The Media Innovation Awards have announced the co-chairs who will helm the awards program for 2024.

This year, the jury will be led by Cathy Collier, CEO of OMD, and Armin Huska, head of media and agency management at RBC. The full jury of industry experts that will evaluate and deliberate over the entries to determine the winners will be announced in the coming weeks.

This year the program introduces several category changes.

First under the Best Use of Media banner is the Best Use of Local Media category.  This will highlight the use of local media channels (e.g., newspapers, radio, community websites, local TV) to reach and engage a specific geographic audience.

Also new this year is the Media Agency Innovation category which showcases innovative new thinking and evolving strengths at media agencies across Canada, focusing on new skills and practices, as well as emerging talent.  The category has two sub-categories Emerging Talent: New Media Thinking that will recognize innovative approaches and the diverse skill sets of junior to mid-level media agency team members, while the Media Evolution: New Media Solutions will showcase how a media agency’s new practices and proprietary tools are making an impact and solving brands’ complex challenges.

And entry into the new Media Agency Innovation category is only open to media agency network companies or independent media agencies.

Finally,  the Media Collaboration: Best Partnering category will recognize the media partners that stretch beyond the expected to create new custom opportunities and capabilities.

Entries for the MIAs are now open, with the early bird deadline of July 5. Winners will be announced at an awards gala at the end of November. More information can be found on the Media Innovation Awards website.