NESHCo Lamplighter Awards

The Lamplighter competition opens annually on the first Monday in December and closes mid-February. 

The awards will be announced at the Annual Lamplighter Awards Gala on May 29th at the Spring Conference in Springfield, MA.

Early Bird Deadline | Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11:59pm

Members: $100 | Non-Members: $160

Final Deadline | Monday, February 10, 2025 at 11:59pm

Members: $160 | Non-Members: $210

All entries must be completed electronically through the NESHCo Lamplighters system by the deadlines outlined above. The system will automatically prevent entry submission after the final deadline.

The competition is open to all public relations and marketing professionals employed or contracted by New England healthcare institutions, health plans and agencies. The following are all eligible entries:

1. The entry content is created for clients/healthcare organizations in New England by a New England organization.
2. The entry content is created for clients/healthcare organizations outside of New England by a New England organization.
3. The entry content is created for clients/healthcare organizations in New England by an outside organization.

Eligible entries in 2025 must have been produced and/or completed – including measured results – between October 1, 2023 and January 31, 2025.

The major distinction between in-house and agency produced entries is where the creative direction for an entry resides.

When an advertising, design, or PR agency is directed by a client to create and produce a piece of work or campaign, and that agency is responsible for the creative concept and execution, the entry should be considered AGENCY-PRODUCED. 

If hospital marketing or PR staff members conceptualize a piece of work or campaign and this team is responsible for the content creation and execution (even if freelance copywriters, freelance graphic designers, printers, and/or mailing houses are hired to execute portions), this type of entry is considered PRODUCED IN-HOUSE.

Each entry is subject to peer review. Judges are sourced from SHSMD Independent chapter organizations who reside outside of New England. Judges have professional experience and expertise within healthcare communications. A smaller panel of judges is invited to review the highest scoring entries to select the Best In New England.

The Best in New England Award recognizes the outstanding achievement of a well-planned, exceptionally executed entry. The highest scored GOLD category winners are automatically entered into a second round of judging. In this second round, a small panel of judges are invited to evaluate these entries and select the recipient for the highest honor of Best in New England. *There is no additional cost for this category. 

Owen J. McNamara Excellence in Writing Award is a "best-of-the-best" recognition for writing. The recipient is selected annually from the winners of the NESHCo Lamplighter Awards writing competitions. The award is a tribute to the late Owen J. McNamara, a NESHCo member who, in his career as a newspaper reporter and editor, senior public affairs manager at Boston University's medical center and author, set the standard for clear, concise yet elegant writing that recognized the audience and context. McNamara also served as a writing mentor to several generations of NESHCo members. *All award winners in the writing categories are automatically entered. *There is no additional cost for this category. 

• Entries that do not include the required information will be disqualified without notification. 
• False or misleading entries will result in disqualification.
• Payments are due to the NESHCo office within two weeks of the final submission deadline. If we do not receive your payment in time, it could result in disqualification.