The 2022 PRISM Awards says that it saw 250 entries, of which 140 will receive awards, distributed among a mix of agencies and individuals.

"It is a huge scaling up of the PRISM Awards, resulting in more winners this time around," adds Tebogo Ditshego, president of event organiser the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA).

Ditshego says, "Our aim for 2022 has been to broaden the democratisation of the awards, where first-time entries are winners."

According to the awards, these individuals represent the cream of South Africa's marketing, communications, and social media industries — and include business, agencies, academia, government and news organisations.

Ditshego says that he is excited about the new Public Sector Award, which seeks to encourage PR and communications practitioners in government and state-owned enterprises to pursue excellence in their campaigns. Ditshego adds that the diverse and experienced 2022 judges' panel adds a high degree of credibility to the PRISM Awards.

According to the awards, independent auditors were brought on board to ensure that the judging process was fair for all entrants and ultimately the deserving winners. Entrants were also invited and taken through the judges' and auditors' reports in the interests of full transparency.

The chief judge of the 2022 PRISM Awards is Willem S. Eksteen, chief executive of Stone. Eksteen is a former managing director of South African Tourism (SAT) for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden region, based in London.

According to the awards, Eksteen promoted South Africa as a tourism destination in the most substantial global source market.

Eksteen has subsequently driven the strategic approach and engagement for several national and international organisations, creating an incomparable skillset and unrivalled experience in various fields.

Before joining SAT, Eksteen was the managing director of the multidisciplinary integrated marketing and communication company FKICP, headquartered in the United Kingdom, with operational offices in the United Kingdom and the United States.

"The quest for excellence, value impact and unquestionable integrity should always be guiding principles in the PRISM Awards when recognising the achievements in our industry. The awards must set a high benchmark to aspire to and should not be a mere confirmation of entry exercise," says Eksteen.

Eksteen concludes, "The PRISM Awards also provide a platform to contribute wider than our benefit. We must raise standards, empower the next generation of professionals, and continually add value to the society where we have the privilege to work."

For more information about the 2022 PRISM Awards click here. 

The full 2022 PRISM Awards judges’ panel are:
  1. Simone Carter from the University of Johannesburg
  2. Thandi Chaotsane-Moticoe from Purple Room Consultancy
  3. Lauren Chavez from King James Group
  4. Jennifer Clark from Hill & Knowlton
  5. Laura Cooke from Multichoice Connected Video (Showmax)
  6. Tsholofelo Dihutso
  7. Rob Garden from Levergy
  8. Themba Hlengani from Hlengani & Assoc
  9. Nicky James from Tribeca
  10. Tracy Jones from Positive Dialogue
  11. Fareez Joulay from Eclipse PR
  12. Vista Kalipa from On Point PR
  13. Ruiter Keletso from IIE
  14. Thabani Khumalo from Danone
  15. Emma King from The Friday Street Club
  16. Suzanne Koshiaris from We Worldwide
  17. Nomshado Lubisi
  18. Sinethemba Mabuyakhulu
  19. Tshepang Mabuza from the IIE
  20. Lara Magnus from Orange Ink
  21. Thembisile Makhanya from the IIE
  22. Minkateko Maluleke from the IIE
  23. Tom Manners from Clockwork Media
  24. Rhodé Marshall from FleishmanHillard
  25. Mbali Maseko
  26. Tshegofatso Masote
  27. Phuti Mathapo from Capricorn Municipaliity
  28. Retshedisitswe Matlabe from the IIE
  29. Lerato Matsaneng from Sanlam Investments
  30. Pheliswa Mayekiso form the JSE
  31. Sabelo Mbuku form the Transport Education & Training Authority
  32. Jacki McEwen, founding partner at Eclipse
  33. Phumelelo Mhlanga from the IIE
  34. Troy Mocheko from Eclipse PR
  35. Tshidi Modikoane from Kwambele Social Marketing
  36. Mokgadi Molamodi from the IIE
  37. Oreratile Moletsane from the IIE
  38. Victor Moreriane from the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development
  39. Moleboheng Motsoane from the IIE
  40. Nikki Munsie from the IAS
  41. Carmen Murray from Mobitainment
  42. Laureen Nonhlanhla Mxoli from Unilever
  43. Kesagee Nayager from Bombela
  44. Simbongile Ndlangisa from Melenial
  45. Andisa Ndlovu
  46. Sane Ndlovu from IN.PR
  47. Nelisa Ngqulana from PR Trends
  48. Vongani Ngwenika
  49. Ntombi Ntanzi
  50. Andre Oberholzer from Sappi
  51. Shirona Patel, from Wits University
  52. Lulama Philiso from Liberty
  53. Thuli Phiri from The African Storytellers
  54. Brittany Preece, Cerebra
  55. Elvis Presslin from Fundi Communications
  56. Thato Rahube form the IIE
  57. Melanie Ramjee from Tutone Communications
  58. Ngwako Ramohlale
  59. Cheryl Reddy from Eclipse PR
  60. Paul Reynell from Paddington Station PR
  61. Bonnie Robinson from The Reputationalist
  62. Madelain Roscher from PR Worx
  63. Darren Sandras from One-eyed Jack
  64. Sergio Santos-Van Vuuren from MSL South Africa
  65. Themba Sepotokele from Media
  66. Kerry Sheehan
  67. Neli Shuping from GCSI
  68. Iris Sibanda
  69. Caroline Smith from Flow Communications
  70. Lerato Songelwa from Hill & Knowlton
  71. Faiza Steyn from the Provincial Government in the Western Cape
  72. Renay Tandy from NGAGE
  73. Nicola Tarr, business unit director at Tribeca
  74. Reatile Tekateka from Multichoice Africa
  75. Natalie Themistocleous from FleishmanHillard
  76. David Tshabalala from Slaying Goliath
  77. Kevin Welman from ByDesign Communications, and
  78. Thando Xaba from the University of Johannesburg.
For more information, visit www.prism-awards.co.za. You can also follow PRISM Awards on Facebook, Twitter on Instagram.