The public relations team for Birmingham-based Big Communications received a top 2018 Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) Lantern Awards during the professional network’s annual conference, held Sept. 23-25 in New Orleans, La.
Big’s highly visible “BringAtoB” Campaign earned a Lantern Award in the Short-Term Programs and Campaigns category.
“This campaign was one of the most successful in our agency’s history in terms of both impressions and outcome,” said John Montgomery, president. “Not only did we bring positive national coverage to the City of Birmingham, but we also helped bring 1,500-plus new jobs to our area in the process. Public relations truly affected change in this instance.”
In early September 2017, Amazon announced it was searching for a home for its second headquarters. Big saw that other cities’ names were being circulated for consideration, but not Birmingham. With less than a month answer Amazon’s RFP, the Big team decided to change the national conversation, inserting the Magic City in a major way through a quickly implemented, multifaceted communications campaign featuring oversized Amazon delivery boxes and Dash Buttons, as well as a flurry of traditional and social media relations tactics.
The BringAtoB campaign secured more than 802 million media impressions nationally and internationally, and in June 2018, Amazon officially announced plans to construct a 1,500-plus employee fulfillment center in the Birmingham metro area – making this the largest economic development win for metro Birmingham in decades.
“I was told in my first meeting directly with Amazon that once the group reviewed BringAtoB, they knew they had to find out more about this community,” said David Carrington, Jefferson County commissioner.
The SPRF recognizes outstanding work in the field of public relations through its annual Lantern Awards program. Public relations practitioners from across the nation judge entries on their individual merit. Awards – including Certificates of Merit, Awards of Excellence and Lantern Awards – are given annually.
ABOUT SPRF
The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) is a network of public relations professionals from Alabama, North Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi who share a common interest in the public relations profession.
Membership in the Federation is automatic for members of the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA), the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO), the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), and the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM).
ABOUT BIG
Big is a Birmingham-based, full-service digital communications firm, specializing in public relations, integrated marketing, content marketing, media strategy, grassroots marketing and promotions. The agency’s diverse client list includes national, regional and local companies with an emphasis on healthcare, education, workforce development, economic development, tourism and Southern brands. For more information about Big, visit www.bigcom.com.