Queen City PR Awards

PRSA Charlotte 2025 QCPR Crown Awards

 

The Queen City PR Crown Awards are the Charlotte region's highest honor of public relations activities. It is awarded to practitioners who, in the judgement of other public relations professionals, have successfully researched, planned, implemented and evaluated communication campaigns with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness.

The Queen City PR Awards will honor strategic PR campaigns in:

• Community Relations
• Crisis Communications
• Events / Observations
• Financial Communications
• Integrated communications
• Internal Communications
• Issues Management
• Multicultural/Diversity and Inclusion
• Shoestring Budget Campaign

Please note that our award categories are divided into three subcategories:

A. Business Products/Services
B. Government/Associations/Nonprofit Organizations
C. Solo Practitioners

The following categories highlight communication tactics and will be evaluated based on the tactic's successful execution to reach/engage an audience and/or support successful outcomes of an overall campaign.  There are NO subcategories for these options.

• Brand Journalism
• Digital/Social Media
• Media Relations
• Print
• Video

Campaigns: Who Can Enter

Public relations and communications professionals from across the Charlotte region are encouraged to submit work that was completed anytime from July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. Entries should demonstrate outstanding skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The awards are open to corporate communications and marketing communications teams, public relations agencies, public affairs firms, investor relations agencies, publicists, nonprofits, PR educational professionals, government PR teams and solo practitioners based in the Charlotte Designated Market Area (DMA). Campaigns may be executed in markets outside of the Charlotte DMA, but the professionals who planned and executed the work must be based in the Charlotte Designated Market Area (DMA). 

Individual Awards:
Click on the award below to submit an individual entry.

Pegasus Award: Given to an individual outside of the public relations profession who demonstrates superior knowledge and use of public relations for the betterment of our community.

Infinity Award: Given to a public relations professional whose character, career and service represent the highest standards and who excels in the practice and/or has accomplished an outstanding one-time achievement. 

Mosaic Award: Given to a public relations professional who greatly and consistently champions the diversity and inclusion cause through work in the PR sector. 

New Pros Award: Given to a new public relations professional and member who exemplifies
strong professional capabilities, leadership qualities, service to the public relations community and a respected character. PRSA members with a maximum of seven years of professional public relations experience qualify for this honor. 

Download Full Awards Information 

Fine print:

JUDGING
PRSA Charlotte is partnering with the Public Relations Association of Lousiana to judge our 2025 campaign entries. This year's judges will use this rubric as a guide when evaluating each entry. PRSA Charlotte board of directors will select the recipient of this year's Pegasus Award, New Pros Award, and Mosaic Award, and past Infinity Award winners will select the recipient of the Infinity Award. When judging is complete and winners have been selected, finalists and individual award recipients will be notified.

NOTIFICATION OF AWARDS
When judging is complete and winners have been selected, finalists and individual award recipients will be notified.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Public relations and communications professionals from across the Charlotte region are encouraged to submit work completed from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, that demonstrates outstanding skill, creativity and resourcefulness.

The awards are open to corporate communications and marketing communications teams, public relations agencies, public affairs firms, investor relations agencies, publicists, nonprofits, PR educational professionals, government PR teams and solo practitioners based in the Charlotte Designated Market Area (DMA). Campaigns may be executed in markets outside of the Charlotte DMA, but the professionals who planned and executed the work must be based in the Charlotte Designated Market Area (DMA). 

ELIGIBILITY
At least some part of the campaign must have occurred from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Programs tend to have better chances of winning near their completion, when evaluation against initial objectives can be measured.

ENTRY FEES AND DEADLINES
Call for entries opens March 10, 2025, and closes June 30, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST. Entries received by May 31, at 5 p.m. EST, will receive the Early Bird rate. All entry fees are below:

PRSA Charlotte Member (Early Bird): $125 for first entry; $100 for additional entries
PRSA Charlotte Member (after 5 p.m. May 31 - June 30 at 5 p.m. EST): $150 for first entry; $125 for additional entries

Nonmember (Early Bird): $175 for first entry; $150 for additional entries
Nonmember (after 5 p.m. May 31 - June 30 at 5 p.m. EST): $200 for first entry; $175 for additional entries