French/West/Vaughan (FWV), one of the nation’s largest independently held public relations, advertising and digital media agencies, has been named Best PR Agency of 2025, claiming the Grand Prize in the 2026 Bulldog PR Awards, a national competition judged by a panel of the country’s leading journalists. This marks the third time in four years the agency, which has an office in Detroit, has earned the competition’s top prize.
In addition to Best PR Agency, FWV was also named Business to Consumer (B2C) Agency of the Year (Gold), Large Agency of the Year (Gold), and Most Innovative Agency of the Year (Silver). FWV Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Rick French was also recognized as Agency Leader of the Year (Gold). With the recognition, FWV has now captured 45 Global or National Agency of the Year honors in its nearly three-decade history, while FWV’s principals have taken home more than a dozen Agency leadership awards across various competitions, with French winning his 10th individually.
The agency also received four gold, four silver, and one bronze award for outstanding work on behalf of clients spanning media relations, social media, creative production, and experiential marketing. Winning campaigns include:
Gold Awards
- Best Government/Public Service Campaign: FWV Brings the Grim Reaper to Life for “Booze It & Lose It” Holiday Campaign (North Carolina Department of Transportation Governor’s Highway Safety Program)
- Best Integration of Traditional and New Media: FWV Turns Everyday Litter into a Headline-Worthy Launch (Healthy Pet’s ökocat)
- Best Special Event or Publicity Stunt: Runway Ready: Turning Performance Socks into a Cultural Moment (Feetures)
- Best Use of Video/Multimedia: Palette of the West: FWV Supports Pendleton Whisky in Shaping Western Art and Culture
Silver Awards
- Best Campaign on a Shoestring Budget: FWV Cashes In on Holiday Moments with Minimal Budget (Pendleton Whisky)
- Best Not-for-Profit/Association Campaign: FWV Media Blitz a “Smart Move” for Raleigh Economic Development
- Best Use of Influencers: FWV and Pendleton Whisky Turn Up the Heat on Outdoor Grilling
- Best Use of Video/Multimedia: FWV Amplifies “Click It or Ticket” Initiative through Sounds of Safety (North Carolina Department of Transportation Governor’s Highway Safety Program)
Bronze Awards
- Best Media Relations: FWV Drives Local Impact for Stephen Curry’s UNDERRATED Golf Tour
AMP3 PR, a FWV agency headquartered in NYC, also received a gold award in the Best Fashion/Beauty/Lifestyle Campaign category, for its support of TruSkin’s SPF serum launch.
“To be named Best PR Agency for the third time in four years is an incredible honor and a reflection of the exceptional people and client partners who make FWV what it is,” said FWV Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Rick French. “Being recognized by Bulldog Reporter’s panel of journalists is especially meaningful because it reflects the work that matters most to us: creating ideas and campaigns that break through, earn attention, and drive results for our clients. These awards are a testament to the talent, strategic thinking and relentless commitment of our team, as well as the trust our clients place in us to help tell their stories in ways that make a real impact.”
The 2026 Bulldog PR Awards recognize the most outstanding PR and communications campaigns and extraordinary individual and agency contributions from 2025. Honoring PR agencies, practitioners and standout campaigns, the Bulldog Awards are the only PR awards program judged exclusively by working journalists. Bulldog Reporter has been providing news, best practices, and insights to PR and communications professionals since 1980. Learn more about Bulldog Awards at BulldogAwards.com or through the Bulldog Reporter email newsletter.
Headquartered in Raleigh, FWV has amassed more than 1,800 PR, advertising, and digital marketing awards on behalf of its blue-chip client roster.