NEW ORLEANS – On Monday, July 18, 2016, the Port of South Louisiana (PSL) received two 2016 AAPA Communication Awards Program Awards of Merit from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) – one for the quarterly PortLog journal and the other for website re-design.
The PSL contracted Renaissance Publishing to implement quarterly editions of its PortLog, which is distributed to more than 3,000 companies around the U.S.
PSL reps said in the past the PSL seemed to have a lack of name recognition even though it is the largest tonnage port in the Western Hemisphere. The PSL’s goal to increase awareness and solidify its identity is paramount, they said, especially within the conscious mind of its target audience [those in the maritime industry (e.g., shipping agents, freight forwarders, barge companies, etc.) and site selectors]. Fortunately, the PSL has seen an increase in PortLog readership since the publication went quarterly and the response received has been positive, PSL reps said.
In March, PSL launched its redesigned website, which aims at versatility and aesthetics, both crucial elements when making a first impression to online visitors, PSL reps said. The end product delivered by Curran & Connors, who worked closely with PSL’s business development department, was a modern, mobile-friendly site with enhanced features, easy navigation and improved search capabilities that highlights the PSL and the region, and economic development information for potential investors and resources for site selectors, industry, companies, government officials, and the community, Port reps said.
The 2016 AAPA Communications Awards Program, which had a May 1, 2016, deadline for entries, utilized 48 professional public relations practitioners from the Washington, D.C. area who cumulatively spent nearly 200 hours over three weeks judging the 15 classifications of entries, ranging from advertisements and periodicals to videos and websites. Based on the number of points awarded each entry by the judges, the PSL received two Awards of Merit.
AAPA will recognize 25 seaports for exemplary communications projects and programs at its annual convention and awards luncheon this fall. Winning entrants in AAPA’s 50th annual Communications Awards Program will be recognized at an October 26 awards luncheon in conjunction with AAPA’s 105th Annual Convention and Expo in New Orleans, which runs October 23 through 26.
