ANNA Award for creativity in newspaper adverts

Back in December of 2004, the Newspaper Marketing Agency (NMA) in the UK launched the Awards for National Newspaper Advertising, a.k.a. the ANNAs, with the goal spotlight "the best of newspaper ads and to inspire agencies and advertisiers to perform new feats of creative brilliance."

Each month a creative director is chosen to nominate ads they come across in the national papers. Judges for 2005 include: Peter Souter of AMV BBDO, Dave Dye of Campbell Doyle Dye, Richard Flintham of Fallons, John O'Keefe of BBH, Charles Inge of CHI, Trevor Beattie of TBWA/London, Jeremy Craigen of DDB London, Ed Morris of Lowe London, Tony Davidson of Wieden + Kennedy, Leon Jaume of WCRS, and Gerry Moira of Euro RSCG.

March's ANNA Award went to Art Director Emer Stamp and Copywriter Ben Tollett of Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy for Millets, an outdoor adventure retail chain.

John O'Keefe of BBH was the judge for March, and appreciated the clever use of humour in the winning ad:

Hold the front page. A funny, relevant, effective, well art directed press ad. If you're into camping - I'm not - I bet this ad had you reaching for the sleeping bag.

The NMA will award the ANNA Grand Prize to the winner of winners in December of 2005. The winning team or individual will get a cash prize of £25,000 and there will also be £5,000 cash prizes awarded for best use of craft skills, including typography, copywriting and art direction. All winners and shortlisters will get into the ANNA Annual.

Past winners include:
Dec 2004: Dave Dye, AD and Sean Doyle, CW of Campbell Doyle Dye for Sekonda. Selected by Peter Souter.
Jan 2005: Mike Hannet, AD and Dave Buchanan, CW of DDB London for Quality Pork Standard. Selected by Dave Dye.
Feb 2005: Matt Doman, AD, Ian Heartfield, CW and Steve Davies, typographer of AMV BBDO for the Samaritans. Selected by Richard Flintham.