PR industry vies for honours at Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival

by Chloe Markowicz, PR Week UK 17-Apr-09, 10:18

Around 400 PR agencies and in-house teams from around the world have applied to be considered in the new PR category of the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

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This is the first time that Cannes Lions, which was founded as an advertising competition in 1954, has introduced PR awards. PR professionals from 45 countries have applied for the awards, including around 60 entrants from the UK.

Philip Thomas, chief executive officer of Cannes Lions, said: ‘There was a need and a desire for PR to be represented at Cannes.'

Lord Bell, chairman of Chime Communications, will be jury president for the PR category.

The deadline for entry is 24 April but PR Lions will consider requests for further extensions. The Cannes Lions runs from 21 to 27 June 2009.