PRWeek Names ESPN Communications Team of the Year AWSM member Rosa Gatti The ESPN Communications Department was named Corporate Communications Team of the Year at the annual PRWeek Awards ceremony March 3 in New York. The ESPN submission (in the category for "large" departments, i.e., more than five people) reviewed the group's successful year in 2004, highlighted by ESPN's 25 th anniversary, original entertainment programming, ESPN HD launch and corporate outreach campaigns, as well as numerous priorities and developments from the company's more than 50 business units. The entry also focused on the department's role in addressing issues and company objectives, notably increasing ratings. The award was accepted by Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Outreach, Rosa Gatti, the staff's department head since joining ESPN in 1980; Senior Vice President, Consumer Communications Chris LaPlaca; Vice President, Domestic Networks. Communications Mike Soltys; and joined by many of the communications team on stage. "By any measure, 2004 was by far our department's best year, with tremendous results on a wide range of projects, topped by overwhelming results for the 25 th anniversary," Gatti commented after the event. "Given ESPN's multiple business priorities, the results are truly remarkable, and we are thrilled to be recognized by the public relations community, especially having faced such strong competition. In 2004 more than ever, ESPN received widespread recognition as a leading force in sports media and culture, an American business success story and a major division of The Walt Disney Company. "What is so great about this award is that every single person on our team contributed to this achievement - a team of such quality individuals, with longtime leaders Chris and Mike, both key contributors to our success," she continued. "I am so privileged to work with this group of outstanding people in helping build ESPN's brand and business growth." PRWeek Awards are judged by a panel of top public relations professionals from both agency and corporate teams, chosen for their professional and wide-ranging level of expertise. The PRWeek Award is the latest honor of 12 for the group's efforts in 2004, and the eighth specifically for the 25 th Anniversary. Previously, the department received: - three Spotlight Awards , awarded for PR materials from the League of American Communications Professionals, for the 25 th Anniversary Media Guide, the 25 th Anniversary Web Site and the 25 th Anniversary CD-rom
- two Magellan Awards , given for publicity campaigns (also by the LACP), for the 25 th anniversary (ranked first in its category and fourth of all entries across all categories, with special designation for Most News Coverage) and the launch of Dream Job,
- four Mercury Awards , presented by MERCOMM and judged by an international panel of public relations professionals - for the 25 th Anniversary campaign (in two categories: Publicity: Consumer Product and Campaigns: Media Relations), the X Games CD-rom (CD-roms: press kits) and ESPN HD (Publicity: Trade Press)
- a Bulldog Award for PR campaigns, given by The Bulldog Reporter , for the 25 th Anniversary in the Arts and Entertainment category,
- a Dalton Pen Award , given by Warwick Publishing for excellence in communications, for the 25 th Anniversary in the Media Relations category.
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