Watch out world
Although only a decade and a half old and a mere youngster in comparison to Western European markets, Polish PR is quickly catching up with its more experience counterparts. "Our campaigns which are smaller than those in the western world in terms of budget, but as far as content goes we have nothing to be ashamed of, what's more the effects are often far better than what can be achieved in the developed countries" general manager of Sigma International (Poland) Ryszard Solski said.
Gold standard
Solski's words are borne out by the international recognition that Polish PR companies have been receiving lately in what can surely be called the most successful year in Polish PR's history.
At the 2005 Golden World Awards, organized by the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), Poland won four awards and came joint second (with the UK) in the country rankings.
On Board Public Relations received a prize in the Public Affairs category for their project 'Safe Administration of Medicines' prepared for the Union of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Owners, Profile were awarded in the Community Relations category for the 'Your Right to Know' campaign for Polska Presse, while Sigma International (Poland) were rewarded for their 'Privatisation of PKO BP' project in the Investor Relations category, and Inhouse's 'Phone to Mom' campaign for Telekomunikacja Polska won the Corporate Social Responsibility field.
Top form
Polish entries were equally successful in the prestigious SABRE Awards, which are the largest PR contest in the USA and have now been expanded to Europe, Africa and the Middle East this year. Sigma International claimed the award for the best campaign in Eastern Europe for its Communications Activities supporting the Privatisation of PKO BP. Partner of Promotion was the winner in the Crisis Management category for 'From Hell of Crisis to Stars of Leadership' project for Intelligo Financial Services.
Less means more
Solski thinks that these prizes prove the maturity of the Polish market. "The main reason [for this] is that during those 15 years we have learned to carry out successful and ethical PR campaigns," he said. The director of Profile and president of the Polish PR Consultancies Association (ZFPR), Rafał Szymczak, points to another important factor - creativity. "Since PR budgets in Poland are several times smaller than in Western countries we have to be more creative. To achieve similar results with a much smaller budget one has to have good ideas and the projects that result from these ideas have to be carried out really well," he explained.
The achievements stand out even more when taking into account the fact that Polish agencies are no longer given preferential treatment. "It was like this five years ago, when the first Polish projects were submitted to these international contests, but we are no longer treated as beginners, it is a fair and equal competition" Szymczak said.
Gold standard
Solski's words are borne out by the international recognition that Polish PR companies have been receiving lately in what can surely be called the most successful year in Polish PR's history.
At the 2005 Golden World Awards, organized by the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), Poland won four awards and came joint second (with the UK) in the country rankings.
On Board Public Relations received a prize in the Public Affairs category for their project 'Safe Administration of Medicines' prepared for the Union of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Owners, Profile were awarded in the Community Relations category for the 'Your Right to Know' campaign for Polska Presse, while Sigma International (Poland) were rewarded for their 'Privatisation of PKO BP' project in the Investor Relations category, and Inhouse's 'Phone to Mom' campaign for Telekomunikacja Polska won the Corporate Social Responsibility field.
Top form
Polish entries were equally successful in the prestigious SABRE Awards, which are the largest PR contest in the USA and have now been expanded to Europe, Africa and the Middle East this year. Sigma International claimed the award for the best campaign in Eastern Europe for its Communications Activities supporting the Privatisation of PKO BP. Partner of Promotion was the winner in the Crisis Management category for 'From Hell of Crisis to Stars of Leadership' project for Intelligo Financial Services.
Less means more
Solski thinks that these prizes prove the maturity of the Polish market. "The main reason [for this] is that during those 15 years we have learned to carry out successful and ethical PR campaigns," he said. The director of Profile and president of the Polish PR Consultancies Association (ZFPR), Rafał Szymczak, points to another important factor - creativity. "Since PR budgets in Poland are several times smaller than in Western countries we have to be more creative. To achieve similar results with a much smaller budget one has to have good ideas and the projects that result from these ideas have to be carried out really well," he explained.
The achievements stand out even more when taking into account the fact that Polish agencies are no longer given preferential treatment. "It was like this five years ago, when the first Polish projects were submitted to these international contests, but we are no longer treated as beginners, it is a fair and equal competition" Szymczak said.
