TAC wins 9 national communications awards

The Texas Association of Counties has received nine national communications awards from the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO), recognizing the depth and quality of work produced by TAC in 2024.

The honors were announced July 13 at a ceremony held by NACIO during the 2025 National Association of Counties Annual Conference and Exposition in Philadelphia. TAC’s Communications Services department earned accolades across multiple categories, including top-tier awards in podcasting and magazine writing.

For the third consecutive year, Texas County Voice, TAC’s podcast, received the Best of Category award. The winning episode, “Demystifying AI for County Officials,” explored the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and its potential implications for local government. The podcast also swept all four award tiers: Meritorious, Excellence, Superior and Best of Category.

In writing, “Johnson County Confronts an Invisible Threat,” about a local investigation into toxic “forever chemicals” affecting farms and ranches, won Best of Category for Featured Article/Editorial (500-700 words). The article appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of County magazine. Its companion podcast episode received a Superior award.

TAC also earned Best of Category honors for the under-500-word article, “TAC introduces a new trailer to help counties during disasters,” published in the Summer 2024 issue of County magazine.

TAC’s Communications Services team continues to be recognized nationally for delivering high-quality and engaging content that informs, supports and celebrates Texas county government. From compelling storytelling in County magazine and Texas County Voice to timely campaigns and resources for county officials, the team remains dedicated to serving members with creativity and professionalism.

Here is the full list of awards received by TAC:

Podcast Episode

All episodes produced and hosted by Jody Seaborn.

• Best of Category – Texas County Voice, Ep. 63: Demystifying AI for County Officials.
• Superior – Ep. 64: Johnson County’s Biosolids Contamination Investigation.
• Excellence – Ep. 60: Hitting All the Right Notes – A Conversation With McLennan County Tax Assessor-Collector Randy Riggs.
• Meritorious – Ep. 52: Former County Seats – Buffalo Gap in Taylor County.

Writing – Featured Article/Editorial (500-700 words)

• Best of Category – Johnson County Confronts an Invisible Threat. County magazine, Fall 2024. Writer: Jody Seaborn.

Writing – Featured Article/Editorial (250-500 words)

• Best of Category – TAC introduces a new trailer to help counties during disasters. County magazine, Summer 2024. Writer: Julie Chang.

Graphic Design (T-shirts/Posters/Banners/Ads)

• Excellence – Data & Analysis: County Population Projections. County magazine, Summer 2024. Designer: Miranda Baker.

Printed Publication – Annual Reports

• Meritorious – 2023 Texas Association of Counties Member Report. Editor: Melissa Maluski. Designer: David Garcia.

Public Relations Campaigns

• Meritorious – 2024 Fall File Fling (a records and information governance project). Editor: Erica Macioge. Designer: David Garcia. Project manager: Nia Russell.