Polly Bond Award Categories:

General Excellence categories are judged for the broad effort of a publication or media tool, rather than a specific issue or piece. For most of these categories, that means a full year’s worth of work, with entries offering several samples to judge a publication or tool. For Best Campaign, 3-6 pieces should be included, from a variety of media.

a. Best Website

Entries will be judged on layout, user experience, content, consistency of message and visual elements, and successful use of the website to achieve organizational goals. A successful entry will describe the communication goals that the website seeks to address, demonstrate the efforts to achieve the goals and provide metrics of success (both qualitative and quantitative). Entries need not necessarily be newly-built websites, but should demonstrate that the site is actively managed to continually engage users and updates were made throughout the year, either in design, function, or content. 

b. Best Print Newsletter/Magazine

c. Best Email/Digital Newsletter/Magazine

Periodicals published on a regular schedule (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) may be submitted. Publications which have been printed for mailing or other distribution should be entered in the print category, even if they have also been distributed digitally. Publications which have been distributed ONLY in digital format should be entered in the digital category. Awards will be given in each of the divisions (diocese/organization and parish/cathedral). Three different issues (not necessarily in consecutive order) from 2022 must be submitted. NOTE: If you have a new publication and have produced only two issues rather than the required three, you may submit those two. Please indicate on the entry form that this is the case. If you are submitting an annual publication which, by definition, only has one issue in 2022, please also note that.

Entries will be judged on content, appropriateness for audience, timeliness and visual design.

Entries also will define the audience, specify the date of publication and describe the importance of the publication in the organization’s overall communication plan.

All entries in the periodical categories should be submitted digitally, either as PDFs, or using a link to a platform such as Issuu or Yudu.

d. Best Campaign

Best Campaign entries carry one message/theme throughout multiple pieces. Entries can be comprised of 3-6 pieces, and must include at least two different channels or media (IE: You may submit a banner, a booklet, and 3 e-newsletters). Entries will be judged on creativity and innovation, as well as the effort’s effectiveness in achieving organizational communication goals. A successful entry will describe the goals that the campaign seeks to address and the central theme, and demonstrate the efforts to achieve the goals, and provide metrics of success (both qualitative and quantitative). Entries must include images of or links to work.

Regular categories ($20 fee per entry):

II. Audio/Video

a. Long-form Video

Entries will be judged on content, quality of production, creativity, technical skill and overall presentation of the final product. Entries should specify the audience and date of the video’s release. Please submit a file or direct link to one episode for evaluation.

b. Short-form Video

This category is for videos 10 minutes or shorter, and will be judged on content, quality of production, technical skill and overall presentation of the final product. Please specify the audience and date of the video’s release. While judging will take into account contracted support for all categories, this category historically receives a high number of submissions with contractor support. Judging will take this into account to ensure comparable works are judged against each other. Videos created for social media platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram that specifically use those platforms' editing features and environment should be submitted to the social media post category. Short-form videos produced as separate projects that happen to be posted to social media platforms should be submitted here.

c. Podcast

Entries will be judged on content, quality of production, creativity, technical skill and overall presentation of the final product. Entries should specify the audience and date of the video’s release. Please submit a file or direct link to one episode for evaluation.

III. Writing

Writing categories are divided according to content, not medium of publication. Blog entries are eligible.

a. News

An article that reports the basics and details of an event within or relevant to your organization.

b. Feature

A human-interest article on a particular event, person, or place relevant to your organization.

c. Commentary/Reflection

An opinion on the subject matter, or addressing a theme through interpretive writing, or delivering a reaction to an event or topic relevant to your organization. This can include reflection on personal experience or a wider current issue with regard to the Christian faith. Each entry should connect human experience with the divine, through interpretation of scripture and/or interpretation of one’s faith in daily life. Books are not acceptable.

IV. Visual Arts

Visual Arts categories are divided according to content, not medium of publication.

a. Photography

Photographs are judged on aesthetic merit, regardless of medium of publication. The communicator must be the person who took the photograph. No “project manager” or similar submissions will be accepted for this category.

b. Graphic Design

These images, icons, or logos should be graphics that are designed by the communicator using image, text, colors, fades, and layers, including overall design for posters, advertisements, event branding, etc. Submissions can be either print or digital pieces.

c. Layout (poster, one-page spread, etc.)

This category includes single-page posters, covers, or inside spreads of newspapers/magazines/printed publications that include graphics, photographs, text, and other elements to achieve their goal. Banners are also eligible in this category.

d. Booklet

These multi-page publications may include graphics, photographs, text, and other elements to achieve their goal. Entries will be judged on design quality and effectiveness in meeting intended goals. Brochures are eligible in this category. 

VI. Social Media

a. Social Media post

Each entry should be a single post to a social media site such as Facebook and/or Instagram, either by screen shot or direct link to the post. Entries will be judged on creativity and aesthetic, as well as its effectiveness. Metrics of success are encouraged but not required. Videos created for social media platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram that specifically use those platforms' editing features and environment should be submitted here. Short-form videos produced as separate projects that happen to be posted to social media platforms should be submitted in the short-form video category.