2025 Golden Spike Awards

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ENTRIES IS NOW EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 21st, 2025. 

This year, we have a number of different award areas, subdivided into campaigns, tactics and bronze spike awards.

Categories include both internal and external audiences for tactics, and sectors that include for-profit, non-profit, government, and association work for campaign entries. The new bronze spike awards celebrate the best one-off tactics of the year. There should be something for everyone to show off their biggest wins and best ideas.

Entry Process

To help keep things organized, we ask that you submit one project per form submission and payment. And please, watch the deadlines carefully to ensure your entry is accepted early or on-time.

You can also nominate individual(s) for our professional awards categories. These include young-, mid-level- or professional of the year awards, and a category for "excellence in communication."

Entry Fee Schedule

Entry Fee $85 before Sept. 10, $100 between Sept. 10 - 15

Includes programs that aim to improve relations with, or seek to win the support or cooperation of, people or organizations in communities in which the sponsoring organization has an interest, need or opportunity.

Programs designed to enhance, promote or improve the reputation of an organization with its publics or key elements of its publics.

Includes programs that advance public understanding of societal issues, problems or concerns. Also includes programs designed to influence public policy and/or affect legislation, regulations, political activities or candidacies.

Social media and influencer marketing campaigns designed to help an organization reach its publics or key elements of its publics. Also includes strategic programs for creating and distributing valuable online content to attract, acquire and engage a target audience or audiences.

Includes programs undertaken to deal with an unplanned event that required an immediate response.

Includes programs or events, such as commemorations, observances, openings, yearlong anniversaries, celebrations or other special activities.

Use of a website, app, blog, or other digital platform as part of a communications, public relations or content marketing program.

Innovative photography or illustrations (hand-drawn or digital) used as part of a public relations program.

Use of a print newsletter, magazine, annual report, brochure or other print piece as part of an internal communications, public relations or content marketing program.

Use of a print newsletter, magazine, annual report, brochure or other print piece as part of an internal communications, public relations or content marketing program.

Tactics, programs and events driven entirely by media relations. Submit press releases, media advisories, pitch letters, requests for coverage, etc., along with measurable objectives and results.

Research that provides a meaningful contribution or input to a public relations program, or an evaluation documenting the value or benefit of a public relations program or tactic.

How did you use Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn or any other online social platform to share your message and engage your external audience? How did it enhance your overall communication plan?

Pre-produced videos used to inform external, target audiences of an event, product, service, issue or organization. The summary should include quantified measurement to support stated objectives.

Submit published news stories, feature stories, etc. along with measurable objectives and results

Innovative, unconventional, creative tactics or approaches used as part of a public relations program. Documentation of how the tactic specifically contributed to the measurable results of the campaign should be included.

This category honors innovative tactics that effectively integrate generative AI technologies to enhance communication efforts. Submissions should demonstrate creative applications, strategic use and measurable outcomes that advanced the campaign's goals and audience engagement.

How did you confront and power through an issue or crisis this past year? What was your best tactic for getting your message to the right audience in a timely and tactful manner?

This category recognizes the creativity and ingenuity of new public relations professionals. Submissions can include any tactic that shows creativity, efficacy, technical excellence, high quality messaging, engaging storytelling, strategic planning, or measurable impact by a new professional. Entrants must be working in the field for five years or less.

This category celebrates bold and imaginative stunts that capture attention and generate buzz. Submissions should demonstrate how the stunt aligns with the brand or campaign goals and the impact it had on audience engagement and media coverage.

Tell us about a captivating story told through a single tactic. What media did you use? What channel helped you tell your story? What story were you trying to tell? Submissions should include engaging narratives that delivered results.

This category shines a spotlight on the most innovative and impactful email tactics that captivate audiences and drive engagement. Submissions should demonstrate how an email stood out in crowded inboxes and left a lasting impression on recipients.

This category honors the outstanding efforts of communication professionals who lend their expertise to causes that make a meaningful impact. Submissions should demonstrate how the tactic leveraged creativity to drive meaningful results for the cause.

This category honors tactics that achieve remarkable results with limited resources. Submissions should showcase creativity and resourcefulness to deliver impactful communication and engagement despite budget constraints. Campaign budgets in this category should not exceed $5,000.

This category honors outstanding social media videos that deliver compelling narratives and achieve strategic communication goals. Submissions should showcase creativity, technical excellence and measurable impact in engaging audiences and conveying key messages.

Entry Must-Knows & FAQs

• All entries and entry materials must be submitted online.
• Entries produced in part between August 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025, are eligible.
• A summary and supporting documents (including links, photos, etc.) must be uploaded to the entry form as a single PDF file.
  • There are several free online PDF merging programs you can use to merge multiple PDF documents into one, if you need to (PDFJoiner.com is one).
• Judges will evaluate campaigns based on RPIE — research, planning, implementation, evaluation; and supporting materials/project content. Format your submission to match these sections.
  • We strongly suggest that campaign summaries follow this structure, and that they be as close to one page as possible. They may not exceed two pages in length.
  • Supporting materials and content might include creative assets, imagery of physical assets, or links to digital assets; if applicable, we suggest you include these. Hyperlinks to hosted assets, such as video, are preferred.
• Judges evaluate tactics based on four criteria: objectives, creativity/quality, execution, results/evaluation, and supporting materials. Format your submission to match these sections.
  • Within these areas, the summary should include measurable objectives, target audiences, budget and any other relevant information.
  • Results — qualitative, quantitative or both — should provide evidence of how the stated measurable objectives were met, and are important judging criteria