Categories exploring the breadth of the profession

▲Accomplishment

At the end of the day, accomplishment shows where you have been and hints at where you are going. Established organisations continue to show us how their experience and expertise is brought to life in their work, whilst new organisations and professionals continue to push the boundaries of communication with fresh innovations.
The top achievers in this category will be honoured for their hard work and dedication, a small reward for the enormity of their impact on the European scene.

Best Campaign

Campaigns embody the essence of strategy in pushing a product, promoting a company or bringing a politician into prominence in the public consciousness. Presenting a core idea through various approaches and angles, the execution of a well thought-out campaign brings the message home and allows its audience to identify with its subject.

Newcomer of the Year: Agency

It has been said that one of the most important relationships in communications is that between a client and his or her agency. Gaining the trust of clients takes time for new agencies, but some have managed to close the gap quickly and effectively, earning the trust of clients everywhere.

Agency of the Year

Deriving from the Latin 'agentia', which means 'doing', agencies strive in just such a direction. Though there are many organisations in the world with just as many functions, there are some which are beyond compare. Whether it be through helping others or striving for the betterment of civilisation, these companies stand above the rest.

▲Industries and Institutions

Free trade, innovation, investment and all the potential of technology continue to foster worldwide economic growth. Companies have been primarily responsible for much of human progress in the past several hundred years. Fortunately, all this change has also brought with it organisations which help oversee and maintain the balance between business and ethics. With these awards, we recognise those individuals who have most effectively connected their industries and institutions to the rest of the world.

Automotive & Transport

Not just about fast cars, the automotive industry has propelled itself into a position as an essential part of most individuals' everyday life. Efficient and reliable transport is, of course, a necessity for everyone, regardless of what form it takes.

Energy

Few sectors have seen as much debate and fluctuation as the energy sector in recent years. Climate change is on everybody's agenda, and poses a significant challenge for the energy sector. How has it dealt with this fundamental change in its PR activities? And where has this change been managed most successfully?

Technology & Consumer Electronics

Technology courses through our lives at pace which will most likely only continue to accelerate. It has become an integral part of the framework of the society we live in today, appearing in all facets of it, from something as fundamental as teaching a child how to read, to the ambition of sending people to other planets. Without technology, the advancement of civilisation would be merely theoretical.

Telecommunications

Practically symbiotic with the computer industry, the telecommunications industry never ceases to introduce new and indispensable communications tools into our lives, giving us all the opportunity to get connected in the new global village.

Finance

As the saying goes, money makes the world go round. Communicating the reasoning and results of your firm's investments to shareholders has never been an easy task, and with more and more at stake on the interconnected global market, financial communications call for the utmost precision, and as much pre-planning for the unexpected as possible.

Health

No matter what your circumstances might be, success is of little use without good health. When you do not have it, even the greatest things in life tend to appear merely mundane by comparison. The health industry is literally of vital importance, then, to society.

Fashion & Beauty

Though the inside is what counts, the outside is what everyone loves to look at. Millions of people tune in every day to find out the latest fashions coming off the line or the newest beauty tips. The world of fashion and beauty is an ever-growing business, one that puts a proverbial hand on your shoulder as you look in the mirror and says, you look good!

Sport & Lifestyle

Sport and lifestyle choices are central to the human experience. The variety of sport and lifestyle defining activities available to us helps us to realise our potential and generally just keep life interesting.

Entertainment & Culture

Not just there to chase away boredom, entertainment allows us to live out our fantasies as well as to relieve a little stress along the way. Through various aspects of entertainment, we can engage with the cultural practices of a variety of other nations, too.

Travel & Tourism

Communicating the value of geographical locations may be as simple as promoting the very best and most unique aspects of a culture, or as complex as trying to draw visitors back to a country with a tarnished reputation or landscape damaged by weather or political unrest.

Food & Beverage

Necessities of life, both food and drink play an important role, as of course without one or the other, it would be impossible to survive. Though one of the most basic human need, nourishment is also enjoyable in itself, and offers a wide variety for every consumer to choose from.

Ecology & Environment

In our lifetime we will most likely see environmental concerns move from their current place as a concern to an integral part of how we function on a daily basis, from the products we choose to use to the candidates we choose to vote for.

Government Agencies & Parties

These groups are entrusted to carry out the will of the people and work towards the good of society as a whole. Their ability to be in tune with societys needs and connect with the populace is what gets them in office in the first place - and keeps them there in the long run.

Associations

Associations have the challenging task of combining the interests of various stakeholders, and communicating them to their varied partners. With this award we recognise those associations that transcend the competition, efficiently and effectively communicating their messages to their members, political decision makers and the public.

Non-Profit Organisations

NPOs help keep the balance right in terms of allocation of worldwide resources and bringing global plight and injustices to public attention. Delivering this information to the intended audience, which consists of every one of us, is also an enormous challenge.

▲Communications

Amidst the tangled web of organisational jargon, communications is vital in connecting companies with their audiences, breaking through the barriers of confusion. In recent years, communication has had to become diversified in order to gain worldwide appeal. It is the professionals behind these efforts who work especially hard to overcome obstacles as they traverse new global frontiers.

International Communication

Facing difficult challenges such as cultural, linguistic and religious barriers, international communication attempts to bridge the gaps which inhibit nations from communicating with each other effectively.

Multicultural Communication

Taking on the complexity of different cultures, successful multicultural communication can effectively eases the tension caused by cultural barriers. It is now vital for agencies and organisations to truly understand the cultures of the many countries or regions of the world, whether they are building working relationships or establishing their customer base.

Change Communication

For better or worse, change is all around us - it is inevitable. Change communication helps to make the transition easier by using effective employee communication and sending a solid message to stakeholders, in order to ensure that the change runs as smoothly as possible.

Mergers & Acquisitions

When two organisations join forces, there is much to be gained on both sides. The company or organisation's size increases, as well as the added opportunity for a larger client base on a grander scale. Whether great or small, a merger or acquisition can be an asset to any company or organisation.

Crisis Communication

Things don't always go as planned, and when they go wrong, crisis communications step in and help to guide the company or organisation through rough waters to a safe and secure position.

Financial Communication

Money and what to do with it are some of the most talked about subjects in the world. Correspondence between stakeholders and organisations is held together by the interconnectivity financial communication provides.

Launch

When emerging with a new commodity, every company hopes that their product will be well received, and surpass expectations. A smooth and targeted product launch is critical to its success, but creating such a scenario not only needs a great product, but great minds behind its introduction to the market.

Relaunch

What's old is new again! Sometimes products that have faded in the public consciousness have the opportunity to spring back to life, finding a new audience to appeal to. The relaunch campaign drives the product to new heights, rejuvenating it for a newly receptive marketplace.

HR Communication

Employees are the most valuable part of any organisation. If a company is a clock, then they are the gears that keep the whole structure running properly. In reality, fluid communication is paramount for understanding goals and functioning well together.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Whether we like them or not, rules are a part of life, and this is as true for corporations as for any individual. The code of ethics and standards corporations undertake to better themselves raises the bar not only for the benefit of the organisation, but also for the betterment of the community.

Event

Pulling off a successful event allows the reputation of an organisation to live up to its hype, or to gain further esteem. Connecting the dots to make this happen requires the utmost planning and quality decision-making skills.

Public Affairs

Successfully reaching out and appealing to the appropriate individuals for the good of your organisation and its interests is a delicate process. Lobbying requires tact, patience, perseverance and a clever approach, especially when economics and politics are so intertwined.

Issues & Reputation Management

Making sure that the organisation is on target with where it needs to be in terms of its public image is a never-ending challenge. Remaining aware, sensitive and responsive to issues which might affect your organisation's reputation is a vital part of this practice.

Evaluation

Careful analysis and measurement of what your organisation is accomplishing in terms of communications is an incredibly complex task, but to ensure a bright future it is an absolutely necessary one.

▲Corporate Media

There are many ways in which to deliver content, and with the acceleration of technology, corporations are finding more and more media outlets to get their message across. There is great value to be found in understanding how and with which medium to communicate with stakeholders. From podcasts to wikis, companies have a new tool set at their fingertips to get their message across both locally and globally.

Annual Report

Creating the right blend of honesty and optimism is the key to communicating information in any corporation's annual report. Such a balance requires the ability to keep a level head during both the good and bad times of an organisation's life-cycle.

Company Brochure

A representative and concise overview of an organisation's philosophy, goals, accomplishments and uniqueness should be fine-tuned and summarised in its company brochure.

Corporate Advertising

Arguably one of the most important vehicles for promoting a firm is its ability to advertise itself. Getting the message, angle and appeal just right to uphold both the corporate image and culture is absolutely key.

Corporate TV & Video

Translating the values and goals of the company onto film is the challenge when creating a video which will accurately and successfully represent the company to stakeholders and interested parties, as well as attracting the best employees.

Employee Publication

Capturing the essence of an organisation and why it is a great place to work is more difficult that it sounds. The employee publication must bring the reality of all the organisation's best aspects to the printed page.

External Publication

Producing concise, accurate and tactful information, whether it be from business to business or business to client, is the very core of external publications.

Intranet

Having a healthy communications and information resource in the form of a highly efficient intranet is important regardless of the size of an organisation. The Intranet connects the organisation to itself and to its client and partner base, providing a multi-directional information sharing platform.

Podcast

Having a series of informative and constantly released podcasts has gained popularity both in terms of internal and external communications in recent years. For now, this medium has a solid foothold for integrating itself into communications of the present time, as well as those of the near future.

Blog

Whether it is an employee or a CEO blogging, a constantly-updated and information-rich blog can be a definite communications asset both internally and externally. The blogging boom may be levelling-off but through their unique voice, a few blogs stand out in the crowd for their value and insights into business and strategy.

Website

There are millions of designs and user-interfaces for websites, but some are notably more effective than others. Through aesthetic originality, functionality, and user-friendliness, a successful website can often be key to boosting the success of a company or organisation.

Social Media

Due to the rapid development in the use of Social Media to achieve communication goals and reach stakeholders, a new category has been introduced for the European Excellence Awards 2009. The Online Communications/Social Media category will award those who are most proactive and successful in using these exciting channels to accomplish excellent results in their public relations work.

▲Continent

Despite globalisation, most countries still run more or less according to their local customs and standards. Whether it is making chocolate or building cars, each country also has its speciality. Then there are the companies and agencies which strive to take a good thing and make it that much better. It is they that have represented excellence in their respective nations.

United Kingdom, Ireland

France

Spain, Portugal

Italy, Malta

Germany

Switzerland, Austria

Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg

Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland

Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia

Poland, Russia

Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia

Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Greece, Cyprus

Turkey