AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS
COMPETITION FAQS
What can I enter?
All work entered in the American Advertising Awards competition must have first appeared between January 1, and December 31, 2023. Entries must be submitted in the CBSA, DMA or MSA where the work was created (as defined by Arbitron or Nielsen for your local market). Please use the links below to review this year’s rules and categories and see past year’s entries and winners.
2023-2024 PROFESSIONAL RULES & CATEGORIES
2023-2024 STUDENT RULES & CATEGORIES
WHO JUDGES THE COMPETITION?
Three judges are chosen by the AAA Competition Committee and approved by the AAF-Corpus Christi Board of Directors. The Committee seeks out judges in markets of similar size to the Corpus Christi DMA preferably outside AAF 10th District with a variety of expertise in the advertising industry. Judges may not be from or work in the Corpus Christi DMA. Judges may or may not have previously judged an American Advertising Awards competition. Have a judge recommendation? Please email D’Anne Buquet with more details.
WHAT IS THE JUDGING PROCESS?
All entries are screened by the AAA Competition Committee to ensure all work is eligible and entered into the correct AAA categories prior to judging. The judging process is completed virtually using the official AAA Entry & Judging Software. AAF-Corpus Christi uses the numerical judging system set by AAF National. The numerical judging system is based on scores given to each entry by each judge. The judges independently score each entry on a scale of 40–100 (100 being the highest score) in each of the designated criteria. This system requires silent judging. Judges are not be allowed to confer with each other on any entries during the judging process. If a judge determines that an entry is in the wrong category or has any question about an entry, then he or she is directed to the judging chair. After the judges have independently scored each entry in a category, the individual judges’ scores are totaled, which determines the numerical ranking of the entry within the parameters set by each competition within the software.
When all the scores are computed, setting the qualification levels for the Gold American Advertising Awards and Silver American Advertising Awards will determine the winners. Entries with average scores above either of these levels will qualify for an award . If no entries in a category have average scores above the Gold American Advertising Award qualification level of 90 , then the committee will need to curve your parameters. The same is true for the Silver American Advertising Award qualification level. More than one Gold or Silver American Advertising Award may be awarded in any category. Awards are determined by the scoring parameters not the number of entries in each category.
Once all entries have been judged and scores have been submitted, the AAA Competition Committee will host a virtual meeting with all three judges to review the Gold American Advertising Award winners to determine from these winners the Best-of- categories and Best-of-Show winner.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS
The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 25,000 entries every year in local AAF Ad Club competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.
Conducted annually by the AAF, the local tier of the American Advertising Awards is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, across the country, local entrants vie to receive an ADDY Award—recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. Entry in your local competition is the first step toward winning a national ADDY. Entering the American Advertising Awards supports the entire advertising industry, because the AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness. Selection of the most creative entry in each category is affected by a scoring process in which a panel of judges evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. A Gold ADDY is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a Silver ADDY. The number of awards given in each category is determined by the judges, based on the relative quality of work in that category.
STUDENTS
The AAF Student American Advertising Awards Competition, sponsored by the AAF and National Ad 2, is a unique national awards program designed specially for college students. Work entered at your local level can move up to the regional and national judging, just like the work entered by professionals across the country.
Applicants must be enrolled full- or part-time in an accredited U.S. educational institution. Student interns are eligible to enter.
Submit work developed specifically for this competition or from previous projects or student contests (work must be created while the entrant is a student not employed in the advertising industry). National winning entries may receive the following:
Finalist certificate—great for résumés and portfolios
Prestigious Student American Advertising Award for first-place winners
$1,000 cash prize for National Best of Show winner
Copyright infringement and/or plagiarism (be it intentional or unintentional) will result in the disqualification and, if applicable, removal of awards from any entry deemed in violation. All entry fees will be forfeited.
