The PRISM Awards 2015 achieved some impressive milestones including a 20% increase in submissions, a 16% increase in attendance, as well as a record number of judges (41), media partners (6) and sponsors (34).

The annual PRISM Awards are about recognising and celebrating great public relations campaigns. It provides an opportunity for public relations professionals to benchmark their campaigns against the best of the best.

With the addition of two new categories; the Best African Network and The Pan African Campaign of the Year, the awards were positioned in line with the Vision of The PRISMs becoming a continental programme. Seen as The Oscars of the public relations industry, the popularity has grown tremendously over recent years.

“A winning entry starts with a single idea and expands with a collaboration of efforts,” says Lauren Volmink, director at Atmosphere Communications, the Cape Town-based consultancy which scooped the Campaign of the Year Award for their Sanlam One Rand Man Campaign. Global public relations consultancy FleishmanHillard won the Pan African Campaign of the Year for their Absa Prosper campaign.

“The quality of the entries this year was phenomenal, particularly the quality of the top five that were shortlisted for the Campaign of the Year,” says Sylvester Chauke, chief architect: DNA Brand Architects and one of the judges.

The Best Small Public Relations Consultancy Award went to Plato Communications, the Best Mid-sized Consultancy went to Atmosphere Communications and FleishmanHillard South Africa took top honours for Best Large Public Relations Consultancy.

“More and more public relations professionals are seeing the value in winning a PRISM Award – as are their clients, corporates and government organisations,” says Bridget von Holdt, convenor of the PRISM Awards. “Whether you are looking for recognition, to satisfy your clients, build your business, or simply find out how good your public relations campaigns are: winning a PRISM Award can do all this.”

For more information on the PRISM Awards, visit www.prism-awards.co.za. Alternatively connect with them on Twitter.