West Virginia University’ s P.I. Reed School of Journalism is kicking off its second annual IMCY AwardsTM Competition with a grand prize this year of $3,000.
Underwritten by School of Journalism alumni Jim Blair and his wife Marsha and developed by School of Journalism faculty, the competition provides journalism students with the opportunity to design an Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) campaign for a real-world client.
The competition is open only to current, full-time, undergraduate students with a declared major in the School of Journalism. Eligible students can compete individually or in small teams of up to four members for the grand prize. All finalist teams will be awarded $500.
Competition participants will design their campaigns for Navway Records, winner of WVU College of Business and Economics’ 2007 Entrepreneurship Center Business Plan Competition. Navway Records is a record label that focuses on discovering, developing and promoting musical artists. The label specializes in variety of services including music production, web-site and e-commerce development, tour and event planning and consulting. Navway also sells both digital and physical copies of albums and merchandise.
“This is a unique opportunity for SOJ students, regardless of sequence, to collaborate together. Their knowledge and skills will combine to create an actual campaign for a real business,” said Sheila Wexler, visiting assistant professor in advertising.
Competitors are required to determine integrated marketing communications objectives and strategy for Navway Records. Required campaign components include advertising media plans, public relation plans and creative elements, such as graphic images, promotional materials, trade show devices, CD cover, posters and flyers.
First-round entries will be reviewed in late November and semi-finalists announced in December. Semi-finalists will then submit their full campaigns in mid-February 2008. Up to five finalists will be announced in February and will move on to the final round in March 2008. The IMCY AwardTM winner will be announced in early March, and awards will be made at that time.