PR gets its day in the sun

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AUCKLAND, Today: The Comms Council has unveiled a new annual awards programme to recognise NZ’s best PR, experiential and social media campaigns.

It’s called the 2019 Prescom Awards – and entries open today (scroll down for the dates and the link). They’re run by the Comms Council’s PR, Experiential and Social Media Committee (Prescom).

Prescom chair Mark Pickering says the awards programme has been designed to fill a gap in the market. “While some awards shows have individual categories hat-tipping these marketing disciplines, there isn’t an awards programme solely for PR, experiential and social media agencies to support.

“We want to see the entire industry get behind it and make it our own.”

Awards categories include Best Use of Media Relations, Best Sponsorship or Media Partnership, Best Use of Social Media and Best Experiential or Event. An award for Bravest Client celebrates clients truly prepared to take risks and do things differently.


“This is the time for PR, experiential and social professionals, and their clients, to shine.”


“We’ve tried to be very modern in our approach to these awards, with categories reflecting the kinds of work the industry is now doing – experiential is not just events and modern-day PR is far from just traditional media relations,” says Pickering.

Comms Council ceo Paul Head says this is the time for PR, experiential and social professionals, and their clients, to shine. “All three disciplines have grown significantly in recent years and are an increasingly important component of the overall marketing mix.

“The scale and scope of these campaigns show it’s time they now warrant their own awards programme.”

Alongside Pickering as chair, the Prescom steering committee includes Rewa Willis (Sherson Willis), Dallas Gurney (Spark PR & Activate), Katharine Broughton (Katharine Broughton Consulting), Rochelle Sheldon (Socialites), Sean Brown (Mango), Angelina Farry (Eleven PR) and Gina McKinnon (Fuse) who also serves as convenor of judges.

The venue?
Yet to be announced.

KEY DATES

Call for entry opens: Monday 24 September
Entries close: Wednesday 24 October
48hr late penalty deadline: Friday, 26 October
Category judging: Wednesday, 7 November (Auckland full day)
Executive judging: Tuesday, 13 November (Auckland)
PREScom Awards Show: Thursday, 22 November (venue TBA)


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