The Office of Communications and Marketing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has received top honors in creative competitions for marketing and communications professionals from two international organizations and one statewide organization.
The office received a Platinum award, the highest honor, from the international MarCom Awards for its messaging and media relations efforts to spread the word about UTHSC’s extensive efforts to help the community battle the coronavirus pandemic. The entry, titled “UTHSC Battles COVID-19,” included the university’s ongoing efforts to provide essential coronavirus information and resources for the Mid-South community and statewide.
The entry included the office’s as well as college communicators’ cumulative work on media and publicity, the launch and maintenance of the UTHSC website on Coronavirus Disease Information and Resources, digital work, internal and external signage, and internal and external messaging.
“The Communications and Marketing team jumped into action as soon as COVID started heading our way,” said Sally Badoud, MBA, assistant vice chancellor of the Office of Communications and Marketing. “It was literally all hands on deck as we simultaneously worked together on communications, designs, websites, and social media campaigns to keep our campuses, communities, and the state informed of constant changes and as safe as possible from this deadly virus. I could not be more proud and excited to work with this dedicated team of communicators and marketers every day. Our work was more than marketing or publicity, it was a mission to keep the public informed and safe.”
MarCom recognized the 2019-2020 Annual Report and three college alumni magazines – for the Colleges of Dentistry, Health Professions, and Medicine– with MarCom Gold awards, the second highest honor. Earlier in 2020, the college alumni magazines were updated with a new cover masthead design and other style elements.
In addition, MarCom recognized photography by Natalie Brewer, MBA, digital content strategist, from the “White Coats for Black Lives” demonstration with a MarCom Gold award. The event was organized by UTHSC medical students and residents and the Bluff City Medical Society to display solidarity against racism. Several hundred students, physicians, health care professionals, and community supporters gathered for the demonstration held in June.
The annual MarCom Awards recognize outstanding achievements in concept, direction, design, and production of marketing and communications materials and programs. Winners were selected from over 328 categories in print, web, video, and strategic communications. It’s one of the oldest, largest, and most prestigious creative competitions in the world. MarCom is sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.
In addition to MarCom, the communications efforts surrounding the university’s coronavirus work also won a Gold award, the top honor, from the Tennessee College Public Relations Association (TCPRA) in the “Special Event More Than 7 Days” category. The entry was titled “UTHSC Battles COVID-19.” The 2020 TCPRA Communications Awards recognized creative campaigns developed and created by Tennessee higher education institutions. Entries for the competition were judged by the editorial and advertising staff of the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The Office of Communications and Marketing received a third major award for the publicity and creative work around the university’s ongoing efforts to keep the community informed with the latest updates surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, given by the Hermes Creative Awards. “UTHSC Battles COVID-19” received the Gold award. The Hermes Creative Awards is one of the oldest and largest creative competitions. This year, 100% of all entry fees for COVID-19 related projects were donated to the American Nurses Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund.