Time is rapidly running out for you to stand a chance of being a winner in the industry's most prestigious awards program, the Leading Lights.

So, if you had an outstanding 2016, developed a world-beating next-generation communications strategy or simply like to wear an "I'm better than all those other punks" badge when you go to an industry event, then it's time to get moving on submitting your entry.

But there isn't much time left: The initial deadline for entries is the end of the working day, Friday March 17. (See Time to Enter the Leading Lights 2017 .)

There is an extension week, with the absolute final date for entries being Friday March 24, but entries submitted after March 17 carry a late entry fee, so get those submissions in by the end of March 17 if you can.

The good news, though, is that it's easy to enter -- you just need to have a compelling story backed up with facts and you'll be in the running for the shortlists.

There are plenty of opportunities to enter: The awards program comprises 25 regular categories, three special Women in Comms (WiC) categories and the latest additions to Light Reading's Hall of Fame.

This year's Leading Lights program has been updated to include four new regular categories:

You can check out all of the categories and preview the questions for each category at our Leading Lights 2017 home page.

So come on folks, get your entries in now and you could be picking up an award at our kick-ass awards dinner/party in Austin, Texas, on May 15.

For more information and supporting details, see this previous blog.

— Ray Le Maistre, , Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading