After a successful inaugural year, the Young Lions PR Competition is set to return at this year's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. As with last year, there will also be a show of support for the scheme by the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), who will continue their partnership with the competition. In the competition, teams of two young PR professionals, who are chosen through a series of regional competitions, are given just 24 hours during the Cannes Lions festival to pit their skills and their wits against one another and show how PR can be used to engage audiences with an organisation or a specific topic that the ‘client’ is dealing with. As with last year, the client in question will be a non-profit, charitable organisation.
The Young Lions PR Competition is set to return at this year's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
Teams will be tasked with producing various elements of creative, and will be asked to show how their idea would connect with the charity’s brand value, and have an impact, increase awareness or create engagement with the public. They will also need to identify and build relations with relevant stakeholders and create PR supporting material applicable in relevant media channels. Once they have put together their campaigns, the teams are then asked to present a written submission and make a presentation to a dedicated jury, who will decide which one is worthy of taking home the Gold medal, with medals to be awarded during the Festival's Awards Ceremonies.
Steve Latham, director of talent and training for the Cannes Lions, said “The competition provides a real opportunity for young PR professionals to showcase their talent on a global stage,” and is also humbled to know that “ With a carefully chosen charity providing the brief, the work they produce can make a real difference.” Indeed, the winner of the competition will once again have the honour of the charity in question being given the option to adopt and use their winning campaign. Latham is “Delighted that the ICCO are on-board for a second year, helping the competition to once again act as a springboard for both talent and awareness.”
The International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) will continue their partnership with the competition
ICCO, the representative body of forward-thinking PR agencies, will be present at Cannes Lions with their “House of PR” cabana situated at the beachfront alongside the pavilion. Here, young PR professionals will be able to meet prominent representatives of the PR industry and learn more about ICCO international activities. PR delegates attending the Festival are welcome to visit and attend networking events between the 22nd and the 24th of June. David Gallagher, president of ICCO said that, “ICCO is committed to promoting the value of PR consultancy worldwide,” and he personally sees the Young Lions PR competition “As an opportunity (for young creative talent) to show a little swagger under a global spotlight.” He adds that “Last year’s debut was a smash hit” and he is eager to give this year's group of “Gifted young professionals an opportunity to shine again in 2015.”
In related news, Creativepool (that's us) has officially been named as a Cannes Lions 2015 partner on the sponsors page of the official Cannes Lions website. Quite a coup don't you think?
