Use of reputation channels
CATEGORY 1: MEDIA RELATIONS
For the authority that provides the best strategy and consistent implementation of actions to manage the media effectively to promote and defend the council.
CATEGORY 2: PUBLICATION
For the authority that provides the best example of a regular council publication that informs residents.
CATEGORY 3: EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
For the authority that provides the best example of how to communicate well with staff so they become advocates for the council.
Drivers of reputation
CATEGORY 4: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS
For the authority that can demonstrate the most effective communications around an environmental initiative. This may cover at least two of the following areas: promoting the work of the cleansing service, facilitating public reporting of problems, dealing with ‘grot spots’, dealing with fly-tipping or educating and enforcing on environmental matters.
CATEGORY 5: VALUE FOR MONEY
For the most effective campaign communicating the value for money of local services to local residents and stakeholders. This category may include campaigns to tackle the recession, recognising that the economic outlook has changed perceptions of value for money.
CATEGORY 6: LOCAL DEMOCRACY
The local Democracy Act of 2009 has placed statutory duties on local authorities to promote democracy and involve people in decision making. This award is for the authority that best demonstrates the promotion of local democracy in terms of showing good government, widening involvement and feeding back to citizens on the performance of the authority.
CATEGORY 7: CRISIS MANAGEMENT
For the authority that can demonstrate how it successfully managed a threat to corporate reputation or a civil emergency through timely, proactive communications with tangible benefit to local reputation and the community.
Promoting the reputation of the authority
CATEGORY 8: DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA
This category will reward entrants who can demonstrate how digital media has played a positive role in council strategy to achieve policy goals, engage people in the political process and unite communities. Judges will be looking for outcomes in terms of improved understanding of or access to local services.
CATEGORY 9: COUNCIL REPUTATION
For the authority that best demonstrates how they have enhanced the council brand. This may include evidence of how a strategy has been put into practice, communicating the council’s story and demonstrating the value of key services to enhance council reputation.
CATEGORY 10: DISTRICT COMMUNICATIONS
For the district council that provides the best example of improving district council reputation project across the range of disciplines (media, marketing, internal communications and environmental communications).
CATEGORY 11: NEXT GENERATION
For the local authority communicator who can demonstrate that they have improved the reputation of their local authority and local government in their area through effective strategic and tactical communications. Candidates should be under 30 years of age on 1.1.10, be at the level of communications manager or below and be considered part of the ‘next generation’ of heads of communication.
Promoting the reputation of the place
CATEGORY 12: TOTAL PLACE LEADERSHIP
For the authority that can best show how public services have worked together to promote the reputation of the whole area. This may mean demonstrating communications has improved access to public services or how joint work has successfully improved the reputation of the area.
CATEGORY 13: COMMUNITY REASSURANCE
For the public authorities that can most effectively demonstrate how the police and council have worked together to reduce fear of crime, or actual levels of crime. These can be joint entries from the council and police.
CATEGORY 14: IMPROVING HEALTH
For the public authorities that can most effectively demonstrate how they have worked together to improve public health or reduce health inequalities. These can be joint entries from the council and local health service.
CATEGORY 15: PARTNERSHIP
For the council that can most effectively demonstrate how it has worked with other partners to deliver specific benefits for the community in terms of targets set through the LSP or other forums. These may be joint entries from public and private sector partners.