RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — The winners of the third annual Excellence in Automotive Public Relations Awards were honored on April 21 at the Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC) Spring Conference held in Dearborn, Mich. APRC, a part of MEMA, is a professional organization for public relations practitioners in all segments of the automotive industry.

The only award of its kind, the Excellence in Automotive Public Relations Award identifies public relations programs that have successfully addressed an automotive-related public relations issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The annual award honors complete public relations programs that incorporate sound planning, execution and evaluation.

“There are many outstanding PR professionals in our industry whose work stands out from the pack. We’re in a complex industry where effective communications can make a dramatic impact on securing business and increasing the bottom line,” said APRC Director Neal Zipser.

Winners of the 2003 Excellence in Automotive Public Relations Award included:

Excellence in Consumer Media Relations
First Place: Ford Motor Co. 100th Anniversary (agency: Burson-Marsteller)

Second Place: Be Car Care Aware Consumer Education Campaign (conducted by the Car Care Council)

Third Place: Hyundai’s Motor City Media Blitz (agency: John Bailey & Associates)

Excellence in Trade Media Relations
First Place: Continental Teves Electronic Stability Control (agency: John Bailey & Associates)

Second Place: ArvinMeritor’s Viewpoint II 2003-2006

Excellence in New Product Launch

First Place: DURA Automotive Systems’ Electronic Parking Brake (agency: Catalyst Design)

Excellence in Special Events/Observances
First Place: Michelin North America’s 2003 Challenge Bibendum

Second Place: OSRAM SYLVANIA HID Media Campaign (agency: John Bailey & Associates)

Third Place (tie): Robert Bosch Corp.’s “Tomorrow’s Technology Built on a Pioneering Spirit”(agency: Target Communications)

Third Place (tie): Hyundai Investigative Team (agency: John Bailey & Associates)

Honorable Mention: 2003 Wheel Awards (agency: Individual Communicators Network)

Honorable Mention: Society of Plastic Engineers Awards Banquet (agency: AutoPr)

Honorable Mention: Hyundai Tiburon Tuner Event (agency: John Bailey & Associates)

For more information on the award or to become an APRC member, contact Jobie Dowd at [email protected] or 919-549-4800, ext. 872.

_______________________________________

Click here to view the rest of today’s headlines.