Good as Gold

University Communications received top honors for its Web projects from the West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in its annual Spectrum Awards competition. GVSU was well represented in other categories, too, including President Lubbers' receipt of the Communicator of the Year award, as GVNow recently reported.

GVNow

garnered a Gold Spectrum Award in the Web Site category. The judges, from the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of PRSA, remarked, GVNow does a great job of tackling this new frontier. It works, it's fast, and great use of newer technologies.

The American Century Audio Series,

a dual production for GVNow and WGVU Radio, earned Spectrum gold in the Radio Program category. The series, produced in a historical-moment format, linked GVSU to the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum's acclaimed American Century Exhibition. The spot features included commentary from museum director Richard Norton Smith and GVSU Political Science Chairwoman Erika King

The interviews with the scholars truly added perspective, said the judges. The strategy to align with the Ford Museum is a good call. We can't say enough positive things about this entry.

To revisit the series, click here.

The on-line NewsCenter, University Communications' Web-delivered media relations product, earned a Silver Spectrum Award for Websites.

Fred Chapman, professor of Communications, also received a Silver Spectrum Award for his research project, conducted for the Michigan Senate Finance Committee, that led to the simplification of the administration of tax assessments. Chapman, the former head of public relations for Mercedes Benz USA, has been a faculty member since 1992.

Several GVSU alumni received awards for their work in area PR agencies. The PR Newcomer of the Year Award went to 1998 Communications graduate Nicole Tallman, who works in PR for Haworth Corp.