The Cronkite Agency, the capstone program of Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, won multiple awards at the 2023 dotComm and MarCom international awards competition, which celebrates excellence in communications, web creativity and digital marketing.
Cronkite Agency students received a Dotcom Platinum Award in the “Student Produced” category, recognizing their work as part of the RWJF Southwest Health Reporting and Communications Initiative. The initiative, generously funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, supported the agency in creating a health care information campaign, specifically targeting Spanish-speaking parents of young children in the Southwest. In the spring 2023 semester, the student team worked with Every Little Step Counts (ELSC), a family-centered diabetes prevention program, to produce video content promoting healthy eating habits. RWJF Professor of Practice Nicole Macias oversaw the efforts of students Yamileth Cabrera, Nicholas Elsner, Annette Garcia, Michaela Lopez, Daniel Ochoa, Mia Powell, Bella Schneider and Annia Zavala.
The agency also received a Dotcom Gold Award among professional entries in the “Social Media Campaign” category for the students' work for the Arizona Women's Foundation. The nonprofit works to advance women in Arizona through research, advocacy and philanthropy. During the spring 2023 semester, the team created a campaign featuring the organization's Moonlight Masquerade Soiree in February. Clinical assistant professor Abby Zufeldt oversaw the work of Maya Badman, Yamilez Cabrera, Gabriela Herran, Madison Lavin and Alisha Singh.
Another team from the Cronkite Agency won a Gold Award in the Professional “Communications Plan” category for their work with Phoenix-based Welcasa, a client focused on democratizing safe, effective integrative care for people with chronic illnesses. The Gold MarCom Award is given to entries that exceed high industry standards. In 2023, there were more than 6,500 entries from the U.S., Canada and 43 other countries. The comprehensive traditional and social media relations plan was implemented throughout the semester by students Doreen Ampofo, Charlotte Canada, Samantha Chou, Elias Johnson, Sarah Nguyen, Nicole Rossi and Miya Whitaker.
The company also received honorable mentions for a social media campaign highlighting the grand opening of FABRIC, a Tempe-based nonprofit “phygital” fashion incubator, an evergreen brand brochure created for Scottsdale nonprofit organization Oakley's Oath and a news release featuring the Phoenix Suns' 2022 Day of the Dead game night.
“Our agency's students have a unique opportunity to partner with clients to develop creative, innovative and impactful communications and marketing campaigns,” said John James Nicoletti, the agency's executive director and professor of practice at the Cronkite School. “I am incredibly proud that our students' thoughtful work and precise execution have been recognized for excellence by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals.”
About the dotCOMM Awards
This international competition celebrates excellence in web creativity and digital communications. Winners are selected in the categories of website, video, social media, paid media, owned media, earned media and digital marketing and communications programs. The awards are administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals (AMCP). For more information, visit dotCOMM Awards.
About the MarCom Awards
The MarCom Awards is an international competition for marketing and communications materials and programs. MarCom is a third-party organization that recognizes creative work submitted by ad agencies, PR firms, design shops, corporate communications departments, digital professionals, and freelance creative artists. The awards are administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals (AMCP). For more information, visit MarCom Awards.
About the Cronkite Agency
The award-winning Cronkite Agency is staffed by strategic communications and digital marketing student practitioners who have attended numerous capstone classes at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University's Downtown Phoenix campus. The agency offers its members the opportunity to work on communications and digital marketing campaigns on behalf of real-world business and nonprofit clients. Current and past clients include Arizona Sustainability Alliance, Bubble Skincare, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Host Committee, Yubico, and the Phoenix Suns. For more information, visit the Cronkite Agency website.
