UMAC Awards
Opening Soon: Submissions to the
2027 UMAC Awards
Important Details:
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Only UMAC members may enter the contest
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Submission Period: October 5-30, 2026
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For communication material completed August 1, 2025-September 30, 2026
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Entry fees (cost per entry): $50 per entry
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Members may enter a maximum of TWO ENTRIES PER CATEGORY
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Winners to be announced at the 2027 UMAC Awards Gala
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Entries must be the original work of the entrant. Use of AI tools must be minimal.
WHAT ARE UMAC AWARDS?
The spirit of this competition is to celebrate excellence in communications and to recognize the achievements of UMAC members who played a key role in the creative process (writing, designing, producing, etc.). You are eligible to submit material for an award if you are a current member of UMAC and played a significant role in producing the communication material.
Membership is required to be eligible to receive an award. Submissions and payment for all awards need to be completed online by the awards submission deadline date. All entries will be judged on meeting their stated purpose; content; creativity; execution; and regard for target audience, using a 50-point scale. Awards will go to first, second and third winners of each category, with one Best of Class award given per class.
CLASSES INCLUDE:
1. Print Publications
2. Digital Publications
3. Writing
4. Internet Communications
5. Video Production
6. Audio
7. Photography
8. Visual Design
9. Publicity & Advertising
QUESTIONS?
Contact Sybil Davidson at UMCom
2026 UMAC Awards Classes and Categories
9 classes | Multiple categories per class
You may enter two entries per category.
Class I: Print Publications
(Robert F. Storey Award of Excellence)
A. Newspaper & Magazine Category:
A printed publication issued regularly (at least quarterly) that includes content such as current original news articles, editorials, feature stories, photos, regular columnist(s).
Please submit up to three editions via link to PDF or digital version.
B. Special Publication, Section or Supplement Category:
Any publication covering a specific issue, topic or event, printed three times a year or less.
Please submit one edition via via link to PDF or digital version.
Class IV: Internet Communications
A. Website Category:
Website content, engagement, usage, and design.
B. Social Media Campaign Category:
A campaign created for and shared on one or more social media platforms.
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C. Social Media Graphic or Ad Category:
Social media ad or social media graphic that combines creativity, visual appeal and effective messaging.
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D. Social Media Reel:
Short-form video created for social media.
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Please submit direct links to the website or social media post(s), A summary of analytics must accompany the entry.
Class VII: Photography
(Donald B. Moyer Award of Excellence)
A. Photojournalism Category (News):
A single outstanding news photo.
B. Photojournalism Category (Features):
A single outstanding feature photo.
C. Photo Series of Related Images Category:
A series of six or fewer connected photos.
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D. Amateur Photography Category:
An excellent photograph taken by someone who's decidedly not a professional photographer.
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Please submit photos by URL if possible. Dropbox links, website links, or similar are prefered.
Class II: Digital Publications
A. eNewsletter Category:
A digital or web version of a newsletter, which contains brief news and reports, announcements and other special interest information.
B. Electronic Publication Category:
A digital or web version of a newspaper or magazine publication that is issued regularly, which includes a collection of original news articles, photos, stories and features or a digital publication covering a specific issue or event and issued four times a year or less.
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Please submit links to three editions of your enewsletter or digital publication.
Class V: Video Production
(Hilly Hicks Award of Excellence)
A. Video Production Category Costing less than $2,000:
(Only production costs, not distribution).
B. Video Production Category Costing more than $2,000:
(Only production costs, not distribution).
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C. Mobile Video Category:
Video recorded and edited on smartphone.
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D. Video News Story Category:
An objective video news piece about a current event or situation
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E. Marketing Video Category:
A video created to promote, advertise, or drive engagement to a specific program, event, ministry, or initiative.
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F. Educational Video Category:
Videos created for the purpose of training or education.
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Please submit your video by link (Vimeo, YouTube, website link, or similar.) You MUST include video runtime in your submission information.
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Class VIII: Visual Design
A. Artwork Category
Original illustrations, digital images, maps, logos or other visual art pieces
B. Print or Electronic Design Category
A well designed regular print or electronic publication as well as special publications
C. Motion Graphics Category
An original motion graphic
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Please submit entries via URL.
Class III: Writing
(Donn Doten Award of Excellence)
A. Non-Fiction Story Category:
A non-fiction article (i.e., biography, history, obituary); this can include opinion, editorials, or news articles.
B. News Article Category:
An objective article written about a current event or situation.
C. Feature Article Category:
A human-interest story or article focusing on a particular person, place or event and not closely tied to a recent news happening; often written in a narrative approach.
D. Article Series Category:
A news or feature article series of two or more related consecutive articles.
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Please submit entries via URL (ensure the article is available to read in its entirety.).
Class VI: Podcast
A. Podcast Series Category:
An ongoing regular podcast.
Please submit links to three consecutive episodes that best represent the podcast.
B. Podcast Episode Category:
A single standout podcast episode.
.Please submit link to one episode..
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C. New Podcast Category:
Podcasts started since fall 2025.
.Please submit link to podcast..
Class IX: Publicity & Advertising
(Leonard M. Perryman Award of Excellence)
A. Campaign/Strategic Planning Category:
Includes multiple pieces in different media working together to achieve a goal. (Submit all pieces of the campaign.)
B. Single Piece Category:
A "one-piece" advertisement.
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Please submit via URL. Dropbox link or similar is appropriate for campaign material. An overview of analytics/results must be included in submission information.