the judges feel the entries have not held a high enough standard.
A Best in Show Honor will be awarded to no more than one awardee in each section of work—Visual, Writing, Graphic Design, Publications, Digital and Campaign. To be considered for this honor, awardees must achieve an Award of Excellence in two or more categories within that section of work AND their overall score of combined work meets or exceeds the BEST threshold on the scoring rubric. Work that receives an Award of Distinction may be used in the overall scoring of the Best in Show and may help determine winners in the case there is a tie. Best in Show honors may not be given every year.
Submitting Your Entries
Entries must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. CST, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. SEAComm’s online submission site will allow you attach all necessary files required by the respective category being entered.
Communications Skills Division: One entry per SEAComm member is allowed in each category except in the State Affiliate Newsletter/ Newspaper and Magazine categories, for which only one entry per state may be submitted.
All entries must be original work created primarily by the SEAComm member entering it. Original means that the piece has been written, ghostwritten or created by a SEAComm member — not purchased, hired or earned media coverage. Judges may recategorize or disqualify any entry if they feel it does not meet the criteria for the category in which the member submitted it for. Please submit three different issues of the entire publication for the publications categories and for podcasts.
Communications Management Division: One entry per state is allowed in each category.
A current or former SEAComm member must have had major responsibility for the project. You must note other organizations, agencies, individuals or departments that assisted in the project.