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Communicators of Achievement

By Carol Sanders Reiner, APW member since 1975

NFPW selects one national Communicator of Achievement each year from among nominees submitted by state affiliates across the country. The winner is chosen based on recent and lifelong achievements in communications, and in service to the community, the field and the organization.

Competition is tough, but Arkansas Press Women nominees have an outstanding record of national recognition. Arkansas has had six NFPW Communicators of Achievement: Bobbie Forster, 1960; Charlotte Schexnayder, 1970; Margaret Woolfolk, 1977; Eva Marie Pearson, 2000; Pearl Serbus in 2002 and Terry Hawkins in 2007.

Nominees are judged on these criteria:
60 percent Professional Achievement: High professional qualifications and achievements in her or his communications field.
20 percent Community Service: Some impact on the world beyond his or her profession, some contribution to humanity.
20 percent NFPW and affiliate service: Contribution to his or her affiliate and to NFPW.

Arkansas nominations

In Arkansas we select a nominee as potential candidates appear qualified and willing to assist with preparing the nomination materials. The process begins during the year before the May 1 national deadline, with nominating a candidate at the APW spring awards luncheon or fall conference. If the nomination is accepted and completed, that person becomes Arkansas' Communicator of Achievement for the year their nomination goes to NFPW.

The nominating packet -- a comprehensive record of achievement condensed to the eight pages allowed -- is prepared in the following months. In order to assure that only high quality nominations are submitted to the national program, we often go a year without a nomination.

What's in the packet prepared by the COA co-directors?
Official one-page entry form
Four pages of narrative about the nominee, her/his accomplishments, etc.
One page vita divided into three parts: professional, community and NFPW/APW service
Two pages of endorsements and/or samples of the nominee's work
Three black-and-white photographs of the nominee
A 150-word biography of the nominee
A check for $50

For information on APW's nominating process, contact the co-directors listed below. For details of the NFPW Communicator of Achievement award, see this page.

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