Entry deadline | 8th March 2024 |
Extended entry deadline: | 15th March 2024, additional fee applies |
Judging days | 2nd, 3rd, 17th May 2024 |
Awards Ceremony | 4th July 2024 |
Welcome to the Communiqué Awards
As we take on the privileged responsibility of chairing the judging panel for the Communiqué Awards, the health and medical communications industry is undergoing something of a ‘re-set’. Challenges with resourcing, time and budgets mean in-house and agency teams must work harder and more collaboratively than ever to demonstrate impact and value. Of course, this is absolutely right: smart and critical thinking that delivers value will improve outcomes, and these need to be quantified and shared in a meaningful way. However, as the scrutiny on return on investment grows, there is a risk that the ability to innovate, maybe even fail and apply our learnings, is under threat.
Reflecting on the Awards’ 25 years, today, we face unprecedented challenges in health and scientific communications – from global pandemics to rising levels of chronic diseases and an epidemic of misinformation. The acceleration in digital transformation is influencing consumers and healthcare professionals, with many turning to TikTok and AI to self-educate or answer their health questions. This trend underscores the need for innovative communications strategies to effectively navigate and utilise the mechanism we have at our disposal. Old ways of communicating no longer cut it. We need fresh thinking to engage stakeholders and drive real behaviour change.
Our industry must continue to prioritise progress, bravery, and innovation in service of doing the right thing, so let’s not lose this vital aspect of our work. The path of innovation wanders into unmapped terrain. It demands grit, resilience, and no shortage of courage. But progress depends on it. In this era of ’re-set’, let bravery be our guide as we reimagine the future of health communications together.
The Communiqué Awards have always encouraged innovation and progress and have never stopped evolving in response to the changing environment and feedback from the industry. As this year is no exception, we are delighted to introduce a couple of changes that will help keep the awards relevant:
- The launch of a new Excellence in Pro Bono Working category highlights the benefits of pro bono working within the healthcare communications and medical affairs industry. It recognises sector-leading work in this field by celebrating those agencies and in-house departments who are already doing it and documents the benefits in this win/win scenario. In these difficult economic times, Communiqué wants to recognise companies which are investing their time and expertise to make a positive impact on issues that need it most
- Development of a new Progress Award: in consultation with the Group Heads, we are evolving the Innovation Awards for Scientific Communications and Healthcare Communications into one category. We have also changed the name to emphasise the importance of learning and demonstrating how a different approach has helped progress our knowledge and understanding of a problem. Rest assured, we are still looking for examples of bravery, innovation and work that make us say ‘Wow’! Finally, experience shows that we often see great examples of this in other categories but not entered directly into the ‘Innovation’ Awards. So, we’re also going to experiment and trial an approach whereby companies can enter directly, and Group Heads can also nominate work from their categories that they believe meet the criteria. Will it work? Well, if it doesn’t, we’ll have learned something!
- The Leadership Award for Action on Workforce Diversity and Inclusion has been renamed the Award for Action on Workplace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This reflects the importance of whole organisational efforts to drive inclusive cultures and that equity is explicitly mentioned within the criteria.
- Finally, the Agility and Flexibility Award has been updated to recognise transformation, in keeping with the theme of the importance of the lasting impact of our work. This Award also references the use of AI, however we are expecting to see this come through in entries for other categories as new technologies are incorporated into healthcare and scientific communications
We are incredibly excited by the anticipation of seeing the amazing work being done across the industry and feel privileged to co-chair the judging during this challenging, eventful, and thought-provoking time.
Communiqué Awards Co-Chairs:
Catherine Devaney, Founder, Curious Health and Neil Flash, Owner, Ignition Consulting
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