JingleFest wins SCPA statewide innovation award
Item earns 5 PALMYs for advertising work
The Sumter Item's inaugural JingleFest, held last December at USC Sumter, was recognized by the South Carolina Press Association with the statewide Award for Innovation.
The award was part of the press association's annual PALMYs contest for advertising in newspapers. This year, The Item took home five overall awards.
JingleFest may not be what you expect from a newspaper, but that's exactly what makes it special. The event gives The Sumter Item an opportunity to connect with residents, celebrate small businesses and organizations and support an important cause by raising funds for Sumter United Ministries' Fireside Fund.
More importantly, events like JingleFest strengthen the relationships that help sustain local journalism in Sumter. At a time when communities across the country are losing their local newspapers and becoming news deserts, community partnerships supporting the event help ensure The Sumter Item can continue serving as a trusted source of local news, information and storytelling for generations to come.
"JingleFest was not only an innovative event to drive non-traditional revenue to the newspaper, but more importantly this project showcases The Sumter Item's commitment to serving and connecting the community. Outstanding effort from concept, design, planning, promoting and executing this fun, family-friendly event! And kudos for raising money to help those in need. Outstanding work!" reads a judge's comment.
Other awards earned by Item staff included a first-place award for All About Sumter, designed by Janel Przybyla, for best special section/magazine.
Przybyla led the advertising campaign for JingleFest 2025's title sponsor, Prisma Health, which was recognized in second place. She and sales representative Karen Cave together earned two third-place awards for ads made for clients Palmetto Gas and DJ Howie D.
Item videographer Zac Hooks won a statewide first-place award for best advertising video for his coverage of Item sister paper The Bluffton Sun's Best of Bluffton event.
Cary Howard, a graphic designer for The Item who also designs many of The Item's sister papers, won five PALMY awards, including third place and second place for Bluffton and two third places and a first place for the Lexington County Chronicle.