Recognizing and Celebrating Excellence
The Golden Image Awards competition is conducted annually by the Florida Public Relations Association to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida and to encourage and promote the development of public relations in our state.
The Golden Image Awards have become a standard of excellence in the state of Florida. Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design. The awards competition includes four divisions of categories. They are as follows:
- Division A – Public Relations Programs (13 categories)
- Division B – Collateral Tools of Public Relations (7 categories)
- Division C – Digital Tools of Public Relations (9 categories)
- Division D – Student Projects in Public Relations (6 categories)
Submissions for FPRA’s Golden Image program are accepted every spring with the judging process taking place in June. This awards program culminates with an awards gala event that takes place during FPRA’s Annual Conference in August.
Divisions & Categories Download
To qualify for judging, a Golden Image entry must incorporate sound public relations research and planning. Entries must also meet the highest standard of production, execution and evaluation of results and budget. To see all of the rules and requirments for entry, see the Call for Entries. To understand how submissions are judged, view the Judging Process & Rubric.
Entries for the 2023 Golden Image Awards are now closed.
Important! Review the Call for Entries for the rules and requirements for entry.
To view the two-page summaries from past winners, you must be an FPRA member.
Awards given in the Golden Image competition are:
Judges’ Award
Presented by judges for an outstanding entry that achieves maximum return on investment. More than one may be presented in each category.
Award of Distinction
Presented to entries that meet the standards of excellence set by a panel of judges. More than one may be presented in each category.
Golden Image Award
May be presented to the top-scoring entry in each category if the entry meets predetermined criteria of excellence set by the judges. Only one Golden Image Award is presented in each category.
Grand Golden Image Award
May be presented to the best Golden Image Award-winning entry in Divisions B and C. Only one Grand Image Award is presented in each division.
Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award
May be presented to the best Golden Image Award-winning entry in Division A. Only one Dick Pope All Florida Image Award is presented. This award was named after Richard D. Pope, Sr. (For more information about Mr. Pope, see paragraphs below.)
Richard D. “Dick” Pope, Sr. was the founder of Cypress Gardens, a legendary Florida roadside attraction founded in 1936. When John Dillin, working for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, met Pope he was handing out gardenias to publicize his fledgling theme park. When Dillin founded FPRA in 1938 Pope was at his side. It was the beginning of a life-long personal friendship as both FPRA and Cypress Gardens took root and began to flourish.
Pope was one of the early innovators and leaders in the emerging public relations profession following the Great Depression. He came to be known as ”Mr. Florida,” creating endless opportunities for publicity photos and events that showcased Florida, Florida citrus and his beloved Cypress Gardens (now LEGOLAND Florida). Dick Pope set new standards and direction for promotional and publicity techniques during his five-decade reign of Cypress Gardens and he created and produced more than 500 news reels and 75 short films bringing both Hollywood and television exposure, luring visitors to Florida from around the globe.
Upon his passing in 1987, FPRA honored Mr. Pope by adding his name to our Grand All Florida Golden Image Award.
2023 Golden Image Awards Entry Fees
Early Bird Member Rate $110 (Additional entries by the same professional member get a $10 discount after the initial entry.)
Extended Deadline Member Rate $125 (Additional entries by the same professional member get a $10 discount after the initial entry.)
Early Bird Non-member Rate: $200
Extended Deadline Non-member Rate: $250
Student Early Bird Member Rate $22
Student Extended Deadline Member Rate $27
Student Early Bird Non-member Rate $37
Student Extended Deadline Non-member Rate $47