Mecklenburg County Communicators Honored Among Best in Field

Experts in public-sector communications have recognized Mecklenburg County’s work to share with the community information about the County’s many programs, services, initiatives and stories. In September, two major professional organizations recognized several County communication projects, and the teams behind them, as exceptional examples of how to connect residents to the information they need.

“Receiving these national awards is very rewarding,” said Danny Diehl, director of the Mecklenburg County Public Information Department. “It confirms that we are providing our customers with the best chance possible to learn how their County tax dollars are spent.” 

National Association of Government Web Professionals Pinnacle Awards

On Sept. 28, the National Association of Government Web Professionals (NAGW) awarded Mecklenburg County with a Pinnacle Award in the category of City/County Large Population Group for the new MeckNC.gov website.

The Pinnacle Awards are an annual celebration of the best in government web communications, design, development and innovation. The awards recognize government web professionals committed to delivering exceptional digital experiences for their residents. Winners are selected by a panel of experts in government website development.

Earlier this year, Mecklenburg County unveiled its refreshed, and now award-winning, website that:

• Focuses on customers. Users can search for services by category and see related services.

• Can be viewed on different types of devices without issues.

• Uses easy-to-find calls to action, such as contact or registration information.

• Features interactive content such as embedded videos and Google maps.

• Adheres to standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

City-County Communications & Marketing Association Savvy Awards

Mecklenburg County brought home five awards from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) national conference and annual Savvy Awards held Sept. 6-8 in Orlando, Florida. The Savvy Awards recognize government communications programs that have effectively engaged constituents and elevated the profession.

More than 875 entries in 38 categories were submitted by local governments nationwide. Mecklenburg County’s five award-winning projects were judged by an expert panel and spanned a variety of disciplines, from publications to videos to educational campaigns. They include:

• Savvy Award (first place) in the Graphic Design (Publications) for Populations Greater than 200,000 category: Mecklenburg County Performance Report (Fiscal Years 2020-2022).

• Savvy Award (first place) in the Style or Branding Guides category: Mecklenburg County Social Media Handbook.

• Savvy Award (first place) in the Social Media Campaigns for Populations Greater than 300,000 category: Recycle Right campaign.

• Silver Circle Award (second place) in the Promotional Video for Populations Greater than 400,000 category: Recruiting Life to Save Lives lifeguard recruitment video.

• Award of Excellence (third place) in the Graphic Design (Other Marketing Tools) for Populations Greater than 200,000 category: Mecklenburg County Public Health brochure connecting residents to local farmers markets.