Port of Los Angeles Wins 10 Communications Awards

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Port of Los Angeles has won 10 communications awards in an annual competition hosted by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), an alliance of more than 140 ports in the Western Hemisphere. The Port’s 2011 Waterfront Summer Concert Series won top honors in the “excellence” category, and nine other programs – including the Port’s LAtitude video e-news magazine, LA Waterfront Public Outreach Program as well as its School Boat Tour Program – were also recognized in other categories.

The AAPA Award entries are judged each year by transportation industry PR practitioners who are members of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) National Chapter in Washington D.C.

“The Port of Los Angeles has long been committed to keeping community and business stakeholders informed and engaged,” said Cynthia Ruiz, Deputy Executive Director of External Relations at the Port. “We’re thrilled to be recognized by industry peers for the breadth, depth and quality of our work.”

The Waterfront Concert Series has become one the Port’s signature community events, providing residents and visitors the opportunity to gather and enjoy music in new parks and public areas along an LA Waterfront that’s becoming a popular place to visit and enjoy a variety of attractions. The concerts, held weekly during the summer months, are free to the public and produced entirely by the Port’s in-house public relations team.

The Port earned awards and recognition for a number of communications platforms that include:

LAtitude – A high-quality, multi-media e-news magazine that shares informative stories and business trends about shipping advantages offered through the Los Angeles trade gateway.
TradeConnect – Spearheaded by the Port’s Trade Services team, this successful business and legislative outreach program was created to educate and assist small and medium-sized businesses in the area of establishing or increasing their importing and exporting potential. The nationally acclaimed program has also helped create business development opportunities for Southern California businesses.
Port of Los Angeles 2011 Sustainability Report – To help inform the industry, the environmental community and the public about its environmental leadership, philosophies, initiatives and progress, in 2011 the Port’s Environmental Management Division created its first-ever, comprehensive Port of Los Angeles Sustainability Report.
2011 School Boat Tour Program – A free, educational boat tour program for 5th and 6th graders through a longstanding partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District is enjoyed by thousands of students annually. The program provides students with a visual perspective and in-depth look at the daily operations at the nation’s largest trade gateway. This year, the Port has begun offering special marine science-focused tours through a partnership with Think Watershed.
LA Waterfront Public Outreach Program – When the Los Angeles Harbor Commission approved and entitled more than a billion dollars in public waterfront projects in 2009, Port staff established public outreach protocols and a program with key elements that include public outreach campaigns, community workshops, public meetings, a website with extensive project documentation and community newsletters.
Mariner’s Guide – A popular, pocket-sized handbook that assures a safer navigational experience, this easy-to-use guide provides vital tidal information for persons who pilot or operate ships and small boats in and around the Port.
Portfolio TV Show – Taking viewers behind the scenes at the Port, this quarterly half-hour television program airs on L.A. City View Channel 35 and other regional cable TV networks. It focuses on informing local audiences about Port operations, community events, environmental developments and infrastructure projects, among other issues.