Editor’s Note: View the online magazine at www.platformmagazine.com.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Platform, an online magazine designed and produced by University of Alabama public relations students for other PR students, educators and practitioners nationwide, has received a gold award in the 2008 Hermes Creative Awards for the Web site overall category.

The Hermes Creative Awards is an international awards competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional and emerging media. The Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals administers the program. The Gold Award is presented to those entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry.

Platform was launched in spring 2007 by the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations at The University of Alabama to create a community for sharing ideas and information. Content includes interviews with students, academics and practitioners about careers, ethics, leadership, diversity and technology. Visitors also can take a series of AP style quizzes, tune into podcasts, link to a variety of online resources in public relations, e-mail sources featured on the site and post comments to the site’s RSS-accessible blog.

In 2005, the UA Board of Trustees established the Plank Center, named for public relations leader and UA alumna Betsy Plank, to develop and recognize outstanding performance in the profession and the classroom. It sponsors research, national awards and service programs to advance the understanding and practice of ethical and responsible public relations.

In addition to national leaders in the practice and education, the Center Board includes an ex officio position for the president of the Public Relations Student Society of America, which represents more than 9,800 members in 295 colleges and universities.

The Center is housed in UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences. UA’s public relations program, with nearly 600 students, is the largest undergraduate degree program in the College of Communication and Information Sciences. The program is the 12th in the nation to be reviewed and certified by PRSA.

The College is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 10 in number of doctoral degrees awarded and in its research programs.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010.  This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA’s vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students.  UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.