Earned Media Excellence Award
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums recognizes the valuable role that Public Relations and earned media play in promoting and advancing our organizational missions, building and sustaining business, institutional risk management and influencing the trust, favorability and perception of zoos and aquariums with our various audiences. Through the Earned Media Excellence Award, AZA recognizes outstanding proactive, public relations efforts developed and executed by its member facilities.
AZA-accredited applicants may submit only one earned media project or campaign per attendance category and must submit efforts completed in 2023. Awards will be presented in two categories, both split by the facility’s annual attendance size:
- Earned Media Project
- One earned media placement from AZA members that welcome under 1 million guests annually
- One earned media placement from AZA members that welcome 1 million guests or more annually
- Earned Media Campaign
- One for campaigns from AZA members that welcome under 1 million guests annually
- One for campaigns from AZA members that welcome 1 million guests or more annually
If there is any question as to what constitutes an eligible project, please email Leticia Orti or call (301) 244-3326.
How to Submit an Application
Past recipients' application materials are available below.
All Honors and Awards applications must be submitted in electronic format ONLY and must be compiled into one PDF file. Please make sure the file name reflects both the award name and the institution.
Please upload your file to the AZA Dropbox link in the Application document below. Your file will go to the AZA Dropbox account, but you do not need to sign in, or even have a Dropbox account to use this link—when it opens, just click on the “choose files” box and upload your application.
Remember to submit a Media Release Form (DOC) with your application.
Earned Media Excellence Award Recipients
Earned Media Excellence Award Winners (member login required)
2023
Top Honors - 1 million guests or more a year
Houston Zoo for Centennial Celebration: 100 Years of Your Houston Zoo
Significant Achievement – 1 million guests or more a year
John G. Shedd Aquarium for Shedd Aquarium Launches its Centennial Commitment
Significant Achievement - under 1 million guests per year
OdySea Aquarium for Rosie the Disabled Penguin Meets Children with Similar Challenges