Message from the IPRA President: Prizes and Presidents November 2021

(Comments)

2 years, 5 months ago

November is halfway over, and soon we'll all be looking back at the year 2021. This month is both a month of change and repetition. A few months ago, we could all feel a sense of optimism with the reopening of restaurants, bars and even big concerts. Some of us had the luxury of taking a proper holiday again after more than a year. But the world is still struggling with covid-19 and now Europe is becoming a region of concern, struggling with a fourth wave of infection. In the meantime, many of our African brothers and sisters are still waiting for their first vaccine dose, while other countries are stockpiling. All of this should make us think. How can we better communicate risk, science and protective behavior? What's our role, and what can we learn from the past 600 days of emergency and crisis communication?

A new president for 2022

This is one challenge I'd hope to work on with my colleague Etsuko Tsugihara, who will take over from me as President of IPRA in 2022. Etsuko is Japanese and CEO of the agency Sunny Side Up. She'll be the first female President of IPRA from Japan. I'm very pleased with the Board's choice and look forward to supporting the many activities Etsuko is planning. One of them is the next Golden World Awards Gala, which will take place in Tokyo in the autumn, covid-19 permitting.

And the Grand Prix for 2021

Coming together to promote and celebrate the hard work of public relations colleagues is central to IPRA's mission. One of those beautiful moments occurred when Esther Kerr Jessop QSM, esteemed elder of the Ngāti Ranana London Māori Club, and Nigel Chism, IPRA International Public Relations Association Board Member, met at the 2021 Golden World Awards for Excellence Grand Prix ceremony. The award went to Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori, a brilliant campaign to promote the Maori language, by New Zealand's Maori Language Commission Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. Building bridges, improving understanding and bringing people together is at the heart of our work as communicators. That's why the Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori campaign received so many votes at the IPRA Golden World Awards.

IPRA’s contribution to fight Climate Change

Finally, I'd like to say that I'm thrilled about the establishment of the IPRA Climate Change Chapter. This chapter, launched by our colleague Daniel Silberhorn, will enable us to contribute valuably to promoting the communication aspects of climate change in line with the UN’s sustainable development goal 13. It'll focus on promoting dialogue and sharing of best practices between IPRA members on climate change communication aspects and supporting entries for the Golden World Awards in the new climate change category. It’s activities, starting in 2022, will be mapped on our new webpage. If there's an urgent crisis, this is it, and we all have an active role to play. Please let the Secretariat know if you want to join the Climate Change Chapter.

Till next time, stay safe.

Philippe Borremans

President 2021

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