The Press Club of New Orleans honored Peter Mayer Public Relations at its 54th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards ceremony on June 21, 2012, presenting the agency with 1st place for “Best PR Campaign (Agency 5 or Larger)” for its publicity efforts to promote the 75th anniversary of the Vieux Carré Commission.

This is the third consecutive year the agency and PR Management Supervisor Larry Lovell have received the coveted recognition for best PR campaign from the Press Club. Last year, the award was given for their work promoting the grand opening of “Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond,” and in 2010, it was given for their work promoting The National World War II Museum’s three-attraction expansion.

Vieux Carré Commission Director Lary Hesdorffer and Peter Mayer PR Management Supervisor Larry Lovell celebrate winning “1st Place Best PR Campaign” at the Theatre at Harrah’s Casino during the Press Club of New Orleans’ 54th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards.

The Vieux Carré Commission campaign included national, regional, and local media relations to generate awareness and establish credibility of the organization’s mission to preserve the architectural heritage of the New Orleans French Quarter. Additionally, the campaign promoted a commemorative public ceremony at the National Historic Landmark Cabildo and a fund-raising gala at Antoine’s Restaurant in November 2011.

Campaign highlights included stories published by ABCNews.com, CBSNews.com and NYTimes.com as well as coverage by the Washington Post, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Houston Chronicle and The Dallas Morning News. Locally, the initiative produced multiple stories in the The Times-Picayune, including a front page news feature, which resulted in many supportive letters to the editor.