CATEGORIES

Note that Zoom talks and other video addresses count as speeches as long as they contain sustained spoken expressions. Also: though most submissions are text-only, Cicero judges accept video-only versions of speeches, as we realize that so many modern speeches these days are improvisations from notes. And if you’d like to send text and video both, that’s fine too. —David Murray, Program Chair

  • BY ORGANIZATION TYPE
    The winners in this section are those that exemplify a great speech within one of the listed Organization Type categories. The speech does not have to be written about a particular topic; it needs to have been written by or for a person in a particular organization or industry. For example, if you are submitting a speech on teamwork, given by a college president, and you want your speech to be judged against other speeches by people in the academic field, you would submit your entry in the Educators category.
    • 001 Agriculture
    • 002 Associations
    • 003 Banking and Financial Services
    • 004 Commerce and Retail
    • 005 Educators
    • 006 Energy
    • 007 Government
    • 008 Insurance
    • 009 Manufacturing and Production
    • 010 Media
    • 011 Military
    • 012 Nonprofit
    • 013 Pharmaceutical
    • 014 Public Policy Institute
    • 015 Service Industry
    • 016 Telecommunications
    • 017 Transportation
  • BY SPEECH TOPIC
    The winners in this section are those that exemplify a great speech within one of the listed Topic categories. For example, if you are submitting a speech on leadership, and you want your speech to be judged against other speeches on this topic, you would submit your entry in the Leadership and Management category.
    • 018 Controversial or Highly Politicized Topics
    • 019 Corporate Social Responsibility
    • 020 COVID Crisis
    • 021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • 022 Economics
    • 023 Education
    • 024 Environment/Energy/Sustainability
    • 025 Future of the Workplace
    • 026 Healthcare
    • 027 Leadership and Management
    • 028 Philosophy and/or Religion
    • 029 Public Policy
    • 030 Rhetoric and Communication
    • 031 Social Justice
    • 032 Technology
    • 033 U.S. Political Unrest
    • 034 Foreign Policy
  • BY TYPE OF OCCASION
    The winners in this section are those that exemplify a great speech for one of the following Type of Occasion categories. There is no requirement as to speaker or topic. For example, if the CEO of a company presents a speech on achievement at a Commencement Address, you would submit in in the Commencement Address category.
    • 035 Analyst Call/Investor Meeting
    • 036 Award Acceptance
    • 037 Campaign Speech
    • 038 Commemorative Speech
    • 039 Commencement/Convocation Address
    • 040 Crisis Communication
    • 041 Dedication/Groundbreaking Ceremony Speech
    • 042 Employee Meeting
    • 043 Eulogy/Tribute Speech
    • 044 Farewell/Resignation Speech
    • 045 Hearing Testimony
    • 046 Inaugural Speech
    • 047 Motivational Speech
    • 048 State-of-the-Institution Speech
    • 049 TED Talk/TEDx Talk
  • OVERALL (GRAND AWARD)
    The Grand Cicero Speechwriting Award evaluates every aspect of a speech. Winning in this category announces to your peers, colleagues and competitors that your speech excels over all others in the industry. To be a winner in this category, your speech must be the best overall against all other speeches. It will not be judged by industry type or topic. You may enter the Grand category only, but understand that every entry into the Cicero Speechwriting Awards will be considered for a Grand Award.
    • 050 Overall (Grand Award)
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