This award is presented to the best example of persuasive writing, such as news release, blog, feature story, etc.
This is awarded one per each region and among those, an international winner is selected.
Each agency may submit only ONE entry.
Criteria for selection:
- Content
- Clarity
- Engagement
- Effectiveness
2023 Winners
International and Region 1
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
Administrator Nizer's Crash Simulation Speech
On July 27, 2022, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Baltimore County Police Department to put on a simulated crash at a local airport. While the simulated crash was meant to give a visual representation of the importance of wearing seat belts, the message was much broader from MDOT MVA’s Administrator Chrissy Nizer: crashes are no accident and any person lost to a traffic crash is unacceptable. Throughout the speech, Administrator Nizer emphasized that many of the contributing causes of traffic crashes are preventable. For example, drivers don’t accidentally pick up their phone and text while driving, drivers don’t accidentally go 30 miles per hour over the speed limit, or drivers don’t accidentally leave their seat belt unbuckled. These are all choices we can make when we get behind the wheel that could save someone’s life or our own. The speech ended with a challenge for the media to say the word crash not accident in their newscasts and everyday life. This small change in messaging can change the view that crashes can’t be avoided. The media was mainly targeted for the reach they have on audiences each day and learning through repetition is a nonobvious way to subconsciously change. The speech resonated with all in attendance and beyond. Every media story following the event used the word crash and we are seeing increased instances of the word in daily newscasts.
Region 4
Idaho Transportation Department Division of Motor Vehicles
Idaho DMV Invests in Leadership Development Workshop Essay
In 2022, the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) implemented a leadership development training workshop for non-supervisory staff throughout the DMV. The program consisted of 19 participants from each high-level unit within DMV, and each participant attended three in-person workshops and multiple monthly webinars throughout 2022. Topics included ideal leadership qualities, emotional intelligence, relationship building, conflict management, and facilitation. One of our participants wrote about his experience with the program and presented it at the DMV All Hands meeting in 2022, and a DMV Go story was also published that featured his essay.