News from TAC

County, TAC Earn National Communications Awards

The National Association of County Information Officers, a communications-centric affiliate of the National Association of Counties, recently honored TAC and County magazine with nine 2009 Awards of Excellence designations, including the first-place “Superior” designation for feature writing. The most entries any county or association may submit for consideration in the contest is 10.

NACIO’s communications awards are divided into categories and subcategories, with one grand prize “Best of Class” award given in each major category (including Annual Reports, Internal Publications, External Publications, Writing, Graphic Design, and Computer Media, and others). Subcategory designations — first-place “Superior,” second-place “Excellence” and third place “Meritorious” — are awarded competitively, based on quality and overall achievement.

County Managing Editor Maria Sprow earned the first-place Superior feature writing award for “Inside the Media Bubble” (Jan/Feb 2008), about the role public information offi cers play in promoting county services. Sprow also tied herself to receive two Excellence feature writing awards, one for “How Much Does a White Lie Cost” (Jan/Feb 2008), about whether it’s cost-effective to screen for indigency before giving defendants a court-appointed attorney, and the other for “now Hiring Ex-offenders” (Nov/Dec 2008), about Travis County’s decision to move the criminal history box from job applications to give ex-offenders a fair chance at employment. And she received a Meritorious award for “Courthouse Tales” (May/June 2008), about courthouse restoration project challenges.

Henrico and Chesterfield counties in Virginia, Broward County in Florida, St. Charles Parish in Louisiana and the Kentucky Association of Counties were also honored by NACIo with feature writing awards. The Association also honored Hidalgo County and its public information officer, Cari Lambrecht, with a Meritorious award for its comprehensive Web site, www.co.hidalgo.tx.us.

Internally, TAC’s communications staff earned awards for several projects, including a Superior award for its 2007 Annual Member Report and an Excellence award for its internal branding and style guide campaign, which was developed to ensure all communications from TAC departments are consistent with TAC’s overall mission. Art Director Deann Giua and Graphic Designer David Garcia both earned Superior awards for their creative work throughout the year. The award-winning designs include a jersey worn by TAC’s wellness and cycling club members, and the logo for the new TAC Health and Employee Benefits Pool member program Healthy County, among others.

Since 1993, TAC’s communications staff has been honored 74 times via the NACIo annual awards competition. The department is dedicated to quality and professionalism, and is often contacted to help affiliate county associations.