RBL nominated for CIPR Excellence Award

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

Here's some interesting news from Hayley's Official Website:

18 Jun 2009 - Hayley honoured to attend PR Excellence Awards with the Royal British Legion

Hayley is delighted to be invited to the prestigious Chartered Institute of Public Relations Excellence Awards for which the Royal British Legion have been nominated for their live broadcast from Basra in 2008. Hayley joined the RBL in Basra to help launch the appeal and continue to raise awareness and support for all of our troops. We would like to wish the Royal British Legion the best of luck for the night.

More information about the event: www.ciprexcellence.com/Dinner.aspx

The CIPR Excellence Awards will be presented at a black tie dinner in central London on Tuesday 7 July 2009. Attended by the cream of UK PR practitioners, this prestigious event will be held at The Artillery Garden, London EC1.

Full list of nominations: www.ciprexcellence.com/ShortList.aspx

Category - Broadcast

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Poppy Appeal Launch from Basra
Royal British Legion

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University of Derby

Good luck Hayley and the Royal British Legion!

Richard

[martindn]

Well, looking at that lot, I would think the RBL has a good chance. I'm not sure how the entries are judged of course, but it would be wonderful to see them win. Good luck Hayley!

Martin

[Jillian]

That's great news! Hopefully there'll be some photos from the event!

[Richard]

Jun 18, 2009 20:49:02 GMT martindn said:

Well, looking at that lot, I would think the RBL has a good chance. I'm not sure how the entries are judged of course, but it would be wonderful to see them win. Good luck Hayley!

Martin

Hello Martin!

There's some information including a list of the judges HERE.

Judging

[/b]

The CIPR Excellence Awards are the most demanding in the profession, judged to the highest standards by the industry’s leading experts.

Judging is extremely thorough and is carried out over several months. The judging teams are made up of senior practitioners, supplemented at the interview stage by external experts from the media and marketing industries. This tests the impact of public relations on society as a whole.

A judging panel interviews all those shortlisted, so that each winner is truly an example of the best in their field. If you make this shortlist, the panel interviews are informal and you will not need to ‘pitch’ or ‘present’. Questions will be based on your written entry and the whole process is confidential.[/quote]
Richard

[grant]

Hello Richard

Thank you for all the information about this award. I was interested to note that the University of Derby was included in the nominations (being my home town) as they will soon have one of the most unusual campus' of any university, having just added a theatre and a nineteenth century locomotive roundhouse!

Anyway! I'm still rooting for Hayley and the RBL!

Best wishes
Grant

[martindn]

Thanks for that Richard. I didn't recognise any of the judges. I think we just have to cross our fingers. I suspect though it will be all about how well things were presented rater than the talent of the individuals involved. So who knows? Here's hoping.

Martin

[Martin]

CONGRATULATIONS

www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/poppy-appeal/legion-scoops-third-consecutive-pr-oscar

Legion scoops third consecutive PR oscar
08 July 2009

The Royal British Legion has scooped an exceptional third consecutive Excellence Award from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations for the launch of its 2008 Poppy Appeal live from Basra, Iraq.

The Legion won in the Broadcast category of the prestigious awards ceremony on Tuesday evening, following its 2008 victory in the Public Affairs category for its Honour the Covenant campaign and its 2007 award in the Not For Profit category for the Poppy Appeal.



"I've always known that I am very lucky to be leading the best PR team in London," said the Legion's Director of Corporate Communications Stuart Gendall, "and I feel very humbled to have my opinion confirmed by a panel of industry judges."

The Legion was recognised for its unparalleled accomplishment in arranging the live launch of the Poppy Appeal via a two-way video feed through British and Pentagon satellites connecting the British Armed Forces base at Camp Charlie in Basra with UK broadcasters, reaching 5m viewers in less than an hour.

The Legion had sent a party comprising the "Forces Sweetheart" and recording artist Hayley Westenra, National Chairman Peter Cleminson, Director General Chris Simpkins, Director of National Events & Fundraising Russell Thompson, the iconic figure of Poppy Man, and Mr Gendall to spend several days in theatre with British Armed Forces in Iraq, using the opportunity to learn more about the needs of Service personnel on operations and their families at home.

Mr Gendall paid tribute to the MoD media ops team in Basra which assisted in the launch, represented at the ceremony by Lt Cdr Stuart Antrobus (RN) and Flt Lt Tim Carpenter (RAF), who flew in from British Armed Forces HQ in Cyprus to attend.

"It was a genuine privilege to share quarters with our boys and girls in Iraq," said the Legion's National Chairman Mr Cleminson, "and there was no better way to underscore the Poppy Appeal's theme of 'Serving those who Serve'."

The ensuing Poppy Appeal was a resounding success, as 40 million poppies were produced for the British public who have so far generously donated more than £30 million to the support of British Armed Forces past and present and their families.

Photos, videos and press release from the 2008 Poppy Appeal launch in Basra.

This award follows the success of the Legion's Direct Marketing team at the Institute of Fundraising awards on Monday night.

Let's not also forget the marvellous contribution and subsequent sacrifice made by Hayley in this appeal.

Martin

I enlarged the text and the photograph.
Richard

[gra7890]

Thats good news Martin

This Saturday's concert will have something to celebrate

Graham

[Richard]

Thanks for the great news, Martin!

You can see all the winners HERE.

Category - Broadcast

Winner

Poppy Appeal Launch from Basra
Royal British Legion

The Judges selected this campaign as a winner because it was by far the most ambitious and excellent broadcast of all. The report was produced to the highest professional values in broadcast journalism today and stood out. It is testimony to the professionalism of a small team of people that was capable of co-ordinating global technical hook-ups and links far beyond the abilities of most. The broadcast told a dramatic personal story of how the legion helps servicemen and women today, from the point of view of those in active service working in some of the most dangerous war zones. It linked this through a mascot to the legion’s brand. No wonder donations to the appeal increased this year. It was a tearjerker, using human interest to the full, and clearly the team’s dedication to their work and professionalism went far beyond the call of duty. Broadcasters and the print media responded to a story of the first order.

Richard

[grant]

Hello Martin

This is amazing news!! and very well deserved.

Congratulations!!

Best wishes
Grant

[Richard]

The Royal British Legion have posted two videos about the Poppy Appeal Launch on YouTube:

Part one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaSoImtZ9I8

Part two: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBiUp8D4nxo

Richard

[jimg]

Hi Richard

Thank you for the links

Jim

[Martin]

Thanks for the links Richard, in particular the second one which includes inteviews with Hayley by all three major UK news channels. Of course, it has to be ITV News that labels Hayley as an "Opera Singer"! Where do they find their researchers?

Martin

[gra7890]

Hi Richard,
Thanks for the Youtube links. Yes Hayley does have a very distinctive voice.

Best Wishes,

Graham

[Jono]

I don't think the update on the official site has been posted here yet.

08 Jul 2009 - Royal British Legion Scoops third consecutive PR Oscar

The Royal British Legion has scooped an exceptional third consecutive Excellence Award from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations for the launch of its 2008 Poppy Appeal live from Basra, Iraq.

The Legion won in the Broadcast category of the prestigious awards ceremony Tuesday evening, following its 2008 victory in the Public Affairs category for its Honour the Covenant campaign and its 2007 award in the Not For Profit category for the Poppy Appeal.

The Legion was recognised for its unparalleled accomplishment in arranging the live launch of the Poppy Appeal via a two-way video feed through British and Pentagon satellites connecting the British Armed Forces base at Camp Charlie in Basra with UK broadcasters, reaching 5m viewers in less than an hour.

The Legion had sent a party comprising the "Forces Sweetheart" and recording artist Hayley Westenra, National Chairman Peter Cleminson, Director General Chris Simpkins, the iconic figure of Poppy Man, and Mr Gendall to spend several days in theatre with British Armed Forces in Iraq, using the opportunity to learn more about the needs of Service personnel on operations and their families at home.

The ensuing Poppy Appeal was a resounding success, as 40m poppies were produced for the British public who have so far generously donated more than £30m to the support of British Armed Forces past and present and their families.

www.hayleywestenra.com/