PR Lions
The PR Lions celebrate the craft of strategic and creative communication.
On this page
Introduction
The history of the PR Lions
The PR Lions were introduced in 2009 to celebrate branded communications and creative reputation management.
It’s been updated and refreshed a number of times over the years to ensure it continues to accurately celebrate and reflect the PR industry.
In 2019 a comprehensive review of the Lion was undertaken to highlight and celebrate the shift in PR towards a more strategic function. In 2024, Section E ‘Excellence in PR Craft’ was added to provide a dedicated space for independent PR agencies.
What kind of work can be entered?
Campaigns that effectively shape public perception, build meaningful connections with audiences, and drive engagement through storytelling, influence, or advocacy. These can range from press and media campaigns, influencer partnerships, and social media activations to experiential events, crisis communications, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
What’s the Jury looking for?
The work should demonstrate how original thinking, transformative insight and a strategy rooted in earned media have influenced opinion and driven progress and change in business, society or culture. It should have storytelling at its core and establish, protect and enhance the reputation and business of an organisation or brand.
Winning work demonstrates real impact. Whether it drove brand awareness or changed perceptions, these results need to be measurable beyond impressions and likes.
UNSEALED BOOKS | LÍRA | VML HUNGARY, BUDAPEST | BRONZE, PR LIONS | 2024
The Categories
A. PR: Sectors
The same entry can be submitted only once in this section.
All fast-moving and durable consumer goods, including but not limited to, food and beverages, toiletries, cleaning products, other household goods, other FMCGs, clothing and accessories, furniture, and consumer electronics.
All fast-food entries should be entered into A04. Travel, Leisure, Retail, Restaurants & Fast-Food Chains.
Pharma, OTC drugs, wellness.
If the work has been created for a Charity/NFP then this should be entered into A07.
Vehicles, other automobiles.
All transport- and travel-related services, including public transport and tourism boards. All entertainment- and leisure-related services, including museums, festivals and gyms. All shops, including online retailers, opticians, hairdressers and estate agents. All restaurants and fast food chains, including cafés and bars.
Music, film, television, publications and media, books, news, digital platforms and other media.
All commercial public services, legal, financial, B2B technology, consultancies and professional services, other business services, internal and corporate communications.
Government, public information, NGOs, military, charities, non-profit organisations.
All corporate social responsibility work should be entered in the relevant sector and/or F07. Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility category in section F. Culture & Context.
C. Insights & Measurement
These categories showcase effectiveness in using data to drive creative inspiration and communications strategies. The work will be judged on the deliberate and thoughtful introduction of insights and measurements to develop campaigns that have had real impact on the performance of an organisation. The work should demonstrate the success of activities that tackle the wide range of reputational and stakeholder challenges that non-advertising communications have to address.
Research and data-led or actionable insights that provide a meaningful contribution or input to a public relations programme. The work should provide evidence of research or insight, quality of thinking and the development of a strategy.
Recognises creative work that has a proven impact on business and reputation. The work should provide results data, as well as details of measurement tools and analysis methods used to evaluate results. Consideration will be given to tangible business results and the quality and quantity of media.
D. PR Techniques
In these categories, your entry will be judged on the creative implementation of your chosen PR technique in order to increase reach and achieve desired campaign outcomes.
PR that puts journalism at the forefront of the campaign, with evidence of a high degree of innovation intended to engage, educate or influence editorial. The work should explain the relevance of media outcomes, including depth, quality and messaging. Consideration will be given to how this strategy achieved or supported the desired campaign outcome.
Work that uses stunts, events, event sponsorship, competitions, promotional games, street art, guerrilla marketing, launch parties, live shows, live streamed events, festivals, concerts, sporting events, etc. within traditional, digital and new emerging environments to build the value and reputation of a brand or communication project as part of a wider public relations strategy.
Work created to launch or relaunch a product or service.
Customised strategies designed to communicate a particular point of view/story of a brand/organisation in a consistently relevant way and to build an emotional connection with employees, shareholders and customers alike.
Existing or new technology that pushes the boundaries of digital innovation to execute or support a PR campaign. This could include but is not limited to artificial intelligence, virtual reality, virtual worlds, robotics, gadgets and electronics, wearable and interactive technology, etc. Does not include prototypes of early-stage technology.
Communications programmes or initiatives designed to inform, educate or inspire employees - engaging internal communities and cultivating strong team dynamics. The work should demonstrate innovative approaches to engaging staff, driving organisational goals and building employee loyalty and satisfaction.
E. Excellence in PR Craft
Work in these categories will be judged on the demonstration of exceptional and creative best practice within the chosen PR specialism.
Entries in this section can only be submitted and paid for by Independent PR agencies or companies owned by a PR network or independent PR network. The same piece of work can be entered only once in each category within this section.
Work that builds the image/raises the profile and shapes the perceptions of a corporate brand, organisation or corporation.
Work planned to influence or inform the public policy agenda using either lobbying or wider public affairs strategies, as well as political or ballot initiatives.
The planning and/or handling of the consequences of a crisis or an issue that may affect a company’s credibility and reputation. The work should demonstrate evidence of the planning and/or implementation of a crisis communication strategy and how the desired outcome was achieved.
The content of entries in this category can be kept entirely confidential and used for judging purposes only.
Engaging internal communications and activities. This includes but is not limited to change management, intended to connect employees with a company identity or message. The work should demonstrate how activities translated into measurable results, employee satisfaction and business growth.
Work that utilised sponsorship and/or partnership programmes in order to meet specific awareness/business goals as well as to enhance the image of a brand, organisation or corporation.
F. Culture & Context
Work that is brought to life through cultural insights and regional context.
Work for brands distributed solely within a specific locality. The work should resonate with a clearly defined, local target audience.
Brands that have creatively adapted their approach in response to competitor pressure by challenging the status quo to create game-changing work that uses progressive thinking and innovative creativity.
Work that aired or ran in a single country / region / market. The work should describe how the campaign was designed for the specific target market.
Work inspired by a specific audience or community, relying on identifiable social behaviour. The work should demonstrate how leveraging insights into consumer behaviour can create a powerful connection with a brand.
Work that celebrates the art of humour in branded communications. Infusing wit, satire, and cleverness into campaigns that provide amusement and create memorable, laughter-inducing connections with audiences.
Creative use of modest budgets and/or resources in relation to the market and/or industry to create maximum impact. The work should demonstrate how fresh insight, smart spending and compelling strategic thinking solved a business problem despite limited resources.
Purpose-driven work/brand activism that addresses social, ethical and environmental issues. The work should demonstrate how the brand’s purpose has created value and affected communities by connecting customers to culture.
Brands that have creatively adapted their strategy in response to local / regional / global issues, embracing new ways of delivering their brand while showing consideration for the consumer.
Work that honours marketers who craft strategic solutions rooted in the lived experiences of culturally grounded communities. This approach reflects and translates the nuances of customs, behaviours, and traditions that shape foundational perspectives on identity (e.g. disability, gender, race, orientation, age). Such insights reveal how diverse audiences choose brands and media experiences, driving growth and impact.
Eligibility
Work will need to have been executed during the eligibility period of 8 February 2024 – 10 April 2025.
Is there a limit to how many times I can enter?
The same piece of work can be entered up to four times in PR.
Exceptions:
- The same piece of work may only be entered once in ‘A. PR: Sectors’.
- The work in Section E: Excellence in PR Craft can only be submitted and paid for by independent PR agencies or companies owned by a PR network or independent PR network. The same piece of work can be entered only once in each category within this section.
BAR EXPERIENCE | HEINEKEN | EDELMAN, LONDON | GOLD, PR LIONS | 2024
Previous Winners
The Misheard Version
Cannes Lions 2024 Grand Prix Golin London / Specsavers / 2024
UK eye and hearing test specialist Specsavers used the power of audio to rework a famously misheard song into the world’s first 'mass hearing test’. It partnered with English singer Rick Astley to re-record ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ with misheard lyrics. It then released it without explanation, amassing 20m views in 8 hours and increasing hearing test bookings by 1220% above target.
THE MISHEARD VERSION | SPECSAVERS | GOLIN, LONDON | GRAND PRIX, PR LIONS | 2024
Why the work won
The PR Jury awarded this work the Grand Prix for its exceptional ability to leverage cultural relevance, strategic timing, and humour to generate widespread earned media and audience engagement.
Jury President Kat Thomas highlighted the campaign’s mastery of PR fundamentals, stating: “Right person, right time, right place. Astley is part of meme culture anyway. He was on the radar of Gen Z as well as 50-plus. And his song has been known for decades for being misheard.” By tapping into Rick Astley’s iconic status and his connection to internet culture, the campaign effectively sparked organic conversations across generations, blending nostalgia with contemporary humour.
The work demonstrated how thoughtful PR strategy, rooted in cultural insight and a keen sense of timing, can amplify a campaign's reach, making it both shareable and enduring in the public's mind.
THE MISHEARD VERSION | SPECSAVERS | GOLIN LONDON | GRAND PRIX, PR LIONS | 2024
Inside the Jury Room: PR Lions
To hear more from the Jury and how they decided on the winning work, check out the video below.
Entries & Judging
What are the judging criteria?
A number of criteria will be considered during judging, weighted as follows: 20% idea; 30% strategy; 20% execution; 30% impact and results.
What do I need to provide with my entry?
To enter, you’ll need to complete an online entry form, which can be found on the Cannes Lions entry site. In the ‘Written Explanation’ section, you’ll be asked to provide the Jury with everything they need to know about your work.
You’ll also be able to submit optional supporting materials to provide additional context with your entry.
All case films, films, demo films and original content must be subtitled in English.
Detailed information outlining the entry process can be found on A Guide to the Cannes Lions Awards.
What if I don’t have all the details right away?
Don’t worry – you can fill in the form in any order and save your progress at any time while it’s still in the pending stage. However, please only check out when your entry is 100% complete as no changes can be made to your entry once you’ve clicked “Submit” and “Checkout”.
The Written Submission
Here’s the questions you’ll be asked regarding your work.
To start your entry to the PR Lions, go to our Awards page.
The Jury will refer to the written explanation you provide throughout the judging process. Our advice is to provide as much relevant detail as possible.
When answering the following questions keep the main element you’re trying to celebrate in mind (e.g. the storytelling, the strategy, the craft, the use of data).
The bullet points under each question are prompts designed to guide your thinking, based on the factors the jury will be considering when reviewing your work. You might not need to use them all, and that’s totally fine. They’re there to help you consider what’s most important in your work.
Questions
The word limit for this section is 100 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please provide any brand and cultural context that would help the jury understand any cultural, national or regional nuances applicable to this work.
You should outline why this piece of work was created for this particular brand, in this market, at this particular moment in time, with all of the cultural and market conditions.
The word limit for this section is 250 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please select the objective(s) that were most important when creating this work. What the work set out to achieve.
For the jury to accurately assess the work, they must first establish its objectives. As you progress through the entry system, you must link your results back to each objective selected.
- Overachieve on brand metrics (e.g. awareness, engagement)
- Change consumer behaviour (e.g. attitudes, frequency, penetration)
- Create short-term sales growth (e.g. sales, promotions, discounts)
- Improve brand health (e.g. consideration, preference)
- Create sustained sales success (e.g. profit, sales)
- Create long-term brand and sales growth (e.g. shareholder value, retention, loyalty)
There is no word limit for this section.
This question is compulsory.
Please provide a summary of your entry.
- Describe the background and context behind the work?
- What creative challenges did the work face?
This should be an overview of the work and an analysis of its effectiveness. You should describe how the objectives of the campaign have been successfully met.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Consider the following when describing the creative idea:
- Does the work cross boundaries/have the ability to think beyond conventional boundaries or categories?
- Does the work evoke surprise/have the power to continue captivating attention?
- Does the work transcend the original challenge?
- Does the work incorporate breakthrough thinking?
- Demonstrate how the idea was designed to earn attention from the target audience?
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Consider the following when describing the execution:
- How effectively was the concept brought to life?
- What specific PR implementation strategies were employed to ensure success?
- Which channels were utilised for placement, and were they optimal for reaching the target audience?
- How extensive was the scale of the execution in relation to the defined objectives?
- Did the execution adapt to any unexpected challenges or changes in the environment?
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Consider the following when describing the execution:
- How effectively was the concept brought to life?
- What specific PR implementation strategies were employed to ensure success?
- Which channels were utilised for placement, and were they optimal for reaching the target audience?
- How extensive was the scale of the execution in relation to the defined objectives?
- Did the execution adapt to any unexpected challenges or changes in the environment?
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory.
Please refer back to the objectives selected when answering this question. Consider:
- performance against brand metrics (e.g. awareness, engagement)
- change in consumer behaviour (e.g. attitudes, frequency, penetration)
- indications of short-, medium- or long-term sales success (e.g. shareholder value, profit, revenue, ROI, sales, share)
- brand health improvement (e.g. consideration, preference)
- potential changes in government regulations or societal/economic events (e.g. changes in economic, political, social factors).
The word limit for this section is 250 words.
This question is compulsory.
- Yes
- No
This question is compulsory.
I would like the Jury to see this response when judging this work (tick box)
Please outline how this piece of work has aligned with the brand’s sustainability strategy. This could involve either operational measures to reduce the impact on the environment, and consumer strategies to encourage positive behaviour change, or both.
Please provide details of the benchmarks used for measuring the success of this piece of work’s contribution to the overall strategy. This could include, but is not limited to, targets around advertising business operations - advertising production - media planning and buying.
This question is optional.
I would like the Jury to see this response when judging this work (tick box)
Based on the brief, what consideration was given to representation and diversity of the team(s) involved?
What consideration was given to accessibility in the work and what role did DEI thinking play throughout the development of the work?
This question is optional.
If there are additional results you wish to disclose to the Jury but prefer to keep confidential, please enter them below.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is optional.
Category Specific Questions
Provide evidence of how the research, insight and use of data enhanced the campaign output.
- Data and/or insights gathering and interpretation
- Data Targeting
- Data and/or insight integration and impact
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for C01.
Describe the effectiveness of the PR campaign
- Achievement of results against KPIs
- Effect of PR activities on brand awareness
- Measurable impact of the PR effort on client's objectives
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for C02.
Please comment on how the brand resonated with a specific target audience in a single locality or market.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for F01.
Please tell us about how the work challenged or was different from the brand's competitors.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for F02.
Please tell us how the work was designed/adapted for a single country / region / market.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for F03.
Please tell us about the social behaviour that inspired the work.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for F04.
Please tell us about the humour insight that inspired the work.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for F05.
Budget Details
Please provide budget details that show how the campaign achieved breakthrough results on a limited budget. Consider:
- the overall budget
- the breakdown of costs
- how the campaign maximised reach vs expenditure
- the significant impact this adjustment had on the campaign's effectiveness.
We recommend providing as much context as possible to understand the budget spend. However, we understand that different cases will have different types of results.
*(Any confidential information should be entered in the confidential information field)
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for F06.
Please tell us how the brand purpose inspired the work
- Explain how the purpose is ingrained in the core values and mission of the brand’s DNA.
- Discuss the impact of these initiatives on communities, society or the environment.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for F07.
Please tell us how market disruption inspired the work
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for F08.
Please tell us about the specific cultural insight that drove the nuanced engagement behind this work.
The word limit for this section is 150 words.
This question is compulsory for F09.
HEAVEN FISH | REGAL SPRING | OGILVY HONDURAS, TEGUCIGALPA | BRONZE, PR LIONS | 2024
Contact us
Everything you need to know to enter
For more detailed information on how to use the entry site, craft a compelling submission or submit your work we have a whole range of resources.
From Entry Guides that give you a step-by-step overview of the entire process to the Entry Kits that provide all the detailed rules and requirements for each and every category.
We are here to help
As Awards Experts, we know the Lions inside out. We can help with:
- Sharing the updates to the Awards for 2025
- Offering best-practice advice on how to craft a compelling entry
- Discussing your work and relevant categories
- Scheduling regular catch-ups to answer any questions that arise throughout the entry process.
Whether you have a specific query or would like expert advice, get in touch today.
Email: awards@canneslions.com Helpline: +44 0 20 7046 1155