May 20, 2025 ̶ ̶ ̶ The Department of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Memphis has been awarded the 2025 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Silver Anvil Award, naming it the best undergraduate communications/public relations program in the country – for the second year running.
Each year, PRSA honors the best strategic public relations campaigns and outstanding organizational excellence with a Silver Anvil Award, one of the most prestigious honors in the public relations industry.
“To be recognized at this level is a testament to the hard work of our faculty, students and industry and community partners,” said Department Chair Dr. Matthew Haught. “We are so proud of this honor because it reflects what we value most: a community-powered, student-centered strategic communication education rooted in equity and professional excellence.”
Kim Marks Malone, APR, Fellow PRSA, and professor, received the award on behalf of the department at an event in New York City.
“It was an honor to receive the Silver Anvil for the department,” Marks Malone said. “Winning this award two years in a row is a testament to the hard work and passion our faculty have for our department and our students.”
Marks Malone is the associate chair for undergraduate studies and the department’s online programs coordinator.
Standout elements of the program that earned the department the Silver Anvil honor include:
- Strong community ties that enhance the student experience, including the Obsidian Public Relations Social Media Lab that is funded by a local PR agency and home to the student-run agency, Meeman 901 Strategies; an annual Pro Day portfolio event with industry professionals; and an ongoing partnership with PRSA Memphis for joint programs including the department’s signature Meeman Mocktail Mixer, a student-professional networking event that was attended by more than 150 students and professionals last year.
- Opportunities for real-world experience. Last year alone, students provided 20,000+ pro bono billable hours to more than 10 local clients, equivalent to more than $500K in services like event planning, social media management, media relations, content creation, PR writing, research and campaign planning and execution.
- Accredited PR faculty. Two full-time faculty are Accredited PR (APR) professionals, and one has attained PRSA’s highest professional honor – induction into the prestigious College of Fellows. Additionally, industry professionals from around the country teach as adjuncts both on-campus and in the online program.
- Consistent student accolades, including PRSSA National Committee roles, scholarships and top honors like the PRSSA National Gold Key, National Outstanding Member, the Elaine Averick Outstanding National Committee Member, the National President’s Citation and PRSA Memphis Student Communicator of the Year. The department has also been recognized by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and was awarded the AEJMC “Best Practices in Teaching” honor in 2024.
To graduate, all the students in the department’s programs must complete an industry internship or work in the department’s student-run agency. Eighty-six percent of graduates in the department have full-time jobs or have enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating, according to an alumni survey.
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Photo Credit: PRSA/Albert Chau
Media Contact:
Parker King, Assistant Director
University Media and Public Relations
University of Memphis
(O) 901.678.4822
