This category is open to any agency that has launched a new media campaign during the eligibility period. This can be the launch of a new brand, or a new approach for an experienced brand. If it is a new approach for an experienced brand, please detail how the strategy diverges from what is expected of the client. Judges will be looking for campaigns that display original, creative ideas that have delivered tangible outcomes in both quantitative and qualitative form.

These categories recognise projects or campaigns that have only been made possible by the close collaboration of one or more media agencies and/ or other relevant agencies, with one or more media owners or media platforms.

This award recognises projects or campaigns that have only been made possible by the close collaboration between a creative agency and a media agency or the work of an integrated creative and media agency team. Entries must go beyond a creative idea and media activation, to demonstrate deep integration and genuine partnership that delivered results.

The judges will be looking for examples of joint creative and media agency partnership such as the ambitious use of creativity and/or creative assets at the heart of a media strategy, the use of creative that was tailored in a platform-specific way (to suit each media owner / platform) or the use of dynamic creative optimisation.

Please clearly mark in your entry form the companies involved in the creative and media agency partnership. An advertiser’s In-house agency may enter this category when appropriate.

This award recognises advertiser-funded programme (AFP) or advertiser-funded entertainment that demonstrates creativity and innovation, meets high editorial or production standards that are suitable for the wider media channel, agency or platform, and delivers business results.

Entrants can submit programming or entertainment in any commercial media channel, including TV, video, audio or live experience. The judges will be looking for examples of where a piece of programming or entertainment was made with the backing of an advertiser, agency, media investment company and/or production company and might not have been made without that advertiser-funded support.

Entries should provide evidence such as audience engagement or response that demonstrates the programming or entertainment met high editorial or production standards suitable for the media owner / platform.

Please clearly mark in your entry form the companies involved in the advertiser-funded programming or entertainment.

This award recognises a demonstrable use of content in all its forms to answer a specific client challenge that has helped to transform their business. Clear accountable targets and verified tracking are essential.

This award recognises a demonstrable use of content in all its forms to answer a specific client challenge that has helped to transform their business. Clear accountable targets and verified tracking are essential.

This award recognises innovation, creativity, planning, the use of data and consequent business results through having an effective and smart retail media strategy. The judges will be looking for demonstrable examples of where the use of retail media has driven sales for an advertiser.

This award recognises the clever use of new ideas in media that deliver something tangible for an advertiser such as a clever media insight, a new digital or social networking application, a buzz or viral marketing campaign, or a new piece of technology. Judges will be looking to see how the innovation led to business results.

This award will recognise the growing importance of creative thinking. Entries must go beyond evidence of great planning and buying, to the invention of ideas which address a business problem.

This award recognises the importance of an inclusive approach to media planning and buying and has been devised with the support of Media For All. Entrants must clearly demonstrate how inclusion played a central role at every stage of a campaign and explain the strategic objectives. The entry should give details about use of specific media channels, target audience and demographic composition of the team, where relevant. Judges will be looking for how the inclusive media strategy led to business results and for a broader commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion beyond the work. Please clearly mark in your entry form the companies involved in the inclusive media strategy. Open to brands, media agencies, owners and platforms or a collaboration between the parties.

This category recognises campaigns of any length that display creative, original ideas that have delivered tangible outcomes and achieved business goals. To provide an accurate comparison, entries will be judged within one of three financial tiers.

Open to leaders of media owners or platforms.

Written entries should provide evidence of business performance, leadership and growth, development of agency culture, ability to drive transformation and contribution to the wider media industry.

Entries must be no more than one side of A4.

A shortlist will be reached in August and put to the public vote via Campaign Live.

The public vote will not be binding and results won’t be shared, but will be used to inform the final stage of judging.

Entrants that reach the shortlist stage will be informed and must provide additional evidence in the form of a 2 minute film suggesting why the individual should win, the film doesn’t necessarily have to feature him/her.

In addition, shortlisted entrants will also need to supply two endorsements from staff members and two endorsements from clients and/ or business partners, which should be a total of no more than 500 words.

Judges will consider:

• The individual’s achievements during the eligibility period, including achievement against objectives
• The size of the business, its role in the industry and how the individual has advanced the business
• Development of culture and personal involvement in staff development initiatives - judges will consider the role the individual has played to improve diversity
• Innovation led by the individual and the results it has achieved
• How the individual has contributed to the broader industry above and beyond their day- to-day role

Open to agencies and other media leaders in a senior leadership role. Written entries should provide evidence of business performance, leadership and growth, development of company culture, ability to drive transformation and contribution to the wider media industry. Entries must be no more than one side of A4.

A shortlist will be reached in August and put to the public vote via Campaign Live. The public vote will not be binding and results won’t be shared, but will be used to inform the final stage of judging. Entrants that reach the shortlist stage will be informed and must provide additional evidence in the form of a 2 minute film suggesting why the individual should win, the film doesn’t necessarily have to feature him/her.

In addition, shortlisted entrants will also need to supply two endorsements from staff members and two endorsements from clients and/ or business partners, which should be a total of no more than 500 words.

Judges will consider:

• The individual’s achievements during the eligibility period, including achievement against objectives
• The size of the business, its role in the industry and how the individual has advanced the business
• Development of culture and personal involvement in staff development initiatives. Judges will consider the role the individual has played to improve diversity Innovation led by the individual and the results it has achieved
• How the individual has contributed to the broader industry above and beyond their day- to-day role

This category is open to candidates of 30 years or under working in agencies, media owners or media platforms. Entries are also welcome from savvy entrepreneurs. Judges will not only be looking at performance and what has been achieved to date or in the present, but will also look at potential and what could be achieved in the future.

Participants will be shortlisted by Media Week judges and invited to present in front of a panel of industry judges on Thursday 11th September. Written entries must be no longer than 300 words and include – background, why they should win this award and their expectations for the future.

This category is open to candidates of 30 years or under working in agencies, media owners or media platforms. Entries are also welcome from savvy entrepreneurs. Judges will not only be looking at performance and what has been achieved to date or in the present, but will also look at potential and what could be achieved in the future.

Participants will be shortlisted by Media Week judges and invited to present in front of a panel of industry judges on Thursday 11th September. Written entries must be no longer than 300 words and include – background, why they should win this award and their expectations for the future.

This award will honour the most innovative and exciting media brand of the year. Judges will be looking to award to the brand which demonstrates evidence of brand development over the previous 12 months, what the brand delivers to agencies and advertisers, success within the marketplace and influence on media practice.

This award recognises the very best in media sales teams who have evidence of financial success, collaboration with agencies, innovation and an acknowledgement of advertiser needs, as well as the media owners’ target audience. Teams will also be commended for their dedication to diversity within their organisation and/or wider industry. Judges will also be looking to understand the team or business’ strategy or approach regarding sustainability, and the continued measures being taken to develop.

Initial entry can be up to 2 sides of A4. To qualify, you must be shortlisted in a media owner category. The more entries you submit the greater chance you have of being shortlisted for these most coveted awards. A shortlist will be reached in August, and a panel of judges will assess presentations from all the competing teams.

This award recognises the very best in media agency teams who have evidence of financial success, client retention and acquisition, work that shows great media thinking and development of the agency’s brand, business and talent base. Teams will also be commended for their dedication to diversity within their agency and/ or wider industry. Judges will also be looking to understand the team or business’ strategy or approach regarding sustainability, and the continued measures being taken to develop. To qualify, you must be shortlisted in a media agency category. The more entries you submit the greater chance you have of being shortlisted for these most coveted awards. A shortlist will be reached in August, and a panel of judges will assess presentations from all the competing teams. Initial entry can be up to 2 sides of A4.

Independent media agencies are classed, in this case, as businesses that operate independently of a larger agency holding company. This award recognises the very best independent media agency teams who have evidence of financial success, client retention and acquisition; work that shows great media thinking and development of the agency’s brand, business, talent base, and showing how they offer a viable, innovative alternative to networked media agencies.

Teams will also be commended for their dedication to diversity within their agency and/ or wider industry. Judges will also be looking to understand the business’ approach regarding sustainability, and the continued measures being taken to develop it.

Initial entry can be up to 2 sides of A4. To qualify, enter at least one other Media Week category outside Agency of the Year to demonstrate your work. A shortlist will be reached in August, and a panel of judges will assess in-person presentations from all the competing teams. Independent agencies are also eligible to enter Media Agency of the Year.

Econometrics is often a part of successful Media Week Award entries – mainly as a tool of post campaign evaluation. We hope to bring the “backroom boy” of econometrics into the foreground with this specialist award. Judges will be looking for creative or original use of econometrics to guide a campaign towards a successful result. Initial entry can be up to 2 sides of A4.

This award is designed to celebrate research by a media trade body that has provided credible and usable insights into how a particular medium and its advertising work. We are looking for research that is objective, has provided robust evidence and has genuinely filled knowledge gaps. Conclusions must be founded in a research methodology that stands up to scrutiny at the highest level. Please note you may enter more than one piece of research. Initial entry can be up to 2 sides of A4.

The judges will be looking for a research study that uncovered an insight/s that guided a successful media campaign. The research study need not necessarily be an original research technique – we are looking for the discovery of insights from research – insights that unlocked commercial advantage. Initial entry can be up to 2 sides of A4.