Digital Communication Awards 2013

CALLFORENTRIES

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D I G I T A L C O M M U N I C A T I O N A W A R D S 2 0 1 3

W W W . D I G I T A L - A W A R D S . E U

The Digital Communication Awards exclusively honour achievements in the fi eld of digital communication. Enter now!

D E A D L I N E F O R E N T R I E S

J U L Y 4 T H , 2 0 1 3

G A L A C E R E M O N Y

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 T H , 2 0 1 3B E R L I N



Invitation

To thrill consumers or employees requires a great deal of energy as well as ground breaking ideas. The infl uence of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and so on continues to grow. However mobile and viral communication, online events and competitions are becoming increasingly important. Therefore, the Digital Communication Awards utilised the experience from previous years to review our work. New categories have been created and old ones eliminated. To meet up with the expectations of the “war for talents” we have implemented catego-ries that honour successful recruitment strategies and campaigns. Critically, the campaigns must be presented in an appealing, highly-visual format, as re-fl ected in the new category for online data visualisation and infographics.

Since 2011, Quadriga University Berlin has established the Digital Communi-cation Awards as the leading award in the fi eld of online communication in Europe. It honours outstanding achievements on a European level. More than 500 innovative communication campaigns and technologically outstanding projects are submitted every year to the jury, composed of 31 highly renowned communication professionals and scholars. Never before has the whole range of online communication been taken into account in a single award, uniting leading academic researchers and communication professionals.

We invite you to compete for the Digital Communication Awards 2013 and present your project to our grand jury. Become one of the proud winners this year and celebrate your success with your peers in Germany’s pulsating ca-pital, Berlin. Submit your innovative projects and campaigns in a total of 38 categories online at www.digital-awards.eu until July 4th, 2013.We are looking forward to receiving your inspiring and pioneering work within the fi eld of online communication.

Sincerely,Sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Thorsten HofmannProf. Dr. Thorsten HofmannChairman of the JuryQuadriga University of Applied Sciences


H O S T

The Digital Communication Awards are hosted by the Quadriga University of Applied Sciences, an international graduate school for Communica-tion Management and Public Affairs located in Berlin, Germany. It offers graduate MBA and Master programmes for high-level profes-sionals eager to advance their careers through interdisciplinary, practice-oriented education. The university is dedicated to pro-moting the active exchange of research and practice. To this end, Quadriga organises both national and international conferences featuring the participation of leading academ-ics and practitioners.

I D E A

Over the last years, the fi eld of profes-sional communication has experi-enced a signifi cant change: digital communication has become one of the fastest growing and innovative sectors, with companies, NGOs and organisations. In order to advance excellence in practice as well as academic research in the thriving fi eld of online commu-nications, and to encourage an active exchange between academics and practitioners, Quadriga launched in 2011 a Europe-wide competition for excellence in online communication and social media, both on a practical and an academic level – The Europe-an Digital Communication Awards.In a fair, transparent and independ-ent competition a high-level jury panel formed by leading practitioners and academics rate superior online strategies, campaigns and social media tools from across Europe. Furthermore, outstanding Bachelor and Master theses dealing with online communication are honoured.

Award

L O C A T I O N

Berlin – loaded with lots of history, monuments and spirit of optimism. Plunge into a unique and vibrant at-mosphere and enjoy one of the most favourite cities in the world. The venue of the Jury Meeting is the Quadriga Forum, located in the his-toric district between Friedrichstraße and Unter den Linden in Berlin Mitte and within walking distance from Berlin’s most famous touristic attractions, such as the Brandenburg-er Tor and Checkpoint Charlie.The Gala Ceremony takes place next to Potsdamer Platz at the Meistersaal. This premium Berlin location em-bodies a neo-classical room with the special tension created when tradi-tion meets popular culture. Today, as in the past, stars such as David Bowie, U2 and Depeche Mode have turned the Meistersaal into a modern legend.

Categories

ACCOMPLISHMENT

1 Social Media Campaign of the Year

2 Online Strategy of the Year

3 Innovation of the Year


ONLINE MEDIA AND TOOLS

19 Corporate Website

20 Digital Annual Report

21 Intranet

22 Online Newsroom

23 Corporate Weblog

24 Online Community

25 Mobile and Apps

26 Online Event

27 Web Magazine

28 Online Newsletter

29 Image Film

30 Web Video

31 Online Data Visualisation

and Information Design

SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY

32 Community Presence

33 Twitter Profi le

34 YouTube Channel

35 Online Competition

36 Corporate Games

ONLINE CAMPAIGNS

4 Companies

5 Associations

6 NGOs

7 Institutions

8 B2B Communication

9 Product Campaign

10 Product Launch

11 Recruiting Campaign

ONLINE STRATEGIES

12 Viral Communication

13 Crisis Communication

14 Internal Communication

15 Digital Public Affairs

16 Digital Monitoring and Evaluation

17 CSR Communication

18 Employer Branding

ACADEMIC RESEARCH

37 Best Bachelor’s Thesis

38 Best Master’s Thesis

Jury

The entries will be reviewed by a jury of renowned communication professionals and social media and digital communication experts from

academia and business, ensuring a range of expertise covering the entire scope of the discipline and the whole European continent.

The combined expertise of the jury members will contribute to the quality of the Digital Communication Awards. Strategic approach, creativity, innova-

A N N A B E L L EA T C H I S O NSocial Media ManagerMicrosoft

P R O F. D R . M I C H A E LB O E N I G KHead of Competence Center Corporate CommunicationLucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Switzerland

P R O F. D A V I DP H I L L I P SVisiting Professor of Online Public RelationsLisbon School of Communication, Portugal

Z E Y N E P B A L I O G L UHead of Web CommunicationsInfi neon Technologies AG

G U N D E K A R G I E B E LHead of Electronic MediaDie Schweizerische Post

P R O F. D R . S E R R AG Ö R P EDean of the Faculty of Communication SciencesEuropean University of Lefke, Turkey

F L O R I A N H I E S S LHead of Online CommunicationsSiemens AG

P R O F. F I N NF R A N D S E NDirector of the Centre for Corporate CommunicationAarhus University, Denmark

S I M O N N I C H O L S O NSocial Media ManagerHonda Motor Europe Ltd

P R O F. S T I L I A - F E L I S I P A U N O V AProfessor UNESCO Department of Communications and Public RelationsSofi a University

G E R A R D O P E R F O R S -B A R R A D A SReputation Intelligence Offi cerVolvo Group

M A R G A R E TO ‘ D O N N E L LDigital Media ManagerBritish Red Cross

L O R E D A N A G R I M A L D IHead of Branding and Corporate Identity ResearchTelecom Italia

P R O F. D R . I N T AB R I K S EDean of the Faculty of Social SciencesUniversity of Latvia, Lithuania

S O P H I E B R E N D E LHead of Digital EngagementBBC

H U B E R T C A L L A YD A M A T ODirector of e-Media and New TechMazars

I A N M C N A I R NProgram Director Innovation & Social CollaborationIBM

J E A N - P A U LC H A P O NWeb Governance and Enterprise 2.0Société Générale

P A U L C O N N E A L L YHead of Communications and Partnerships DivisionITU – International Telecommunication Union

F A B I O D E L T O NHead of Group Digital Internal CommunicationsUniCredit S.p.A.

A U R E L I E V A L T A THead of Digital CommunicationsCouncil of the European Union

P R O F. D R . C H R I S T OK A F T A N D J I E VProfessor on Marketing CommunicationsSofi a University, Bulgaria and Tomsk University, Russia

P R O F. D R . P A U LK E T E L A A RAssociate Professor in Communication ScienceRadboud University of Nijmegen, Netherlands

P R O F. D R . U L R I K EB U C H H O L ZProfessor of Corporate CommunicationHannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Germany

J U T T A K L A U E RSenior Manager New MediaPfi zer Consumer Healthcare GmbH

S E A N M A C N I V E NHead of Communications Innovations & TechnologySAP AG

P R O F. D R . M I R O L J U B R A D O J K O V I CProfessor of Communication TheoriesUniversity of Belgrade, Serbia

P R O F. D R . A R N EW E S T E R M A N NProfessor of Communications & MarketingInternational School of Management (ISM) Dortmund Germany

A N D R E A Z A J I C E KOnline and Social Media Managervoestalpine AG


J O S E P H P U R S EHead of Online CommunicationsMAN Diesel & Turbo

P R O F. D R . T H O R S T E NH O F M A N NDepartment Politics & Public AffairsQuadriga University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Chairman of the Jury

tion, implementation and effi ciency are the evaluation criteria the jury will use to assess the submitted entries before deciding on the winners.

A S A N O M I N E E , Y O U W I L L H A V E T H E O P P O R T U N I T Y

T O P R E S E N T Y O U R S U B M I S S I O N T O T H E J U R Y I N P E R S O N .A L L P R O J E C T S T H A T A R E

N O M I N A T E D F O R T H E S H O R T L I S T W I L L B E P R E S E N T E D A T T H E

J U R Y M E E T I N G H E L D I N B E R L I N O N S E P T E M B E R 2 0 T H .

The jury meeting will be held on September 20th at the Quadriga Campus in Berlin. It will be a stage for all Eu-ropean actors within the fi eld of online communication to present, discuss and evaluate their work. All submitted

projects which are nominated for the shortlist will have the opportunity, to convince the jury in a live presentation of their project. The jury will vote for the winners after the meeting has fi nished.

The Online Communication Campus

J U R Y M E E T I N G – P R E S E N T Y O U R P R O J E C T S T O C O M M U N I C A T I O N E X P E R T S

0 9 : 0 0 – 1 0 : 0 0

Online Campaigns by Companies

Community Presence

Corporate Website

Best Bachelor’s Thesis

Online Data Visualisation

Product Campaign

A G E N D A

Panel 1

Panel 2

Panel 3

Panel 4

Panel 5

Panel 6

1 0 : 0 0 – 1 1 : 0 0

Online Campaigns by Associations

Corporate Weblog

Intranet

Best Master’s Thesis

Twitter Profi le

Product Launch

1 1 : 0 0 – 1 2 : 0 0

Online Campaigns by NGOs

Digital Public Affairs

Online Newsroom

Image Film

Online Video Channel

Crisis Communication

1 2 : 0 0 – 1 3 : 0 0

Online Campaigns by Institutions

Digital Monitoring and Evaluation

Mobile and Apps

Web Video

Corporate Game

Viral Communication

Nominee presenting her project

L U N C H

1 4 : 0 0 – 1 5 : 0 0

Employer Branding

CSR Communication

Online Community

Digital Annual Report

Online Competition

Internal Communication

A G E N D A

Panel 1

Panel 2

Panel 3

Panel 4

Panel 5

Panel 6

1 5 : 0 0 – 1 6 : 0 0

Web Magazine

B2B Communication

Recruiting Campaign

Online Newsletter

Online Event

1 6 : 0 0 – 1 7 : 0 0 ( G R A N D J U R Y )

Social Media Campaign of the Year

Online Strategy of the Year

Innovation of the Year

1 3 : 0 0 – 1 4 : 0 0

September 20th 2013 in Berlin

Tough descission to make - the jury revises the projects

Running parallel to the jury meeting on September 20th 2013, the Digital Communication Symposium will take place at the Quadriga Campus. This event is an excellent opportunity to meet other communication experts and to exchange insights and views on both a practical and an academic level. In keynotes and discussion panels, professionals from across Europe will present and discuss different approaches and research results on digital com-munication.

S Y M P O S I U M – L E A R N F R O M P E E R S A C R O S S E U R O P E


0 9 : 0 0 – 1 0 : 0 0

Arrival and Welcome

A G E N D A 1 0 : 0 0 – 1 1 : 0 0

Opening and Keynote

Future challenges in online communication

1 1 : 0 0 – 1 2 : 0 0

Best Case Session

Corporate Communications’ Best Friend: Getting the Best Out of Social Media

1 2 : 0 0 – 1 3 : 0 0

Panel Discussion

A key for building reputation: Online Communication fostering authenticity, credibility and dialogue.

L U N C H

1 4 : 0 0 – 1 6 : 0 0

Best Case Session

Racing for Success: Rolling Out Social Media Campaigns

A G E N D A 1 6 : 0 0 – 1 7 : 0 0

Panel Discussion

Boisterous, spectacular, fl ashy: Which organisations use viral campaigns, online competitions and corporate games? How do they work and why?

1 7 : 0 0 – 1 7 : 3 0

Keynote

New publics – new rules? Changing communication processes in organisations and their impact on the principles of professional communication

1 3 : 0 0 – 1 4 : 0 0

All participants presenting to the jury are also invited to take part in the symposium, and to contribute to a sub-stantive discourse about online communication and PR.

Central topics:• Channels and Targeting• Content and Issues• Controlling and Measurement

Members of the jury discussing the latest developments of online communication Discuss recent challenges with your peerDiscuss recent challenges with your peer

T H E P A R T I C I P A T I O N I N T H E J U R Y M E E T I N G

A N D S Y M P O S I U M I S C O M P L I M E N T A R Y A N D E X C L U S I V E T O S H O R T -

L I S T E D N O M I N E E S .

Gala Ceremony

J O I N U S F O R A N E X C I T I N G

E V E N I N G F U L L O F S U S P E N S E A N D

C E L E B R A T E Y O U R S U C C E S S A M O N G

Y O U R P E E R S .

Studying the programme of the Gala

Guest of the Gala Ceremony in 2011 Winner 2011 – MSL Amsterdam

Jury-Members Aurélie Valtat (l.) and Inta Brikse (r.)


Celebrating their success – Akzo Nobel, Winners 2012 Spectacular venues – the Gala of the DCAs

L O C A T I O N

Centrally located right next to the Potsdamer Platz , the Meistersaal is a fi rmly established part of the Media-City-Berlin. Today, as in the past, stars such as David Bowie, U2 and Depeche Mode have turned the Meistersaal into a modern legend. Heavily charged with inspiration, the Meistersaal is the venue of choice for all types of events.

C E R E M O N Y

The Digital Communication Awards ceremony will take place on Septem-ber 20th 2013 in Berlin. Shortlisted applicants, jury members and other leading communication profession-als from across the continent will gather for what will be both a fan-tastic networking opportunity and a celebration of Europe’s fi nest PR achievements.

The winners will be chosen after the shortlisted entrants in the 38 catego-ries have presented their projects in person to the jury. The jury meeting on the 20th of September is therefore the decisive element of the decision-making process.

Aftershow Party at the nhow Hotel BerlinReceiving congratulations – happy Winners 2011

ACCOMPLISHMENT

1 S O C I A L M E D I A C A M P A I G N O F T H E Y E A R

Professional social media campaigns use selected digital communication channels to place their messages where their target groups will see them, increasing their online pres-ence and reputation. The Digital Communication Award will honour the campaign which stands out from the crowd for its exceptional and in-novative concept in this category. The Social Media Campaign of the Year offers authentic and transparent com-munication, as well as professional campaign planning and objectives and evaluative evidence assessing its performance.

2 O N L I N E S T R A T E G Y O F T H E Y E A R

Modern online communication has an almost inexhaustible supply of instruments, tools, apps, games and channels. This Digital Communica-tion Award will honour a strategic concept in the digital domain which has managed the digital and media diversity in the online sector meaning-fully and rigorously, from the plan-ning stage through to implementa-tion and evaluation to achieve value creation.

3 I N N O V A T I O N O F T H E Y E A R

Without innovation nothing hap-pens. Even if the technical possibili-ties of online communication seem almost infi nite, creative and coura-geous thinkers are required to drive forward developments in the digital sector. This award honours ideas that

exploit the potential of digital media, fearlessly taking the road less-trav-elled, taking communications into uncharted territory and contributing to the development of online com-munication.

ONLINE CAMPAIGNS

4 C O M P A N I E S

With social media campaigns a com-pany can scatter focused and clear messages to their target groups using strategically selected digital commu-nication channels. It is important, however, to maintain a uniform appearance and to actively engage with users. The Digital Communica-tion Award in this category rewards the campaign which uses online tools to keep varied target groups well informed and mobilised.

5 A S S O C I A T I O N S

Organisations earn political and so-cial infl uence by bringing their issues onto the public agenda; the Internet facilitates this process by serving as a communication space that allows for the specifi c targeting of different seg-ments of the public. In this category, the Digital Communication Awards will reward the online campaign that serves to educate, inform and mo-bilise its audience and succeeds in combining the individual spirit of the message with the approach used.

6 N G O S

Campaigns by nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) have become an important strategic instrument, as NGOs increasingly use high-profi le campaigns to engage directly and in-

directly with their online audiences. The Digital Communication Award in the NGO category will be given to the online campaign that informs, mobilises, interacts and best succeeds in promoting their message both vir-tually and concretely to the public.

7 I N S T I T U T I O N S

Governments, ministries, authorities and administrations work in the pub-lic interest. Digital media channels open up a variety of possibilities for it. This category honours the online campaign which has best utilised the possibilities of digital communication for the purpose of enlightening the public debate.

8 B 2 B C O M M U N I C A T I O N

While the use of social media in B2C communication is recognised today as compulsory for any business, social media in B2B has not yet reached the same level of ubiquity. The formula-tion of strategic goals, the implemen-tation of creative ideas, continuous optimisation and intensive evaluation are therefore crucial. B2B communi-cations which best meets these crite-ria will be honoured with the Digital Communication Award 2013.

9 P R O D U C T C A M P A I G N

The infi nite amount of channels and opportunities presented by web 2.0 offer surprising new ways of com-municating products, whether you choose to focus solely on digital tools or develop an integrated product campaign. This category aims to honour innovation and success in communicating your existing product to a new target group.

Award Categories

1 0 P R O D U C T L A U N C H

A few years ago, the importance of communicating a product launch online was often ignored. Today, it is standard. Viral campaigns, full width presence in social communities, and digital exploration of new potential target groups are all key elements to a successful launch campaign. This cat-egory is aimed at the most innovative introduction of a new product, using the full scope of digital media.

1 1 R E C R U I T I N G C A M P A I G N

A successful recruitment strategy has a huge impact on a company‘s repu-tation. Innovative ideas and appropri-ate formats are key factors to a well thought-out ‘war for talents’ to attract future employees. The effi cient im-plementation of such an online strat-egy will be honoured with the Digital Communication Award 2013.

ONLINE STRATEGIES

1 2 V I R A L C O M M U N I C A T I O N

Effi cient viral communication cam-paigns take place outside the limits of traditional communication solutions. Viral communication requires analyti-cal consideration on the consequences of interaction with different segments of the public, and effective strategic planning as to how social media is to be used. The winning campaign will have succeeded in achieving an expo-nential distribution of messages within the relevant networks.

1 3 C R I S I S C O M M U N I C A T I O N

Social media channels provide new opportunities for stakeholders during

a crisis situation. This category seeks to reward the campaign that most ef-fectively used online tools and digital crisis strategies during an acute or emerging crisis, providing an excep-tional and transparent communica-tion performance.

1 4 I N T E R N A L C O M M U N I C A T I O N

Strategic employee communication in the digital age is increasingly done online, using in-house networks, Wikis, internal blogs and social media channels to create a wide range of possibilities. The Digital Communica-tion Award in this category will hon-our holistic and sustainable internal online communication that is ori-ented to the web-skills of employees, is accepted by the workforce and has an obvious effi ciency advantage.

1 5 D I G I T A L P U B L I C A F F A I R S

The public affairs profession is cur-rently facing a crucial challenge: IT-based methods are playing a major role in professional representation. This category will reward the digital public affairs approach that success-fully serves the online world, combin-ing the political and media space with the necessary expertise, experience, fi nesse and precision needed for the political process.

1 6 D I G I T A L M O N I T O R I N G A N D E V A L U A T I O N

The systematic evaluation of online communication provides insights into the communications habits of segments of the public and is an indispensable part of digital public relations. The evaluation of online

communication activities – and especially of social media activities – is a key challenge for professional communication management. The Digital Communication Award in this category will honour the monitoring and evaluation strategy which selects and evaluates online movements and opinions professionally and with the utmost fl exibility in order to achieve effective reputation management.

1 7 C S R C O M M U N I C A T I O N

Society’s acceptance of businesses is increasingly linked to their social activities. Corporate social responsi-bility practices give companies, and also non-profi t making organisations, an opportunity to contribute to the design and improvement of their societies through their social and en-vironmental commitment. This award will honour special communication in this fi eld. It is not concerned with the actual measures undertaken, but with having a credible, comprehensive and innovative communications approach.

1 8 E M P L O Y E R B R A N D I N G

Employer branding has been de-fi ned as the active management of a company’s image as seen through the eyes of its associates and potential hires. Successfully transporting this traditionally offl ine fi eld to the digital world is rewarded by the Digital Com-munication Awards in this category.

ONLINE MEDIA AND TOOLS

1 9 C O R P O R A T E W E B S I T E

The website provides the communica-tion backbone of a company, associa-


tion or institution. In the digital space, an organisation without a website cannot have online communication, regardless of scope and design. This category will reward an excellent web-site, whose content, navigation, func-tionality and design meet the highest standards, and fi t perfectly into the organisation’s communications goals.

2 0 D I G I T A L A N N U A L R E P O R T

Annual reports have evolved from the traditional printed format to digital publications which use modern, media-friendly technology to awaken emotions and set the scene for the readers. The award in this category will go to an in-novative report that possesses a variety of interactive options, never sacrifi c-ing quality and outstanding design, to actively involve its readers.

2 1 I N T R A N E T

Online communication and its instruments play an important role in internal communication, which is most often based on an intranet site. This category searches for a perfectly manageable user interface, high speed and optimised internal infor-mation fl ows and organisational proc-esses. The winning intranet presence is adjusted to individual needs and ensures transparency in all functions.

2 2 O N L I N E N E W S R O O M

The traditional press room is now increasingly becoming a social media newsroom. Multi-media offerings, including videos, podcasts, vodcasts and news in various formats can be subscribed to via RSS feeds, replac-ing a collection of press releases. This category will reward the online

newsroom which best presents to its relevant reference groups, taking advantage of user-oriented content in a simple, well-structured digital form.

2 3 C O R P O R A T E W E B L O G

Corporate weblogs live through the personality of their authors and the creative freedom available for targeted information and opinion exchange. The prize in this category will be given to a weblog that has managed to walk the fi ne line between blogging and representing the brand, either inter-nally or externally. The winning blog will create credibility and authenticity, and construct a stable relationship between sender and receiver.

2 4 O N L I N E C O M M U N I T Y

Vibrant online communities include a number of members who feel part of the virtual community and con-nect and interact with each other on an independent level. The winner of this category will present an online community that is based on a func-tioning infrastructure, promoting a team spirit within the community and taking into account the needs and wishes of the members.

2 5 M O B I L E A N D A P P S

Smartphones play an increasingly important role in digital communica-tion: they ensure continuous avail-ability and the ability to intervene in digital events at any time. Apps offer extensive functionality and enable effi cient use of various web applica-tions. The Digital Communication Award in this category recognises out-standing and pioneering innovation in the fi eld of mobile and Apps.

2 6 O N L I N E E V E N T

Events in the virtual world are in-creasingly important, benefi ting from the distribution of digital communi-ties, which are unlimited by space. This category seeks to honour the series of online events that stand out from the crowd for their creative planning and implementation, and the high levels of involvement of their participants.

2 7 W E B M A G A Z I N E

Web magazines win over their read-ers with professional content. They can be specialised, aiming at specifi c groups or professionals, or more general in nature, addressing a larger section of the public. The winning web magazine will impress with its integrated strategy and manage to secure a permanent place in the com-petitive media landscape.

2 8 O N L I N E N E W S L E T T E R

The appearance of newsletters can vary greatly, from the classic text mail with a teaser text and links, to digital and animated magazines. Much is possible and diversity is common. The main factor in the success of a newsletter is how it tailors its content and purpose to its audience, and this category will recognise creative and innovative achievements in this area.

2 9 I M A G E F I L M

Image fi lms can achieve unexpected popularity on the Internet. The aim is to increase the profi le and presence of its sender, which it can do through pictures and music, inspiring positive emotions and building confi dence

Award Categories

and curiosity. The prize will go to the submission which, by considering its use of modern digital features and high technology, rises above the other entrants with its original content and thematic approach.

3 0 W E B V I D E O

As internet users are less and less will-ing to read long texts, videos are an excellent way to bring one’s message across. Be it a testimonial or demon-stration of a software, a fi lmed lecture or something funny or intriguing, people enjoy watching movies. Realis-ing this is crucial for companies. The Digital Communication Award will go to the video which convinces the jury with such qualities as a great story, strong pictures and surprising elements.

3 1 O N L I N E D A T A V I S U A L I -S A T I O N A N D I N F O R M A T I O N D E S I G N

A concept that can be understood at fi rst sight - that is the goal of well-designed graphs and fi gures. Given people’s reluctance to read lengthy texts, visualisation of the key content of websites or articles are becoming more and more important. The Digit-al Communication Award goes to the project/campaign which works with appealing elements of data visualisa-tion and information design, which provides the reader with a variety of attractions.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY

3 2 C O M M U N I T Y P R E S E N C E

A target group-oriented community site is part of a modern online com-

munication strategy, and characterised by inclusiveness, authenticity, credibil-ity and transparency. The prize in this category will go to the online commu-nity presence which, in the context of individual communication and against the backdrop of target group needs, engages in dialogue with its communi-ty while presenting adapted and attrac-tive messages to expand its infl uence.

3 3 T W I T T E R P R O F I L E

Microblogging has successfully found its way into online communication. Subtle, authentic communication over this channel requires both an awareness of the needs of the target group, and an awareness of senti-ments conveyed. The most innova-tive and effi cient microblog, using straight-to-the-point information, will win the prize in this category.

3 4 O N L I N E V I D E O C H A N N E L ( Y O U T U B E , V I M E O E T C . )

With the help of the world’s larg-est video community, international companies are able to both com-municate online and increase their visibility. The Digital Communication Award winner in the Online Video Channel category will be the com-pany that engages their audience with high quality content, characterised by popularity in terms of subscribers and views, unique design and interaction with viewers via online comments.

3 5 O N L I N E C O M P E T I T I O N

Online competitions promote a hands-on approach to creating or fos-tering identifi cation with the sender, and to supporting brand and image building. This category will seek an

online competition that fi ts seam-lessly into the overall strategy of the company, fully exploiting the digital possibilities in this area in a creative and innovative way.

3 6 C O R P O R A T E G A M E S

Online games have always been enor-mously popular, and are therefore the ideal tool for the furtherance of a corporate identity online. The Digital Communication Award for Corporate Game will honour the game that most effectively manages to blend informa-tion into their offering while using the latest standards of web development.

ACADEMIC RESEARCH

3 7 B E S T B A C H E L O R ’ S T H E S I S

Bachelor’s dissertations which focus on online or digital communication, while displaying an academic ap-proach and clear practical relevance, can be submitted in this category. The professional relevance and in-novative nature of the thesis, coupled with a sound evaluation of perform-ance, will be the key factors in the assessment of the entries.

3 8 B E S T M A S T E R ’ S T H E S I S

Submissions in this category should contribute to the clarifi cation of sci-entifi c theory or application-related problems and gaps in research in the fi eld of online communications or PR management. The honoured entries will provide a thorough academic treatment of the subject, including a consideration of the current state of research in the area and a strong and clear focus on application.


The following are eligible to enter the Digital Communication Awards: agencies and companies, associa-tions and NGOs, political parties, institutions and individuals in the fi eld of online communication.

T E R M S A N D C O N D I T I O N S

Any project created or published between July 1st 2012 and June 30th 2013 may participate in the competi-tion. Some of the work must have occurred during this time frame, but it is not necessary for it to have been completed during the eligibility period. The submission deadline is July 4th 2013.Applications to the Digital Commu-nication Awards must be purchased. The fi rst application costs 240 Euro plus VAT and each additional applica-tion costs 190 Euro plus VAT. Invoices will be issued upon receipt of the completed application documents.

S U B M I S S I O N

Either the client or the implementing agency can apply. Should a client and its agency submit the same project, the submission will be considered as a joint application. All entries must be submitted in digital format. Applica-tions and all required documents should be uploaded on www.digital-awards.eu. All information and materi-als that should be included with each submission are briefl y outlined below:

1. ApplicationFor each application general informa-tion about the submitter and submit-ted work are requested.

2. SummaryFurthermore a short description of no more than 2,000 characters (including spaces) must be provided including the following:• Reasons for the initialisation/

starting situation• Objectives of the project• Strategic considerations• Details of the implementation• Summary and evaluation of results

achieved

3. Main Features of the ProjectEach submitted entry should entail the following information:• Time frame of the project• Budget

(if this information is confi dential, please mark “not to be published”)

• Number of employees who worked on the project

• Online link to the project (if applicable)

• Summary of the project at a maximum length of 400 characters (including spaces)

4. Additional Material and WeblinksAccompanying materials are limited to three documents. Therefore, ad-ditional illustrative material should be carefully selected. Examples of possible illustrative documents are planning documents,

press releases, images, PowerPoint presentations (no more than 10 slides) and movies. One document equates to one fi le.In addition, you can specify up to six links to websites, social media platforms, intranet sites, or online videos.

The following formats are acceptable:• For texts: pdf• For images: jpg/jpeg, gif, pngFor images: jpg/jpeg, gif, pngFor images:• For videos/movies: For videos/movies: mov, fl v, avi, For videos/movies: mov, fl v, avi, For videos/movies:

mpg/mpeg (in the highest possi-ble quality, maximum 50 MB, or as a link to a website where the movie can be seen)

• For presentations: For presentations: pdf, ppt

S E L E C T I O N P R O C E S S

After the application deadline has passed, the jury will review all submis-sions and determine a shortlist of three to fi ve nominees in each cat-egory. The nominees will be informed immediately. In an all-day jury meet-ing held on September 20th 2013 in Berlin, the shortlisted entrants will present their projects in a 10 minute oral presentation. The presentation is an integral part of the application process, and is therefore a prerequi- site for winning the Digital Com-munication Awards. Should it not be possible to present your project in person, the jury will choose the next best-rated application from the pre-shortlisted entrants. The award ceremony will take place on the same evening at the gala event in Berlin.

Application Information

S E L E C T I O N C R I T E R I A

The jury will judge the applications on the following criteria:

Main Idea: The jury will consider the authenticity and credibility of the project in general.

Strategy and Integration of Commu-nication Tools: The jury will assess the strategic approach of each entry and the fi t between the chosen strategy and the development of the project, as well as the intermeshing of the various online tools.

Innovation: The jury will assess the question of whether new technical or strategic methods were pursued.

Creativity: The jury will judge the creativity of the project both in con-cept and implementation.

Results and Effi ciency: The jury will consider the results of a project in re-lation to the stated targets, as well as the resources used towards achieving the results. (e.g. coverage, sales and user numbers, evaluation and survey results)

A C A D E M I C E N T R I E S

Special conditions apply to the submissions for Academic Research categories. Please visit our website for more information.For questions please contact:

Helge Schlü[email protected] +49 (0) 30/84 85 91 24fax +49 (0) 30/84 85 92 00www.digital-awards.eu


Reasons to take part

1 S T R E N G T H E N Y O U R P R O F I L E I N T H E O N L I N E F I E L D

The Digital Communication Awards are the only European awards that honour services in the fi eld of digital communication. As a prize winner, your skills and competencies in on-line communications are certifi ed by a competent and prestigious jury.

2 C O M P E T E W I T H O N L I N E C O M M U N I C A T I O N P R O F E S S I O N A L S

The competition shows the status quo in online communication and summa-rises and presents the latest technolo-gies and achievements. By entering the competition, you have the unique opportunity to compete with other professionals and leading industry players.

3 P R E S E N T Y O U R W O R K T O T H E J U R Y A N D T O A L A R G E A U D I E N C E

The Digital Communication Awards give you the opportunity to present yourself and your work before a prestigious jury. During the awards ceremony you can position your work before a large audience at the heart of the communications community.

4 M O T I V A T E Y O U R T E A M

A Digital Communication Award is recognition of the work of your employ-ees in the digital domain. The prize, awarded by renowned experts, honours your team as experts in the fi eld of social media communication and acts as motivation for future projects.

5 P U B L I C I S E Y O U R S U C C E S S

A nomination for – or win at – the Digital Communication Awards will inform your stakeholders of the suc-cess of your work in digital commu-nications. Your participation at the award ceremony will become a topic of conversation throughout the on-line and communications industry.

6 D I S C O V E R Y O U R P O T E N T I A L

The awards are a seal of quality awarded to leading personalities in the communication fi eld. In this re-spect, winning an award will give you self-confi dence and security in the quality of your work that will with-stand the highest criticism.

7 C E L E B R A T E S U C C E S S W I T H Y O U R C O L L E A G U E S

Take part in the Digital Communica-tion Awards ceremony and celebrate the growth and prestige of online communication with leading industry actors. Take the opportunity to main-tain contacts, meet new colleagues and discuss innovative ideas with like-minded people.

8 C O M B I N E B E S T P R A C T I C E S W I T H S C I E N T I F I C R E S E A R C H

The Digital Communication Awards foster the dialogue between practi-tioners and academics and strength-en the links between communication practices and scientifi c research.

Winners 2012The proud winners of the Digital Communication

Awards 2012 present their trophies. Will you be standing on the stage this year?

Quadriga University of Applied SciencesWerderscher Markt 13

D-10117 BerlinPhone +49 (0) 30/44 72 94 00

Fax +49 (0) 30/44 72 93 00



Digital Communication Awards 2013

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Transcript of Digital Communication Awards 2013