In 2023, we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the AWC Clarion Awards. The Awards were first established in 1973. It may be hard for new members to understand, but at the time, our organization, then known as Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI), was politically involved in the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. During that time, we sent members to Washington, DC to lobby for women’s equality issues.
The Clarion Awards were named for the medieval trumpet known for its clarity. The awards reward excellence in clear, concise communications.
The Logo
The original Clarion Awards logo was red on white featuring a single stylized trumpet in a circle. The award itself was in the shape of a simple trumpet standing on the bell with the engraving on the widest portion.
In 2009, a new logo designed by then AWC National Board Director Wendy Morlan was introduced. The new logo was used on the awards themselves and all printed materials such as advertisements and brochures. Of course, in recent years those print options have been abandoned in favor of electronic media.
Historic Milestones
The first Clarion Awards program was established with the theme “Communicating for a Better Tomorrow”. Entries were accepted in three categories:
• Women’s Rights
• The Environment
• Community Service
There were 29 winners of these issue oriented awards in 1974.
From the beginning, the Clarion Awards were open to all professional communicators, not just members and not just women. In 1975, Gary Parrish Smith of KYTV in Springfield, Missouri became the first person to receive recognition in all three categories. He received an Honorable Mention for three television documentary entries.
In 1976, the Awards entries were restructured and divided into three divisions:
• Human Rights
• The World We Live in
• The Community We Serve
Entries were further divided into the following categories:
• TV Documentary
• Radio Series
• Newspaper Article and Newspaper Series
• Magazine Article
• PR Campaign
• Advertising Campaign
Of note, in 1978 Judy Langford Carter , wife of Jack Carter, oldest son of President and Mrs. Carter won a Clarion Award for a Redbook magazine series – “Making It Happen”.
By 1980, the Clarion Awards presented 57 awards – 28 winners and 29 honorable mention. Categories were:
• Magazine article and Magazine Series
• Newspaper article and Newspaper Series
• Public Relations
• Radio Program and Radio Series
• Television Program and Television Series
Since the early 2000’s, the number of categories has grown to over 100. Each year, the Clarion Committee evaluates the categories and makes adjustments that reflect the changing world. For example, categories for social media were added in recent years and special limited edition categories were introduced in 2020 and 2021 for events that had to adapt to social distancing protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updating the Process
For many years, the entry process involved mailing hard copies of all relevant documents and samples of the entry to the AWC management office. The hard copies were all organized in bulky 3-ring binders. Judges would receive heavy boxes including the binders and samples of the work. If you judged multiple categories like we do today, all of this could take over your house!
Winners had their documentation displayed at the National Conference.
This was a cumbersome and expensive process and there was even talk of discontinuing the Clarion Awards program because of the financial issues. By the early 2000’s, awards management software had become available. The National Board decided it was time to transition to an electronic entry system. Linda Strelluff, an AWC National Board Director at the time, had experience with different awards programs through her students at Avila University in Kansas City. Knowing that the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Quill Awards had switched to an electronic system, Linda consulted with the Quill coordinator who recommended awards management from OMNI Solutions Group.
The 2011 National Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was the last conference to display documentation for Clarion Awards winners. In 2012, the Clarion Awards went electronic with OMNI!
In 2019, the Clarion Awards switched to a different awards management software – AwardForce. 2020 was the first competition to use the AwardForce software. This option makes entries easy to submit and judge as well as making the whole program cost effective.
Enter Today!
You can enter the 50th Anniversary competition by visiting the AWC website at AWC Clarion Awards . You’ll find instructions on how to enter, a list of categories, tips on submitting an entry, and an FAQ! All entries must be submitted by April 10, 2023.
Be a Judge
You can also volunteer to be a judge for the 50th Anniversary Clarion Awards if you have at least 10 years of experience in the industry. You will find information about judging at Clarion Judges Requirements . Entrants can also serve as judges – you just won’t be assigned to the categories you have entered. Apply by April 6, 2023.
