AIR Recognized for Excellence in Communications and Social Marketing: Diabetes Prevention CD and Parent Epilepsy Video Awarded Honors
Washington, D.C. – American Institutes for Research (AIR) recently received two prestigious awards for excellence in Communications and Social Marketing.
An upbeat music CD produced to encourage physical activity among Hispanic populations at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes received the Communicator Awards top honor, the Crystal Award of Excellence. Performed by a diverse group of Hispanic recording artists, MOVIMIENTO Por Su Vida (Movement For Your Life) is a collection of six original songs with a Latin dance beat and ‘cross-over’ lyrics that celebrate the joy of movement and life, making physical activity easy and fun.
“Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented, or at least delayed, by taking even small steps toward an active, physical lifestyle; something as easy as dancing or moving regularly can make a big difference in long-term health. That’s why we wanted to produce upbeat, inspiring music that would motivate you to get up. You can’t help but move when you hear these songs,” says Lynda Bardfield, AIR’s Creative Director.
The CD was produced for the National Diabetes Education Program, a federally funded program co-sponsored by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes is a growing epidemic for Hispanic Americans. On average, Hispanic Americans are 1.9 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of similar age. Nearly half of Hispanic children born in the year 2000 are likely to develop diabetes within their lives.
AIR also recently received a Chris Award at the 2004 Columbus International Film and Video Festival for the production “You Are Not Alone – A Video for Parents of Teens with Epilepsy.” The video is part of a toolkit developed by AIR for the CDC and the Epilepsy Foundation of America, specifically for parents of teens with well-controlled epilepsy. Through the support and words of wisdom of parents who have ‘survived’ the teen years, the toolkit helps parents ‘let go’ and turn over self- management to their teens.
AIR helped pioneer the Consumer-based Health Communications (CHC) model that is frequently used in social marketing programs across the country. This model marries consumer research with science to create sustainable behavior change. “Our research shows that social marketing campaigns are most effective when they promote behavior that is achievable. For example, the Movimiento CD includes a song ‘Paso a Paso’ (‘Step by Step’), which encourages the listener to approach physical activity little by little. Another tune, entitled 'Esta en Sus Manos' ('It’s in Your Hands to Move Your Feet'), is an empowering merengue with an irresistible tempo that gets the message across, using art to change lives for the better.”
The Columbus International Film & Video Festival, known as the Chris Awards, is the oldest documentary, educational, business and informational competition of its kind in the U.S.
The Communicator Awards is an international awards program founded by communications professionals to recognize excellence in the communications field. The Communicator Awards holds separate annual competitions for Audio, Video, and Print Media. The Communicator Awards gives winners and their clients the recognition that the work they are producing is outstanding and highly regarded by their peers. The Award of Excellence is given to those entries whose ability to communicate puts them among the best in the field.
About AIR
The American Institutes for Research, founded in 1946, is a leader in behavioral and social science research. AIR is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization engaged in domestic and international research, development, evaluation, analysis, product development, training and technical assistance and assessment.