
The Queen City PR (QCPR) Awards recognize the excellent work of Charlotte-area public relations practitioners and organizations. Winning entries receive the Crown award, the highest public relations professional honor in our region. QCPR also recognizes community individuals with its annual Infinity Award, Pegasus Award, New Pros Award and Mosaic Award.
Get ready for multiple awards
The QCPR Crowns are modeled on PRSA's Silver Anvil and Bronze Anvil Awards so entries can be easily adapted for submission in PRSA's national awards program the following year.
Save the Date: Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023
This year's awards ceremony will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m. at Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts. Special thanks to our sponsor Duke Energy for supporting our event!

"I'd never written a PR award entry before, but I followed the template from PRSA Charlotte, had a colleague review it, and to my surprise -- I won! As someone new to the PR profession, (but with years of experience in broadcast journalism), it was a validating moment that I am successful in my new career. The trophy is also pretty cool!" - Dana Ellison, Atrium Health, 2022 QCPR Best in Show for "COVID: Two Years Later Commemoration"
Click on the award below to get started on the application!
Crown Award: Awarded across three subcategories (Business Products/Services, Government/Associations/Nonprofit Organizations, Solo Practitioner), 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 judgment of other public relations professionals, have successfully researched, planned, implemented and evaluated communication campaigns with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. Categories:
- Integrated Communications
- Community Relations
- Crisis Communications
- Organizational Relations/Internal Communications
- Shoestring Budget Campaign
- Video
- Digital/Social Media
- Brand Journalism
- Print
- Multicultural/Diversity and Inclusion
- Influencer/Blogger Relations
- Events/Observances
- Media Relations
Individual Awards:
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.
Fine print:
JUDGING
PRSA Charlotte is partnering with the Wisconsin chapter of PRSA to judge our 2023 campaign entries. 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 August 1, 2022 through July 30, 2023, 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). Additionally, entries will only be accepted for campaigns designed for execution in the Charlotte DMA.
ELIGIBILITY
At least some part of the campaign must have occurred from August 1, 2022 through July 30, 2023. 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 July 1, 2023, and closes August 11, 2023, at 5 p.m. EST. All entry fees are below:
Standard Entry Fee (July 14 - Aug. 11 at 5 p.m. EST)
- PRSA Charlotte Member: $150 for first entry; $125 for additional entry
- Non-Member: $200 for first entry; $175 for additional entry
Late Entry Fee (August 12 - August 18 at 5 p.m. EST)
- PRSA Charlotte Member: $200 for first entry; $175 for additional entry
- Non-Member: $250 for first entry; $225 for additional entry