Direct marketing community members invited to judge 2006 DMA International ECHO awards competition

Judges of the International ECHO Awards have the unique opportunity to be a part of the direct marketing community’s most prestigious award process, and get a firsthand look at how other companies and individuals are achieving success and confronting challenges through their direct marketing campaigns.

ECHO Award judges are being recruited nationwide based on their experience, industry, and function. To be considered, candidates must meet the following criteria:

· Senior-level direct marketer, agency or advertiser, supplier or solution provider

· Seven-plus years experience in direct marketing;

· Experience in and strong familiarity with all relevant direct marketing channels;

· Experience spanning a minimum of three years in at least one industry category;

· Direct marketing experience in one or more specific business categories for a minimum of 3 years.

Initial panel judging will be conducted in New York City from May 16 to 18.

That will be followed on June 20 to 22 with semi-final judging, which also will be conducted in New York City.

Additional Information

For further details on becoming a DMA ECHO Awards judge please visit www.dma-echo.org/2006/judges.jsp or contact Barbara Parker bparker@the-dma.org

Introduced in 1930 as the “Best in Direct Mail” contest, DMA’s International ECHO Awards honor excellence in creativity, strategy, and response results in direct marketing campaigns. With more than 1,000 entries submitted by direct response agencies worldwide, the ECHO Awards recognize every type of media used in direct marketing campaigns.

Today, ECHOs are awarded across 12 fundamental business categories and include eight premier awards: the Diamond ECHO, which is presented to what is deemed the best-in-show campaign; the Gold ECHO; the Silver ECHO; the Bronze ECHO; the Hoke Award; ECHO Digital; the USPS Gold Mailbox Award; and the A. Eicoff Broadcast Innovation Award.