5 min read
Study
Case Study: Kirkus Prize Awards Ceremony
Enhancing Accessibility & Reach for a Prestigious Literary Award
Client’s Problem
The Kirkus Prize Awards is one of the most prestigious literary awards, recognizing exceptional works in fiction, nonfiction, and young readers' literature. For the 2024 ceremony, the challenge was ensuring that all finalists—both in-person and remote—could fully participate, especially given that one of the winners could not attend in person. The goal was to create a seamless, inclusive event experience that allowed both physical and virtual attendees to engage without disruption.
Key Issues
1.
Ensuring all finalists, whether attending physically or virtually, had a meaningful presence in the ceremony.
2.
Live-streaming and integrating virtual acceptance speeches without technical difficulties..
3.
Maintaining the prestige and high production quality of the event, both in-person and online.
Wildbound PR’s Solution
A Seamless Hybrid Event Experience
To address these challenges, Wildbound PR leveraged its expertise in event production, live-streaming, and literary publicity to ensure a smooth and engaging hybrid event experience.
High-Quality Live Streaming & Virtual Integration
We provided a professional, real-time video feed that allowed virtual finalists to be "present" in the venue alongside in-person attendees.
Custom multi-camera setup ensured an engaging visual experience, integrating both in-person and remote participants.
Flawless Virtual Winner Acceptance Speeches
When the virtual winner was announced, we seamlessly patched them in for a real-time, high-definition acceptance speech, ensuring they could celebrate their achievement with the audience.
Our real-time event coordination guaranteed that transitions between in-person and virtual segments were smooth and professional.
Comprehensive Event PR & Media Strategy
We amplified the event’s reach with pre-event publicity, media coverage, and strategic social media campaigns, generating buzz before and after the ceremony.
Our press team ensured that key literary and media outlets covered the event, securing valuable exposure for Kirkus and its winners.
Impact & Results
Expanding the Reach & Prestige of the Kirkus Awards
Virtual integration allowed all finalists, regardless of location, to participate fully in the event, enhancing inclusivity and engagement.
Increased Accessibility & Global Participation
The seamless hybrid event execution ensured a professional, uninterrupted experience, setting a new standard for literary award ceremonies.
High-Quality Event Production Without Disruptions
The event generated significant buzz across literary circles, social media, and media publications, strengthening the Kirkus Prize’s visibility and prestige.
Wider Media Coverage & Social Engagement
Strengthened the Kirkus Prize’s Reputation as a Forward-Thinking Literary Institution
By successfully blending in-person and virtual elements, the Kirkus Prize demonstrated its commitment to inclusivity and innovation in the literary world