12/7/07

American Dietetic Association Receives Two Prestigious Awards for Communications Excellence

FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 7, 2007

Media contact: Jennifer Starkey, Tom Ryan   
800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4894     
media@eatright.org

CHICAGO – The American Dietetic Association has won two awards in the 2007 Association TRENDS All-Media Contest, an annual competition that included more than 400 entries from nonprofit associations. ADA received the first-place Gold Award for Press/Media Kit for the Association’s 2007 National Nutrition Month® media materials, and the third-place Bronze Award for Most Improved Magazine/Journal for ADA’s member magazine ADA Times.

National Nutrition Month® annually focuses the public’s and media’s attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits, and promotes ADA and its members to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely, scientifically based food and nutrition information. The 2007 theme for National Nutrition Month was 100% Fad Free. Through media materials, public outreach and targeted displays, ADA promoted registered dietitians and cautioned the public on following unhealthy fad diets that are not based on scientific research.

ADA’s Public Relations Team produced a CD press kit which included press releases, an interactive fad diet timeline and a quiz, reviews of popular diet books, healthy recipes and a map enabling journalists to locate an ADA media spokesperson in their area. The press kit was mailed to journalists and selected portions were made available on ADA’s Web site. As a result of this press kit, ADA and National Nutrition Month received media coverage totaling more than 33 million in circulation.

ADA Times is the American Dietetic Association’s bimonthly member publication. Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team, ADA Times serves ADA’s communications goal of keeping members informed and empowered to succeed in their chosen profession. ADA Times was created in 2003 to cultivate a sense of community and enthusiasm by sharing insights and accomplishments of all members, showing members what they have in common and featuring opportunities to grow and thrive in a diverse Association and profession.

Beginning with the January/February 2007 issue, after careful planning in design, production and purchasing, ADA Times was converted to a 24-page magazine. ADA Times also underwent an editorial overhaul, adding features that address the challenges members face in the dietetics profession and new trends that could affect their careers. The re-birth of ADA Times illustrates an important priority of the American Dietetic Association – to evolve and meet changing times and developing technologies in the service of its members’ needs.

Association TRENDS is a national publication for association executives, covering news, information and trends for the professional staff of voluntary organizations. The results of the All-Media contest were published in the December 7 issue of Association TRENDS magazine. The awards will be presented February 15, 2008, in Washington, D.C.

With more than 67,000 members the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. To locate a registered dietitian in your area, visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.


###