Singapore, 5 March 2004 – The best Public Relations (PR) achievements in Singapore were honoured this evening at the PRISM Awards 2004, organised by the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) at the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore. 31 awards were given out to PR consultancies, government bodies and private organisations for their outstanding work and excellent public relations efforts. The Guest-of-Honour, Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, presented the awards at the event.

Two other awards were given out to individuals, Mr Lee Chong Kai, recently retired from ExxonMobil, and Mr Basskaran Nair of Capitaland Ltd. They were honoured for their extensive contributions to the PR profession and for making their mark in the industry. They were awarded the “Lifetime Achievement” and the “PR Professional of the Year 2004” awards respectively.

The winners selected from a record total of 108 entries were announced during the event. The Awards comprised the following 12 categories:

• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Crisis Management
• Events Management
• Financial PR
• Public Campaigns
• Use of New Media in PR
• Employee Communications
• Integrated Communications
• Newsletter
• Students’ PR Project
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• PR Professional of the Year 2004

The full list of the PRISM Awards 2004 winners is attached. The contact details of all award winners have also been provided.

The PRISM Awards 2004 is the eighth Awards held since 1987. The purpose of the awards ceremony is to recognise and reward best efforts and creativity in an organisation’s communication programmes.

Many of the submissions received this year mirror the challenging times that we live in, with a good number addressing crisis management and communication plans. What was encouraging though, was the enthusiastic participation from the public sector, with 22 project entries from various ministries and statutory boards.

Distinguished professionals hailing from the media, public relations industry and academic institutions made up the panel of judges, which was chaired by Mr Arun Mahizhnan, Deputy Director, Institute of Policy Studies.

Ms K Bhavani, President of the IPRS, commented, “The submissions for our 8th PRISM Awards are of top quality work. The level of professionalism and creativity is very evident and would be a source of pride for PR practitioners anywhere in the world.”

The Awards ceremony was attended by hundreds of public relations practitioners from PR agencies, the business community, government ministries and statutory boards. The ceremony was also attended by public relations professionals from Malaysia, Indonesia and Shanghai.

More About PRISM Awards
Created by IPRS, the PRISM Awards was started in 1987 as one way to recognise and reward organisations and individuals for outstanding contributions and achievements in Public Relations and Communications in Singapore. A highlight in the PR industry calendar, the biennial event aims to encourage creativity, originality and best application of public relations and communications practices across all sectors, in commercial as well as not-for-profit organisations. PRISM stands for ‘Public Relations in the Service of Mankind’

Winners of PRISM Awards 2004

• Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Excellence - DHL International (S) Pte Ltd
    Project: Veggie Express
  • Excellence – Singapore Civil Defence Force
    Project: President's Challenge 2002: “CD Skills for Charity”
• Crisis Management

  • Excellence – Burson-Marsteller Singapore
    Project: SARS Crisis management & Recovery Programme

  • Merit – Ellipsiz Ltd
    Project: Crisis Communication – Ellipsiz

• Events Management

  • Excellence – Singapore Civil Defence Force
    Project: SCDF Community Bonding Day 2003

     

  • Excellence – C K Tang Limited
    Project: Tangs 70 th Anniversary Celebrations

  • Merit – Fulford PR Pte Ltd
    Project: Double A House of Fun Challenge

• Financial PR

  • Excellence – Citigate Dewe Rojerson, i.MAGE Pte Ltd
    Project: Stamford Tyres Corp Ltd – Investor Relations

  • Merit – Citigate Dewe Rojerson, i.MAGE Pte Ltd
    Project: Hyflux Ltd – Investor Relations

  • Merit – CapitaLand Ltd
    Project – CapitaMall Trust: Managing the Launch of Singapore's 1 st REIT

  • Merit – Starhub Pte Ltd
    Project – Investor Relations Programme
     

• Public Campaigns

  • (Government) For projects S$500,000 & below

  • Excellence – Urban Redevelopment Authority
    Project – Master Plan 2003 Review

  • Merit – Citigate Dewe Rogerson, i.MAGE Pte Ltd
    Project – National Heritage Board – PR and Communications Plan

  • (Government) For projects above S$500,000

  • Excellence – National Crime Prevention Council
    Project – Annual Crime Prevention Campaign 2002

  • (Non-Government/Private Sector) For projects S$100,000 & below

  • Excellence – Weber Shandwick Worldwide
    Project – The Singapore Million Dollar Duck Race 2002

  • Merit – Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
    Project: Launch of Levitra (Bayer & GlaxoSmithKline)

  • Merit – MediaCorp Radio Singapore (Oli 96.8 FM)
    Project: Singapore's First 24hr Reading Round the Island

  • (Non-Government/Private Sector) For projects above S$100,000

  • Excellence – MediaCorp
    Project: Fabric of the Nation
     

• Use of New Media in Public Relations

  • Excellence – Singapore Police Force
    Project – Police Newsroom
     

• Employee Communications

  • Excellence – National University Hospital
    Project – Employee Communications
     

• Integrated Communications

  • Excellence – Australian Tourist Commission
    Project: Celebrate Australia 2003

  • Merit – Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
    Project: The Opening of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

  • Merit – Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
    Project: Getting Listerine Pocketpaks on the tongues of Consumers in Singapore

  • Merit – Far East Organization
    Project: Launch of Icon
     

• Newsletter

  • Excellence – The Boys' Brigade in Singapore
    Project: BB News

  • Merit – Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (SingTel)
    Project: Keyline

  • Merit – Urban Redevelopment Authority
    Project: Skyline
     

• Students’ Project

  • Excellence – Nanyang Technological University (Spades Media)
    Project: Colours for Life 2003 Campaign for Club Rainbow Singapore

  • Excellence – Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Shui Communications)
    Project: PR Proposal for Youth Hub Inc

  • Merit – Singapore Polytechnic (Odin Communications)
    Project: Integrated Communications to promote Green Clubs amongst schools within the North West CDC District
     

• Lifetime Achievement Award
  Mr Lee Chong Kai
• PR Professional of the Year 2004
  Mr Basskaran Nair, Capitaland Ltd