Purpose
To recognize and encourage graduate study and scholarship in public relations through an annual award for an outstanding master's thesis (or for a written project completed in lieu of a master's thesis).

Award
The winner receives a $2,000 grant. The winner's faculty advisor receives a $1,000 cash grant.

Deadline
Entries must be received electronically no later than August 31, 2008.

Criteria
Entries are judged on their contribution to the advancement of research-based knowledge in the field of public relations practice, philosophy, education and/or professional development.

Entries should test or develop theory within the public relations context; systematically test an applied public relations principle, case study or practice; analyze a legal, historical, or societal question in the field; or critically review an issue relevant to public relations practice, research and/or teaching.

Entries should conform to scholarly study and legal research methods. Potential significance of the study and quality of the research methodology and written presentation are also judged. These should have applicability beyond the confines of a given campus.

Rules
A blind judging procedure is followed so please pay close attention to the rules.

• Application form must be completed online and no later than August 31, 2008, at www.instituteforpr.org
• Since the judging is blind, it is important that you include the final title of your thesis or project in the application form, and that same title in the paper you submit. The paper should not contain any reference to the author's name, the advisor's name, the educational institution or other identifiable information. Leaving such identification visible in the thesis will be grounds for disqualification.
• Your actual thesis or written project must be submitted electronically, and in one file (preferably Microsoft Word or other standard word processing program). Email submissions to jmoyer@jou.ufl.edu are strongly encouraged, but we will accept submission by CD or DVD. All submission materials must be received on or before August 31, 2008.
• Include an executive summary of your thesis or project as a separate electronic file. The summary should provide a synopsis of your work and run no more than 1,000 words. The executive summary should not contain any reference to the author's name, the advisor's name, the educational institution or other identifiable information. Leaving such identification visible in the executive summary will be grounds for disqualification.
• The thesis or project must be authored as part of a master's degree (i.e., MA, MJ, MPR, MSC, etc.) awarded by a college or university in the United States between June 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008.
• A letter of endorsement from the public relations faculty of the student's school attesting to the eligibility and qualifications of the entry must be included with the thesis and application form. This letter must also be submitted electronically, but in a separate file from the actual thesis or project.
• All entries become the property of the Institute for Public Relations and cannot be returned. By entering the competition, you grant the Institute permission to publish your case on its website and through any other means.

Judging
The panel of judges includes representatives from the Institute for Public Relations and the Public Relations Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).

Award Announcement
Distinguished Lecture Series and Awards Dinner to be held at the Yale Club (NYC) on Wednesday, November 5, 2008, from 6:00-9:30 pm. Recipient will be notified in advance.

Address for Submission
Master's Thesis Award
The Institute for Public Relations
University of Florida
PO Box 118400
Gainesville, FL 32611-8400
jmoyer@jou.ufl.edu