October 2022

Insights from Steve Pacheco

President & CEO, American Advertising Federation

The American Advertising Awards is the Largest National Creative Competition in the USA 

Did you know that the AAF provides an excellent opportunity for each and every AAF Club and Chapter to compete in the Nation’s largest advertising creative competition? 

And that we’ve been at it for more than 60 years. This three tiered competition is generally regarded as the largest and most representative Advertising industry competition in existence and is often a gateway that offers insights to Advertising creative work that may also perform well in other high profile creative awards shows.  YOU and your AAF Club can be a part of it all.  

Entering the American Advertising Awards supports the entire advertising industry, because the AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness. Selection of the most creative entry in each category is affected by a scoring process in which a panel of judges evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. 

Attracting nearly 30,000 professional entries each year nationwide, the American Advertising Awards is among the world's largest and most comprehensive advertising competitions. The competition originated in AAF’s Fourth District in 1960 and became a three-tiered National competition in 1968. 

Local tier entries open up on October 17th and all local AAF Club entrants can start there on the road to compete to receive an ADDY Award—industry recognition as the very best work in their respective markets.  Winners from the 120 local tier competitions advance to the second, District Level.  Those District winners then advance to the final stage, with National winners announced LIVE at the American Advertising Awards National Gala, to be held as part of ADMERICA in St. Louis, MO on June 2, 2023.   

All entries are Judged by some of the Nation’s most celebrated and awarded Creatives, representing diverse backgrounds and experiences. The American Advertising Awards are overseen by the National American Advertising Awards Committee lead by David Campbell of Chernoff Newman. 

A Gold ADDY is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a Silver ADDY. The number of awards given in each category is determined by the judges, based on the relative quality of work in that category. 

Last year, more than 25,000 entries were received, with an elite 68 receiving a National Gold ADDY Award.  Best of Show went to BooneOakley and StarMed for the “Don’t Get Vaccinated” outdoor campaign for Wilmore Funeral Home.   

“One of the missions of the American Advertising Awards is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising,” said Dawn Reeves, EVP, Club Services, Membership & Programs at AAF, adding, “Entering the American Advertising Awards supports the entire advertising industry as proceeds are used to enhance advertising through public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education and consumer awareness.” 

To learn more about how to enter the local tier of the American Advertising Awards, click here.