6 July 2017

Local Media Works Awards Launch With Airbus Brief

The Local Media Works Awards launches today with a brief set by Airbus, the commercial aircraft manufacturer, offering entrants a chance of winning £1,000 of Apple vouchers. The awards, powered by JICREG, challenges media planners to answer a brief set by a major advertiser with local media at its heart.

Entrants will have to respond to the brief by promoting Airbus as an employer of choice in local communities. The responses must have local and regional media at its core, and will be judged on innovative thinking about the opportunities afforded by local media.

The awards cover five categories; best original thinking, best strategy, best use of content, best use of local targeting, and best use of multi-platform.

A judging panel chaired by former Starcom Mediavest Group UK chief executive Stewart Easterbrook will assess entries from across the media industry.

Stewart, a strategic adviser to business in media communications, data analytics and technology, said: “National brands which recognise the importance that people place on local communities and how people spend a great deal of their time and money close to home strongly resonate with their audience. 

“People trust local news brands more than any other media, and are much more likely to connect with, and act upon the advertising within them. It is also important that local news brands are rewarded fairly for their investment in local journalism.

“The Local Media Works Awards is an excellent opportunity to showcase the key strengths of local media across all its platforms and remind planners of the powerful boost it can deliver to the media mix.

“Local news brands, in print and online, are among the UK’s most popular and trusted media, reaching 40 million people every week.

“We had a very high level of entries last year and I’m looking forward to seeing the entries for this year.”

In addition to Stewart, the judging panel for the awards consists of:

  • Brandon Bell, Specsavers head of regional and local marketing;
  • Andy Bolden, GlaxoSmithKline Europe media director / global head of trading;
  • Owen Brace, DWP deputy director of communications;
  • Kathryn Edwards, Airbus ‎employment marketing advisor;
  • Justin Fenton, Local Media Works head of marketing;
  • Patrick Milne, DFS campaign marketing manager;
  • Craig Nayman, Archant chief commercial officer, and Local Media Works chairman.

Craig Nayman, Local Media Works chairman and Archant chief commercial officer, said: “Local media serves huge audiences across print and digital and I am looking forward to seeing how entrants make use of this unique multiplatform proposition which provides deep and trusted engagement with local communities.”

“Last year we had a fantastic level of high quality of entries and I hope to see even more this year. I hope all media planners save the date of 9 November in their diaries for the awards party.” 

To enter go to the Local Media Works Awards website. Entries will close on 15 September at 5pm and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 9 November at The Hospital Club in the heart of London.

For further information about the awards please contact Justin Fenton.