The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 25,000 entries every year from local AAF competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local market phase is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, all across the country, local entrants vie to win an ADDY® Award – recognition as the very best in their market. At the second tier, local winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. Winners from the Mobile Bay club compete with the AAF District 7 competition which includes markets across Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana and Tennessee. District winners are then forwarded to the third and final tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. Entry in your local competition is the first step toward winning a national ADDY® Award.

Selection of the most creative entry in each category is conducted through a scoring process in which a panel of judges—comprised of accomplished advertising creative professionals – evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. A GOLD ADDY® is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a SILVER ADDY®. The number of awards given in each category is determined by the judges, based on the relative quality of work in that category.

The American Advertising Awards Student Division is also a three-tier national competition, which is sponsored by the AAF and National Ad 2. Occurring in conjunction with the professional competition, the Student Awards recognize and reward creative excellence by students.