Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline to enter?
Early deadline: 5 p.m., July 18
Regular deadline: 5 p.m., Sept. 12
Late deadline: 5 p.m., Sept. 19
Deadlines are applied based on the last time an entry was edited. Making any edits after a deadline will update to reflect the full price at the time you save your changes. All entries must be complete and submitted by 5 p.m. on September 19 - we will not accept any entries after this time. Please also note that entries are not considered submitted until you have completed the checkout process. You will know your items have been submitted when you receive a confirmation email with a subject line of "Thank you for your entry in the Blacksmith Awards!" Finalists are announced in mid-October.
When are the Blacksmith Awards?
The Blacksmith Awards will be presented at the Cincinnati PRSA Chapter Banquet on November 20 at the Ventura in Norwood.
I submitted entries in OpenWater in the past. Do I need to create a new account?
No.
Forgot your password? That's okay - use our 'Forgot Password' link to reset your password.
How are the categories decided?
We have aligned our categories with PRSA’s national Silver (campaign) and Bronze (tactics) Awards. Aligning will allow our Blacksmith winners to easily enter these national awards.
Each year, we adjust our categories to reflect any changes made to these national awards programs.
Are there any new categories this year?
Best Use of AI, Corporate Citizenship and others have been added. We have also added a 'Best of' category for First-Time Entrants or companies that haven't entered since 2021. Be sure to click the box for new entrant.
Visit the Categories page for a comprehensive listing. Those that have subcategories are noted in the category’s description.
How are the entries scored?
See links below to understand how the entries are scored.
Is there a minimum requirement for supportive documents?
No. Please note that some categories have individual requirements for supporting materials. One example is newsletters, where three issues are to be submitted. Follow the judging criteria for the specific category.
How do I know my entries have been submitted for judging?
You will receive an email entitled "Thank you for your entry in the Blacksmith Awards!" confirming your payment and submission. You will also see a new category under the 'My Application' menu that says 'Completed'. This link will take you to the completed submissions.
What are our payment options?
You can pay online at the time of submission with a credit card, or offline with a check. Choose the PayPal Express Checkout option to pay by credit card (or via a PayPal account). If you are paying by check, please follow the instructions for preparing the check and specify the address to which it should be sent. For questions about payments, please email cincyprsa@gmail.com.
How do I know you received my payment?
You should receive a confirmation email for those paying online, which can be used as your receipt. If you are mailing a check, once it has been received, we will process your payment and send a confirmation email to you.
In addition, no matter your payment method, when a payment has been received/processed, on your view/edit entries page, in the payment status column, the $ sign will be in a green circle (those who haven't yet paid will see a red circle (for those indicating online payment), or orange circle (for those indicating offline payment).
I selected to pay offline, but have changed my mind and want to pay online - can I?
Yes, you can.
To pay online after previously selecting the pay by check option, click on the 'invoices' option on the left-hand side menu (note: the 'invoices' option will only display if you have previously indicated you will pay by check. Under the 'Payment Not Received' option, you will see a table with information; click on the 'View' link under the 'Action' heading. The page will present several buttons at the top. Click the 'Pay' button, confirm the PayPal Express Checkout option is selected, and then click on the 'process' button to proceed to pay online with a credit card or PayPal account.
Is my online payment secure?
Yes. After completing the payment process, you will be directed to PayPal to finalize your payment. PayPal uses some of the highest online payment security available. For more information on PayPal payment security for buyers, click here.
How do I know my discounts will be applied appropriately, and can I see where they were used?
Your cart is set up to show the discounts you automatically receive. See the details column on the checkout screen, which lists the discounts, member options and pricing information that will be charged to you. Note that the discount is applied based on the order in which the entries were added to the cart.
If you feel the system is charging you an incorrect price, please email cincyprsa@gmail.com with your concern.
Who will be judging the Blacksmiths?
The San Antonia PRSA Chapter will be judging our awards.
When will finalists be notified?
We plan to notify entry contacts of the status of their applications in mid-October.
For questions about your award submission, please email blacksmithawards@cincinnatiprsa.org. For questions about payments, please email cincyprsa@gmail.com.