We are pleased to present the recipients of this year’s Edward L. Bernays Awards! This year’s theme was “Shine Together” to celebrate our fellow communicators and public relations professionals who have shone brightly over the last year.

This year’s award entries were judged by the PRSA Sunshine District, representing more than 1,000 public relations professionals from seven chapters throughout Florida. Submissions were also judged by PRSA Western District, the nation’s largest professional public relations association with more than 30,000 members and 10 regions nationwide.  As usual, we award one Excellence Award and up to two Merit Awards in each category, unless there is a tie. The “Best of Show” award represents the entry, or entries in case of a tie, with the highest overall score of all Silver Bernays entries and all Bronze Bernays entries, respectively. The Special Awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the public relations profession in the San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Winners

Special Awards

Deborah L. Baker Public Relations Professional of the Year: Michelle Brubaker, Director of Communications and Media Relations, UC San Diego Health

Student Awards

Excellence: San Diego State University Spring 2025 JMS Capstone Project Team, Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation

Merit: San Diego State University 2025 and MKR Media, 7th Annual Military Heroes Event, Liberty Station Rock Church

Silver Awards

Silver Excellence Awards

• Best in Show: InnoVision Marketing Group – The Amerigo Vespucci Docks in Los Angeles
• Community Relations: Business: InnoVision Marketing Group – Herman Law Amplifies Polinsky’s Survivor Voices
• Community Relations: Government (Tie):
  • City of Carlsbad, Citizens Academy
  • City of San Diego with Cook + Schmid, Ocean Beach Pier Renewal Project
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Summer of Economic Power:
• Events and Observances: Less than Seven Days, Nonprofit/Government/Association – InnoVision Marketing Group, The Amerigo Vespucci Docks in Los Angeles
• Integrated Communications: UC San Diego, UC San Diego Behind Every Breakthrough
• Issues Management: Intesa Communications Group, Tension into Trust: Supporting Interfaith in Escondido
• Public Affairs: Intesa Communications Group, Tension into Trust: Supporting Interfaith in Escondido
• Social/Digital Media: UC San Diego Health Marketing and Communications, San Diego Police Officer’s Heroic Discharge

Silver Merit Awards

• Community Relations: Government: County of San Diego, Cents and (Public) Sensibility: Shaping the County’s Budget
• Events and Observances: Less Than Seven Days – Nonprofit/Government/Association, Intesa Communications Group and San Diego Foundation, $15M “Ready to Learn” Initiative Press Conference
• Events and Observances: More Than Seven Days – University of San Diego, Lighting the Way Forward: USD Celebrates 75 Years
• Integrated Communications: University of San Diego, Lighting the Way Forward: USD Celebrates 75 Years
• Public Affairs: UC San Diego, UC San Diego Behind Every Breakthrough
• Reputation/Brand Management: UC San Diego, UC San Diego Behind Every Breakthrough

Bronze Awards

Bronze Excellence Awards

• Media Relations: Associations and Government – Intesa Communications Group and San Diego Workforce Partnership, SDWP Hiring Blitz Nabs $12M in Media for Gaylord Resort
• Media Relations: Consumer Products and Services – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker, McDonald’s of San Diego County — Día de las Madres 2025
• Media Relations: Nonprofit – UC San Diego Health, Bionic Hand Sparks Resilience in Patient Campaign
• Podcasts: DeGrave Communications and RMG Communications, PRessing On in Public Relations Podcast
• Public Service Announcements:City of Carlsbad, Traffic Safety Video Series
• Videos: City of Carlsbad, New Security Checks at TGIF Concerts

Bronze Merit Awards

• Collateral: Daniel Howe and Amplified Impact Partners, New Marketing Collateral Bridges the Gap to Greater Impact
• Editorials/Op-Ed Columns: City of Carlsbad, Carlsbad Magazine: City Matters Column
• Media Relations:
  • Business-to-Business – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker and WD-40 Brand, WD-40 Specialist Food-Grade Media Relations Campaign
  • Business-to-Business – Clearpoint Agency, Clearpoint Drives Awareness for OptionMetrics in the U.S. and Europe
• Media Relations: Consumer Products and Services – Crowe PR and Razer, Razer Goes Beyond Gaming — AI, Sustainability & Leadership
• Media Relations: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Intesa Communications Group, “No Pride in Exclusion”: A Voice for Marginalized Groups
• Media Relations: Non-Profit – Daniel Howe and Amplified Impact Partners, Earned Media Focus Pays Dividends for Partner Recruiting
• Media Relations:
  • Press Conferences – Reveille, Inc. and Olive Crest, San Diego PROMiSE Launch Press Conferences
  • Press Conferences – Intesa Communications Group and San Diego Foundation, $15M “Ready to Learn” Initiative Press Conference
• Public Service Announcements: County of San Diego, Make Your Voice Heard: Speaking at the Board of Supervisors
• Social/Digital Media: UC San Diego Athletics Redefining Sports Culture at UC San Diego
• Videos:
  • County of San Diego, A Day in the Life of a Mail-In Ballot — Voting by Mail
  • Intesa Communications Group and Uptown 11 Studios, Documentary-Style Video Helped Raise $300K for San Diego’s Unhoused

Special thanks to our sponsors!

Intesa Communications
Ardurra

Website Sponsor

Mile3 Web Development

Photography & Program Design
Vanner